Could more veterans continuing their public service as elected officials restore the public’s confidence in Congress? With Honor believes so.
With Honor, a political action committee whose mission is to support veterans running for elected office, officially launched this month.
“A new generation of veterans is ready to serve in Congress,” said co-founder and USMC veteran Rye Barcott in a press release. “They value teamwork and know how to get things done in tough places regardless of their party. They’re the kind of principled, proven leaders we need.”
With Honor aims to impact the current political climate by “electing next-generation veterans to create a more effective and less polarized government.”
Veterans running for office receive the support of With Honor when they take a pledge to prioritize “principles before politics.” The organization specifically values integrity, civility, and courage. The founders believe that veterans posses unique experiences and qualities that will enable them to be catalysts of change in an increasingly divided political system.
Veterans in office
Veterans used to account for greater than three quarters of members of the House and Senate, with a peak of 81% in the Senate in the mid-1970s. Over the years, those numbers decreased. Veterans currently account for 19% of members of Congress according to a report published by the Brookings Institution on the Demographics of Members of Congress in January 2017.
A similar study conducted by the Pew Research Center in February shows the same decline in prior military service by those serving in Congress. They also noted that military service among the American public as a whole has also decreased. Critics to the argument that veterans will help “fix” the problems in Congress believe that veterans no longer represent a significant portion of the American people.
However, most organizations, including those of both political parties as well as non-partisan organizations like With Honor, believe that veterans should be encouraged to bring their experience and perspective to elected office.
With Honor sees a correlation between the declining representation of veterans in congress and the American people’s loss of confidence in Congress. In a Gallup poll conducted in 2013, only 10% of Americans expressed “a great deal/quite a lot of confidence” in Congress. This was an all-time low since 1973.
Could more veterans continuing their public service as elected officials restore the public’s confidence in Congress? With Honor believes so.
"We're focused on character…" Hear @ryebarcott speak with @QuilLawrence on @npr about With Honor's plan to support next-generation veterans who can help fix a dysfunctional Congress: https://t.co/w8CEhA2NdZhttps://t.co/w8CEhA2NdZ
— With Honor Fund (@WithHonorFund) November 15, 2017
Veteran candidates
Those interested in running for office face monumental fundraising challenges. Because veterans have spent much of their years in public service, they may have missed opportunities to develop the network of deep pockets needed to mount a serious campaign. With Honor aims to provide for and connect veterans with the fundraising efforts needed to become serious candidates.
With Honor plans to choose more than 25 of “the most capable candidates to endorse based on their leadership history, potential to win, and willingness to take a pledge to lead with integrity, civility, and courage.” More than 100 veterans will be running for Congress in 2018.
The organization highlights working across the aisle and will require those it endorses to work with members of differing political parties monthly and “sponsor legislation with a member of another party at least once a year.”
“They value teamwork and know how to get things done in tough places regardless of their party. They’re the kind of principled, proven leaders we need.”
Veterans for change
The executive and advisory boards consist of veterans, congressional counsel, political activists, and strategists. Young and seasoned veterans are represented in an advisory capacity, as are business executives, Gold Star family members, and authors. Notable Senior Veteran Advisors include Michael Mullen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and John Estrada, former Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago.
Barcott has appeared on programs such as NPR’s All Things Considered, MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Time Magazine’s online Politics and Congress section, and CSPAN to promote this mission. Veteran’s Day, November 11, offered the founders a great opportunity to bring their message to the forefront of the news cycle while appealing to the public’s desire to support veterans.
