For better or worse it's a two party system, and you can't govern if you don't win.

2018's vet recruits helped flip 41 seats. Last year Gallego outran Harris by 8 points in Arizona. This year Sherrill won the NJ governor's race.

Democrats can win if they field candidates who can win over swing voters.

Behn focused on affordability the entire race. How'd that work out?

The issue isn't policy vs. profile. It's whether your candidate can survive attacks long enough to talk about policy at all.

Valid points, and I've updated the article subtitle to acknowledge the race has tightened. You're right that 41-39 is effectively a tie. Thanks for the constructive feedback — always good to be held to accuracy. 🙏

You're right — the 34-pt lead is from the Oct 16-21 UNH poll. A late Oct MPRC poll showed it tightening to 41-39. As the post notes "the race has tightened since, but Platner maintains a lead." Thanks for keeping us accurate! 🙏

Fort Campbell military base is IN TN-7, and Dems aren't running a veteran. When you're down 22 points, you need every advantage. Veterans outperform other Dems by 3-8 points with independents.
New: alphademocrat.com/ohio-senate-2026-why-democrats-need-a-veteran-succession-plan-for-sherrod-brown/

The objective is to WIN, not to promote more partisan candidates who will win their primaries but lose in the general election. Veteran Democrats can go a long way to bridge the progressive-moderate divide.

Target SWING voters. That's the Alpha Democrat strategy.
alphademocrat.com

Incredible to see veteran women stepping up with this kind of clarity and purpose. The Hell Cats could genuinely reshape the 2026 map. Great read on their impact here → alphademocrat.com/hell-cats-ve...

This is the 2026 veteran Democrat strategy in action. Four female veterans (The Hell Cats) targeting competitive House seats. The data: veteran Dems outperform by 5.83 points on average. Bennett (NJ-07), Conley (NY-17), Mendoza (AZ-06), Sullivan (NH-01) — watch these races.

Worth noting: Abigail Spanberger is a former CIA officer and Army veteran.
This is the veteran Democrat electoral advantage in action. Military/intelligence service creates credibility with swing voters that other Democrats lack.
Data: vet Dems outperform non-veterans by 3-8 points w/ independents.

I'm with you, Hank. And there's a candidate profile that delivers both variety AND Fox News immunity: military veterans. Vet Democrats run across the ideological spectrum, but all outperform by 3-8 points with independents. Can't be attacked as weak. Target swing voters with vet candidates.

Exactly. And there's a proven candidate profile that transforms Democratic credibility: military veterans. Veteran Dems outperform by 3-8 points with independents. They flip swing seats. They're immune to GOP attacks. Target swing voters. That's how you transform the party.

Great analysis. Worth noting for 2026: Pennsylvania's open Senate seat (Casey retiring) will be one of Democrats' toughest holds. The veteran Democrat strategy that worked in AZ (Gallego) and MI (Slotkin) could be the path to keeping PA blue. Data: vets outperform by 3-8 points with independents.

Absolutely. And those lanes are being filled by military veteran candidates across the ideological spectrum. Progressive vets (Gallego) and moderates (Slotkin) both outperform non-veterans by 3-8 points with independents. The service record creates electoral space for different policy positions.

We track veteran Democrat candidates across the ideological spectrum: alphademocrat.com/graham-platn...

Worth noting: Platner is also a Marine Corps veteran targeting Maine's 2026 Senate race.
Progressive populist + military service = the electoral formula that works. Vet candidates outperform by 3-8 points w/ independents regardless of ideology.
Young, progressive, AND a vet. That's the combination.

You want candidates with spine? Recruit military veterans. Data: Veteran Democrats outperform non-veterans by 3-8 points with independents. They're immune to GOP attacks. They win swing seats. Gallego (AZ), Slotkin (MI), Sherrill (NJ) all won in 2024. Target swing voters and recruit vets for 2026.

Exactly right. The data shows who voters trust as "fighters": military veterans.
Vets outperform by 3-8 points with independents. They're immune to "weak on defense" attacks.
VoteVets is recruiting 100+ veteran candidates for 2026. That's the strategy.

Here's what the data shows: veteran Democrats win regardless of ideology. Progressive vets and establishment vets both outperform non-veterans by 3-8 points with independents.
Gallego (AZ), Slotkin (MI), Sherrill (NJ) — different lanes, same results.
The advantage is the uniform, not the platform.