Veterans Aren’t Taking the Hill

Vets Aren’t Taking the Congress Hill

The final results are still up in the air, but it looks like this election likely will continue the long trend of declining veteran presence in the
House and Senate.

In the current 110th Congress, only 28% of U.S. senators and 23% of U.S. Representatives have served in the military (active duty, Guard, or Reserve). That percentage has been declining steadily since it peaked at 74% in the House (1969-70) and 78% in the Senate (1977-78). (See the post-WWII year-by-year changes)

Not all of the results are in yet, but it looks like this year’s election will continue that downward trend.  In the Senate, there are ten certain seat changes so far, including Senators Obama and Biden. Three of the departures are vets, and none of the eight known replacements are. Of the three remaining open races, the only incumbent vet is Sen. Stevens (R-AK), and the only vet challenger is for Sen. Chambliss’ (R-GA) seat.

That means the new Senate will have a minimum of 25 vets, but could have up to 29 if both veterans still in contention win and if vets are
appointed by the Illinois and Delaware governors to fill the Obama and Biden seats.

In the House, there are 50 certain seat changes so far. Fifteen of the departures are vets, and only 12 of the replacements are.

Interestingly, all six remaining open House races have a veteran in play. In three cases — Reps. Goode (R-VA), Jefferson (D-LA), and
Reichart (R-WA) — the incumbent is a vet and the challenger is not. In the other three, the challenger is a vet and the incumbent is not.

So the new House will have a minimum of 93 veterans (a decline to 21.4%) and would stay at 99 (22.8%) only if the veteran is elected in all six still-undecided races.