Veterans in Congress projected to decline, but Dems bringing more first-time vets by 3-to-1 margin over GOP

The share of military veterans in Congress is projected to fall to its lowest level in decades in the incoming 120th Congress, but while overall veteran representation continues a long-term decline, the partisan composition of the freshman class marks a sharp contrast.

Democrats are bringing roughly three times as many first-time veteran members as Republicans, and they are catching up among House members overall.

Still, as America marks Veterans Day, the numbers show the institutional voice of military service in the legislative branch is heading toward its lowest watermark in modern history.

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Analysis from With Honor Action and Military Times indicate veterans will hold roughly 15% of seats when the new Congress convenes in January, down from about 19% in the outgoing body and well below the 27% recorded in 2001 before the war on terror began. That comes despite a record number of veterans running in 2026, according to the analysis.

Going into the past Congress in January 2025, there were just 28 Democrats compared to 72 Republicans, according to Military Times. Among the 79 projected for the 120th Congress, the partisan gap is closing to 33 Democrats and 46 Republicans.

In addition the massive Republican midterm losses, at least 11 Democratic veterans are projected to win House seats for the first time.

One uncalled race between Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and her Democratic challenger, retired Navy Rear Adm. Eileen Laubacher – a former longtime Republican who switched parties in 2024 – remains in Colorado’s 4th District. Laubacher holds a roughly 3,300-vote lead with nearly all ballots counted. Some outlets have called the race for Laubacher, an outspoken critic of War Secretary Pete Hegseth.

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Among the confirmed Democrat freshmen are former Navy Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore, D-S.C., who was removed from her post as chief of the Navy Reserve by Hegseth in August 2025.

Other Democrat veterans entering Congress as freshmen representatives-elect, as first reported by National Interest:

• Former Army Maj. Cait Conley, D-N.Y., a West Point graduate, who defeated former Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.
• Former Army Lt. Col. Fred Wellman, D-Mo.
• Former Navy helicopter pilot Rebecca Bennett, D-N.J.
• Marine Corps gunnery sergeant JoAnna Mendoza, D-Ariz.
• Former Army Capt. Jessica Killin, D-Colo., the first Democrat to win the district
• Former Army combat surgeon Adam Hamawy, D-N.J., who helped save the life of then-Army Capt., now Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., after her UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade
• Navy intelligence Lt. Luke Bronin, D-Conn., the former Hartford mayor
• Former Air Force Maj. Kristina Knickerbocker, D-Ohio, who defeated incumbent Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio
• Former Army Maj. Richard Ojeda, D-N.C.
• Former Navy JAG officer Zach Dembo, D-Ky.

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Several of these Democrats have criticized Hegseth’s personnel decisions, promotion interventions, and focus on cultural issues, with some signaling support for heightened oversight or impeachment proceedings. Lacore, the highest-ranking veteran in the new class, has said she was never given a reason for her firing and has argued that Hegseth’s leadership has damaged military readiness.

On the Republican side, four first-time veteran members are heading to Washington:

• Former Air Force, Air National Guard Chris McGowan, R-Iowa
• Former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, R-Ky.
• Former Air Force Maj. Jace Yarbrough, R-Texas
• Former Alabama National Guard / Army Reserve member Barry Moore, R-Ala., who won the open Senate seat vacated by Gov.-elect Tommy Tuberville

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These Republicans have generally aligned with the administration on defense priorities, including support for Hegseth.

The decline in veteran membership in Congress includes 12 Republicans defeated this year:

1. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan.
2. Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Colo.
3. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa
4. Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa
5. Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich.
6. Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio
7. Rep. Mike Carey, R-Ohio
8. Rep. Scott Perry, R-Ohio
9. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va.
10. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis.
11. Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla.
12. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas

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Among the veterans who retired or did not seek re-election, it was largely Republican (11) versus Democrat (2):

• Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa
• Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., briefly served in the Army Reserve in 1967
• Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif.
• Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla.
• Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla.
• Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga.
• Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont.
• Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb.
• Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev.
• Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas
• Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas
• Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich.
• Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine

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Three leave Congress after running for another office and losing:

• Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass.
• Rep. John James, R-Mich.
• Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas

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Four Republicans and one Democrat left office early in the past Congress or died.

• Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., died in July
• Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL-6)
• Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., who resigned after becoming New Jersey governor
• Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn.
• Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas