An estimated 752 veterans have put themselves forward as candidates during the contentious 2026 midterm election cycle. This represents a 47% increase in veteran candidates compared with 2024, and includes a number of special operations forces (SOF) veterans who have thrown their hats into the ring.
In June, Gallup and With Honor partnered to survey 1,001 American adults across all 50 states regarding their perspectives on veteran candidates for office.
Gallup research analyst Dr. Ellyn Maese told Military.com that the survey demonstrated “really high levels of confidence in veterans.” She emphasized that the strong bipartisan support is “always really compelling,” adding, “we don’t have that many places where we see such consistency across so many different demographic groups.”
Key Findings
- 77% of respondents trust someone with military experience a great deal or a fair amount to perform their duties well as an elected official.
- To somewhat varying degrees, Democrats (70%), independents (73%), and Republicans (91%) shared this view.
- 41% of Americans have a great deal of confidence in military veterans, and another 29% report having “quite a lot” of confidence in veterans. On the other hand, 10% have very little confidence and 18% admit they have “some” confidence in veteran candidates.
- Americans report having more confidence in military veterans than they do in the military as an institution (61%)
- Support for veteran candidates increases with age. 79% of Americans over the age of 55 reported having a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in veteran candidates. Only 68% of Americans between 35 and 54 reported the same. The number declined to 57% for Americans between 18 and 34.
- Americans in rural areas (85%) reported more trust in elected officials with military experience than suburbanites (77%) or city-dwellers (71%).
- 55% of Americans believe that military service makes a candidate much more (14%) or somewhat more (41%) prepared for an elected role. Only 7% believe it makes a candidate less prepared.
With Honor founder and CEO Rye Barcott, author of Courage Can Save Us, told Military.com that in a year when the U.S. “is so damn divided across the board,” he found it “a pretty encouraging sign” that Americans were so aligned on veteran support.
At SOAA, we are deeply encouraged by the public’s strong support for veteran candidates. We firmly believe that their military expertise and proven dedication to selfless service position veteran candidates well to continue serving our nation in public office.
