They Served Then. They Continue to Serve Now — Leading America Forward.
When I co-founded With Honor in 2017 with U.S. Marine Corps veteran Peter Dixon and the late David Gergen, a longtime presidential advisor and U.S. Navy veteran, we shared a simple but powerful truth: that one way to heal America’s growing partisanship, especially in Congress, was to elect more principled veterans. David often pointed to leaders like Senators Daniel Inouye and Bob Dole, both Army veterans of WWII, as reminders of what’s possible when our civic culture is strong and our leaders work across divides. “On the whole,” he wrote, “that generation raised our sights about what is possible when our civic culture is strong and our leaders work across divides.”
Today, as trust in nearly every major institution continues to erode, one group still stands apart: those who have served. This Veterans Day, a landmark survey conducted in partnership with Gallup and the With Honor Institute reveals a clear trend. Despite the division and cynicism in our politics, Americans still hold veterans in high esteem. They trust us to lead with integrity, to put country over party, and to help bridge what divides us.
Trust Forged in Service
In a nationwide survey of more than 2,000 adults, 55 percent of Americans say military service makes them more likely to vote for a candidate, compared with just 7 percent who say it makes them less likely to vote. That level of confidence is virtually unmatched by any other background — political, corporate, or academic.
Americans associate veterans with the very qualities our democracy needs most. Eighty-two percent say veterans possess strong leadership skills. Seventy-eight percent believe they put the nation’s interests ahead of their own. Seventy-seven percent agree they work effectively across differences. These aren’t just favorable impressions, but the result of values shaped through real experiences under pressure, where teamwork, accountability, and a commitment to the mission take precedence.
Leaders Beyond the Uniform
Veterans have already proven their courage, answering the call to protect our nation when it mattered most. Today, many continue that service in new arenas, bringing integrity, civility, and courage to the boardroom, the classroom, and, yes, even to Congress.
Take the current generation of veterans who have stepped up to serve in Congress. Leaders like Representatives Don Bacon and Chrissy Houlahan, who, despite standing on opposite sides of the aisle, joined forces to deliver a historic 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members.
Or Senators Todd Young and Mark Kelly, who are driving forward transformative legislation to overhaul, rebuild, and revitalize America’s shipbuilding capacity, a cornerstone of our national strength.
Leadership like this isn’t forged in isolation; a shared background of service, sacrifice, and teamwork shapes it. Whether on critical issues affecting our national defense, such as service member health, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence, or expanding opportunities for all Americans to serve, in and out of uniform, these veterans in Congress are demonstrating what principled leadership looks like.
The Gallup–With Honor Study
That’s why With Honor partnered with Gallup to understand better a vital question: how can the character and leadership developed through military service help heal our divisions at home?
The study’s findings reveal that Americans’ trust in veterans extends far beyond the realm of elections. 83% say they trust veterans to lead disaster response efforts. Seventy percent trust them to help shape foreign policy. Sixty-eight percent trust veterans to serve effectively in community leadership roles. In short, Americans see veterans not only as defenders of the nation but as pragmatic problem-solvers at home.
Restoring Purpose to Public Life
A new generation of veterans across the nation is stepping into the political arena. After our first election cycle in 2018, the veterans that With Honor supported came together to found the For Country Caucus, a group of now-37 U.S. representatives not drawn together by any ideological or political litmus test, but by their shared military background and commitment to putting their country before themselves.
Looking ahead to the 2026 midterms, an upward trend is expected among veterans from both parties running for office. To date, With Honor is tracking 474 verified veteran candidates running in federal races across the country. Of these candidates, 395 are running for the House, and 79 are running for the Senate. With just over seven months to go until the final federal candidate filing deadlines, and with likely more open seats, retirements, and new district lines to come, veteran candidates are on track to outperform their numbers from last cycle, in which 513 veterans across both chambers ran. These candidates are stepping forward to serve again, this time, in a different uniform. Their sense of duty, discipline, and results-oriented approach can help restore civility and purpose to our governance. But they can’t do it alone. They need a nation willing to support leaders who put the country above party and service above self-interest.
A Call to Trust and Follow
For a weary and divided electorate, that example matters. Americans are searching for leaders who stand for something larger than themselves. Veterans have already proven they can do that. The data confirm what most of us already know in our hearts: service builds character, and character builds trust.
This Veterans Day, let’s do more than offer gratitude. Let’s give those who’ve earned our trust the opportunity to lead once again — in our communities, in our institutions, and in our politics. Because when veterans lead, America is stronger, steadier, and more united.
Rye Barcott is the Co-Founder & CEO of With Honor Action. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq, Bosnia, and the Horn of Africa.
