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Alpha Democrat

@alphademocrat.bsky.social

142 followers 197 following 212 posts

News & analysis on veteran Democrat candidates in competitive races -Race coverage: Senate, House, redistricting -Data-driven reporting on who's running and why it matters -2026 midterms tracker 🔗 alphademocrat.com

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 7h

Don Davis Was the Only Member of the House to Vote Present on the Sports Bill. His Answer Is an Air Force Academy Football Field. alphademocrat.com/don-davis-sp...

alphademocrat.com

Don Davis Sports Ad Answers a Vote He Never Cast

The Don Davis sports ad backs North Carolina’s ban from a football field. In 2025 he was the only House member to vote present on the federal bill.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

A Retiring Guard Colonel Said the Cut Might Be Warranted. The Senators Who Never Served Made the Bigger Claims. alphademocrat.com/hegseth-flag...

alphademocrat.com

Hegseth Flag Officer Cuts Split the Senate’s Veterans

The Hegseth flag officer cuts drew objections from both parties. The senators who served granted the premise. The ones who did not made the bigger claims.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Does a Uniform Win Votes? The Test We Set Before 3 November. youtu.be/NAdAOeZyeec

Does a Uniform Win Votes? The Test We Set Before 3 November

YouTube video by Alpha Democrat

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

Troops Stood at a D.C. Ballot Box on Thursday. In June a Guardsman Said Nobody Had Told Him Not To. alphademocrat.com/national-gua...

alphademocrat.com

National Guard Ballot Drop Box Incident Repeats in D.C.

Troops were filmed at a National Guard ballot drop box in D.C. on 8 October. The same thing happened in June, and no order ever reached the street.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

18 September: Pentagon says 18 Americans dead in the Iran war. Six officials tell the Washington Post it’s 22 or 23. Hegseth calls the report a lie. 9 October: the department quietly revises its own count to 21, and won’t confirm it changed. alphademocrat.com/pentagon-cas...

alphademocrat.com

Pentagon Casualty Count Rose After Hegseth Denial

The Pentagon casualty count for the Iran war rose from 18 to 21 three weeks after Hegseth called higher reporting a lie. Nobody announced the change.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Honeycutt Said Lacore Was “Removed From the Table.” Lacore Said Her Opponent Has Never Worn the Uniform. alphademocrat.com/lacore-honey...

alphademocrat.com

Lacore Honeycutt Debate: The Firing, the Uniform and Iran

In the Lacore Honeycutt debate, the admiral Hegseth fired said her opponent has never worn the uniform. Her answer on Iran was the stronger one.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Hegseth gave the Lincoln's crew the military's top unit award on Wednesday. The same day Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Marine veteran, asked two watchdogs to investigate how that crew was supplied. Congress is out until November. alphademocrat.com/uss-lincoln-...

alphademocrat.com

USS Lincoln Homecoming: An Award and Two Investigation Requests

The USS Lincoln homecoming brought a unit citation from Hegseth and two investigation requests from Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Marine veteran, on the same day.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Colorado Springs: five military bases, a congressman who never served, and an Army paratrooper running against him in wartime. Cook says Lean Republican. alphademocrat.com/killin-crank...

alphademocrat.com

Killin vs. Crank: Colorado's Fifth Tests the Veteran Thesis

Killin, an Army veteran, has pulled Crank's Colorado Springs seat to Lean Republican. It's the cleanest test yet of whether a service record wins votes.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Zach Dembo Spent Four Years in the Navy. Kentucky’s Sixth District Knows Him as the Prosecutor. alphademocrat.com/dembo-alvara...

alphademocrat.com

Dembo vs. Alvarado: Kentucky's Sixth and the Unmentioned Navy

Dembo leads Alvarado in his own poll of Kentucky's Sixth, a Trump +15 seat. He's a Navy veteran, but the race is running on Beshear, Trump and Bevin.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Hegseth Ordered a Military Voting Day. Only One in Four Troops Voted in the Last Midterm. alphademocrat.com/hegseth-mili...

alphademocrat.com

Hegseth Military Voting Order: Good Policy, Wrong Messenger

The Hegseth military voting stand-down gives troops a day to register and request ballots. Only 26% voted in 2022, and the secretary campaigns.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

The Senate Toss-Ups Have Two Veterans on the Ballot. Both Are Republicans, and Both Trail. alphademocrat.com/senate-veter...

alphademocrat.com

Senate Veteran Nominees: Two in the Toss-Ups, Both Republican

Cook's nine competitive Senate races have no Democratic veteran nominees. The two veterans in the toss-ups, Sullivan and Rogers, are Republicans who trail.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Seven Republicans voted to end the Iran war on 15 September. Four have served, and three hold toss-ups against Democrats who never did. Kiggans and Van Orden, both veterans, voted no, as did every GOP senator who served. alphademocrat.com/republican-v...

alphademocrat.com

Republican Veterans War Powers Vote: Four of Seven Served

Four of the seven Republicans who voted for the Iran war powers resolution are veterans. Other Republican veterans in tight races voted no.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Hegseth defended his purge of the top ranks at Quantico on Wednesday. Nancy Lacore, an admiral he fired, faces Jenny Costa Honeycutt in SC-01. The firing raised her money, and Cook still rates the seat Likely Republican. alphademocrat.com/lacore-honey...

alphademocrat.com

Lacore Honeycutt Hegseth: A Fired Admiral on SC-01's Ballot

Hegseth defended his cuts to the top ranks on Wednesday. Lacore, an admiral he fired, faces Honeycutt in SC-01, a seat that still leans Republican.

Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The Navy Confirmed Eight Suicide Attempts in the Lincoln Strike Group as the Carrier Heads Home alphademocrat.com/uss-lincoln-...

alphademocrat.com

USS Lincoln Hearings Sought After the Navy's Letter

Democrats want USS Lincoln hearings after the Navy confirmed eight suicide attempts across the strike group during a record 286 days at sea.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Rebecca Bennett used her Navy record on one subject at Sunday's NJ-07 debate: the Iran war, which she also tied to gas prices. She passed on tying Tom Kean Jr. to Trump and left his absence alone. Her stumble came when a moderator asked for her net worth. alphademocrat.com/bennett-kean...

alphademocrat.com

Bennett Kean Rahway Debate: The Navy Came Up on Iran

At the Bennett Kean Rahway debate, the Navy veteran used her service on the Iran war and ran on prices everywhere else, then stalled on her own net worth.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

In NY-17, Republican Groups Are Outspending Democrats Three to One Against a Combat Veteran alphademocrat.com/conley-lawle...

alphademocrat.com

Conley Lawler Spending Gap: Republicans Lead Three to One

The Conley Lawler spending gap in NY-17 runs three to one toward Republican groups, and the attack on air targets her AI consulting, not her Army service.

Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Missouri's map fight is over for this election. The Supreme Court restored the 2022 lines on Friday, with no noted dissents, and told the lower courts to stop. Ballots already printed on those lines stand, and Fred Wellman's race against Ann Wagner is on again. alphademocrat.com/missouri-map...

alphademocrat.com

Missouri Map Supreme Court Order Restores the 2022 Lines

The Missouri map Supreme Court order restores the 2022 lines for November, settles Fred Wellman's district and leaves our own correction needing an update.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Bennett and Kean Get One Debate on Sunday, and She Asked for Six alphademocrat.com/bennett-kean...

alphademocrat.com

Bennett Kean Debate: One Night, Six Weeks to Go

The only Bennett Kean debate runs 90 minutes on Sunday in Union County, and three in ten NJ-07 voters still have no opinion of the Navy veteran.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Inside Elections Moved NC-01 Toward Don Davis and Named a Betting Scandal as One Reason alphademocrat.com/davis-buckho...

alphademocrat.com

Davis Buckhout Rating Change Moves NC-01 a Step

The Davis Buckhout rating change moves NC-01 to Tilt Republican, and the stated reasons are Cooper's coattails and a betting ban, not service records.

Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Missouri’s Map Changed Again on Monday, Three Days After the Ballots Went Out alphademocrat.com/missouri-map...

alphademocrat.com

Missouri Map Ruling: Appeals Court Backs the 2025 Lines

The Missouri map ruling from the 8th Circuit puts November on the 2025 Republican lines, stayed until 28 September, and it corrects our piece last week.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

JoAnna Mendoza spent 20 years in the Marines and is running on prices. Juan Ciscomani is running on his record, including his work for veterans. She has out-raised him, $7.35M to $6.17M. He has more cash on hand, $4.14M to $3.26M. The race is a Toss Up. alphademocrat.com/mendoza-cisc...

alphademocrat.com

Mendoza Ciscomani Arizona: The Marine Runs on Prices

In the Mendoza Ciscomani Arizona race, the Marine runs on prices while the incumbent touts veterans, and she has raised more but holds less cash.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

In Virginia’s Second District, Two Navy Veterans Are Now Running on Their Veterans’ Records alphademocrat.com/luria-kiggan...

alphademocrat.com

Luria Kiggans Veterans Record: Early Voting Opens in VA-02

The Luria Kiggans veterans record fight reaches early voters in VA-02, and one fact is checkable: Kiggans did not sign the Star Act discharge petition.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Michigan’s Seventh Lost Its Navy SEAL in August and the Democrat Is Still Ahead by Two alphademocrat.com/lawrence-bar...

alphademocrat.com

Lawrence Barrett Michigan: The Seat That Lost Its SEAL

In the Lawrence Barrett Michigan race, the Democrat who beat a Navy SEAL in the primary leads by two, and the party has only now started funding him.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Rebecca Bennett, a Navy veteran, leads Tom Kean Jr. 47-42 in the first independent poll of NJ-07, and Sabato moved the seat to Leans Democratic. We credit her service record. The crosstabs credit household prices and the incumbent's approval rating. alphademocrat.com/bennett-kean...

alphademocrat.com

Bennett Kean New Jersey Poll: A Five-Point Lead in NJ-07

The first independent Bennett Kean New Jersey poll gives the Navy veteran a five-point lead, and the internals credit household prices, not her service.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The Star Act Petition Hit 218 on Tuesday and the House Left Town the Next Day Category: Veteran Leadership alphademocrat.com/star-act-dis...

alphademocrat.com

Star Act Discharge Petition Hits 218, and the Vote Waits

The Star Act discharge petition reached 218 signatures on 15 September, then the House left town, so combat-injured veterans wait until November.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Maine’s Second District Can’t Tell Us How Much of Jared Golden’s Edge Came From the Marines alphademocrat.com/dunlap-lepag...

alphademocrat.com

Dunlap LePage Maine Race: Golden's Seat Without the Marine

Dunlap and LePage face off in Maine's 2nd District without Jared Golden, a Marine who outran Harris by nearly 10 points. What the race can and can't show.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Missouri will use its 2022 congressional map in November. For Army veteran Fred Wellman, that means facing Ann Wagner on lines she won by 12 in 2024, not the district redrawn last year to make her safer. Cook now rates it Likely Republican. #MOpol alphademocrat.com/wellman-wagn...

alphademocrat.com

Wellman Wagner Missouri Map: November Runs on the 2022 Lines

The Wellman Wagner race moves to Missouri's 2022 map after a Supreme Court stay, dropping a county where Fred Wellman's primary rival beat him by 21 points.

Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Two veterans are on the ballot in North Carolina's first district. The Republican served 26 years and commanded troops in Iraq. The Democrat served about eight in the Air Force. If service helps candidates win... #NC01 alphademocrat.com/davis-buckho...

alphademocrat.com

Davis Buckhout Rematch: The Republican Served Longer

In the Davis Buckhout rematch in NC-01, the Republican served 26 years in the Army and the Democrat about eight in the Air Force. Ballots are out.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Congress Has Passed a Defense Bill Every Year Since 1961. Tammy Duckworth Is Helping Block This One. alphademocrat.com/duckworth-nd...

alphademocrat.com

Duckworth NDAA Iran Amendment Stalls Defense Bill

The Duckworth NDAA Iran amendment has kept the defense bill off the Senate floor since July, and Congress has one week left before November.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

House Democrats have named what they would do to the Pentagon with subpoena power. Pat Ryan and Cait Conley are both making the case in toss-up seats. All of it is conditional on a majority they do not have yet. alphademocrat.com/pat-ryan-heg...

alphademocrat.com

Pat Ryan Hegseth Oversight Threat Needs a Majority

Pat Ryan Hegseth oversight moved from complaint to promise this week, and every bit of it depends on Democrats winning the House in November.

Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

New polling: 5% of Democrats say Iraq was worth fighting, 9% say it of Afghanistan. Sullivan, Moulton, Vindman and Crosswell all served in that era and all lost primaries this summer to Democrats who never served. alphademocrat.com/september-11...

alphademocrat.com

September 11 Veteran Candidates 25 Years Later

Twenty-five years on, the September 11 veteran candidates are running as Democrats in a party where 5 percent say Iraq was worth fighting.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

New Hampshire's first district ran a veteran in each primary last night. The Democrat lost by two points after outspending everyone. The Republican lost by 25. alphademocrat.com/shaheen-sull...

alphademocrat.com

Shaheen Beats Sullivan in New Hampshire Primary

The Shaheen Sullivan New Hampshire primary ended 37.2 to 34.9. Veterans ran in both first district primaries and both of them lost.

Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Four veterans are running as independents for the Senate in red states. VoteVets endorsed exactly one, passing over a Democrat who served 21 years in the Air Force. Its stated reason was electability, not service. alphademocrat.com/veteran-inde...

alphademocrat.com

Veteran Independent Senate Candidates and VoteVets

Four veteran independent Senate candidates are on red-state ballots. VoteVets endorsed one and passed over a 21-year Air Force officer.

Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Hegseth has fired or blocked roughly 80 generals and admirals. The Army now has no confirmed secretary or chief of staff. The sharpest attack this week came from a retiring Republican. What is the purge worth to veteran Democrats? alphademocrat.com/hegseth-purg...

alphademocrat.com

Hegseth Purge Gives Veteran Democrats a Case

The Hegseth purge handed veteran Democrats their strongest oversight case of the cycle. Only Nancy Lacore is running on it in November.

Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

The Navy Emptied Asia to Relieve the Lincoln. The Candidates Who Noticed the Lincoln Have Not Mentioned It. alphademocrat.com/pacific-carr...

alphademocrat.com

What the Pacific Carrier Gap Means for 2026 Campaigns

To bring the Lincoln home, the Navy emptied Asia. The Pacific carrier gap is the third since 2000, and no veteran Democrat is campaigning on it yet.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Two candidates in the NH-01 Democratic primary have service records. A Marine combat veteran leads at 24%. A serving Army National Guard captain is at 4%. Service is not the variable here. Money and organisation are. alphademocrat.com/new-hampshir...

alphademocrat.com

New Hampshire Veteran Candidates Face Tuesday's Vote

Three polls put Maura Sullivan ahead. But two New Hampshire veteran candidates are in this field, and the second one is polling at just four percent.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Moulton spent $7.1m to Markey's $3.9m and took 35 percent. Among Democrats under 40, the 80-year-old led 66-34 in the final Emerson poll. The generational argument never landed. But his PAC is 13 for 14 this cycle. alphademocrat.com/serve-americ...

alphademocrat.com

Serve America PAC After the Moulton Primary Defeat

Moulton lost by thirty points with a two-to-one spending edge. Serve America PAC still went thirteen for fourteen on nominations this cycle.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

The Ford broke the post-Vietnam record in April after Venezuela and Iran. Nothing happened politically. The Lincoln got a Pentagon review in August. What changed wasn't the argument. It was that the crew's families talked. alphademocrat.com/navy-carrier...

alphademocrat.com

Navy Carrier Readiness and the Veteran Democrats

The Ford broke the record in April and nothing happened. Navy carrier readiness only became a campaign issue when the Lincoln's families talked.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Ruben Gallego, a Marine who fought in Iraq, asked to board the USS Abraham Lincoln. No delegation ever went. The six who got a Pentagon review had no service between them. What they had was the homeport. alphademocrat.com/uss-abraham-...

alphademocrat.com

USS Abraham Lincoln Oversight and the Veteran Democrats

The USS Abraham Lincoln gave veteran Democrats their best material of 2026. Six non-veterans from San Diego got the Pentagon review instead.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

This. "Once you have replaced the principle of equality with the idea that humans are unequal, you have granted your approval to the idea of rulers and servants. At that point, all you can do is to hope that no one in power decides that you belong in one of the lesser groups."

heathercoxrichardson.substack.com

August 29, 2026

On Thursday, August 27, Tolouse Olorunnipa reported on the attempts of Republican lawmakers to restrict the ability of naturalized and dual citizens to run for office.

Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

A reporter went through Maura Sullivan's resume this week. Six years in the Obama administration was really two. She wasn't in government when the ACA passed. #NHpolitics #2026Midterms alphademocrat.com/maura-sulliv...

alphademocrat.com

Maura Sullivan Resume Claims: What the Record Shows

NHPR found three Maura Sullivan resume claims that overstate her civilian government record. Her Marine Corps service was never in question.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

A candidate quit New Hampshire's first district race on Monday and told the other progressives to do the same. Meanwhile the Saint Anselm crosstab shows Sullivan tied among Democrats and six points up with independents. #NHpolitics alphademocrat.com/new-hampshir...

alphademocrat.com

New Hampshire First District Primary: The Left Consolidates

Heath Howard quit the New Hampshire first district primary and backed Carleigh Beriont. The Marine still leads, but only because of independents.

Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Alaska’s Marine Colonel Finished Five Points Behind. He Says That’s Happened Before. alphademocrat.com/alaska-senat...

alphademocrat.com

Alaska Senate Primary: Peltola Leads Sullivan by Five

In the Alaska Senate primary, Peltola took 48.2 percent to Sullivan's 42.9. She never served; he is a Marine colonel. She led in 2024 too.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Maura Sullivan has led exactly one poll of the NH-01 Democratic primary, and it's this one: 26-24 over Stefany Shaheen, fielded 17-18 August by Saint Anselm. Inside a 5.2-point margin. The markets still favor Shaheen. #NHpolitics alphademocrat.com/maura-sulliv...

alphademocrat.com

Maura Sullivan New Hampshire Primary: First Lead, Late

A Saint Anselm poll gives the Maura Sullivan New Hampshire primary bid its first lead, 26-24 over Stefany Shaheen. The betting markets aren't convinced.

Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Seth Moulton built the veteran recruitment pipeline. Serve America has helped elect 38 Democrats since 2017. Now he trails Markey 60-32 a week before the primary, and the UMass poll shows him losing veterans as well. alphademocrat.com/moulton-mark...

alphademocrat.com

Moulton Markey Senate Primary: Veterans Back the Incumbent

In the Moulton Markey Senate primary, the man who built the veteran recruitment pipeline trails by 28 points, and he trails among veterans too.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Peltola 48.2. Sullivan 42.9. She never served. He retired a Marine Corps colonel. But she led her 2024 primary with 51 percent and lost that November. Alaska has run this experiment before. #VeteranDemocrats #2026Midterms alphademocrat.com/alaska-senat...

alphademocrat.com

Alaska Senate Primary: Peltola Leads Sullivan by Five

In the Alaska Senate primary, Peltola took 48.2 percent to Sullivan's 42.9. She never served; he is a Marine colonel. She led in 2024 too.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Four veteran Democrats ran in Florida. The two with money lost. Vindman raised $16.3M to Nixon's $975K and lost 56-44. McAuley outspent Overman three to one and lost by six. #VeteranDemocrats #2026Midterms alphademocrat.com/florida-vete...

alphademocrat.com

Florida Veteran Democrats Primary: Two Won, Two Lost

In the Florida veteran Democrats primary, Alex Vindman lost 56-44 after outraising Angie Nixon sixteen to one. Darren McAuley also lost.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Four women veterans started a group chat. Three are now Democratic nominees in toss-ups. Bennett NJ-07. Conley NY-17. Mendoza AZ-06. Eight women veterans hold seats. Five are Republicans. #WomenVeterans #2026Midterms alphademocrat.com/women-vetera...

alphademocrat.com

Women Veteran Candidates 2026: A Record Field, Eight Seats

A record 95 women veteran candidates ran in 2026 and most are Democrats. Only eight women veterans sit in Congress, and five are Republicans.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Anna King is a retired Army captain with a Purple Heart. In May, National Guard soldiers zip-tied her outside her home. She is suing. #VeteranDemocrats #NationalGuard alphademocrat.com/national-gua...

alphademocrat.com

National Guard in Washington Until 2029: The Veteran Case

The National Guard mission in Washington now runs to 2029. Veteran Democrats argued against it for a year and troop numbers grew five-fold.

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Alpha Democrat @alphademocrat.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Alaska votes Tuesday. Dan Sullivan gave the Marine Corps 30 years and retired a colonel. Mary Peltola never served. She has outraised him $18.5M to $11.7M and leads the last public poll, in a state Trump carried by 13 points. #akpol #2026Midterms alphademocrat.com/alaska-senat...

alphademocrat.com

Alaska Senate: Sullivan's Marine Record, Peltola's Lead

The Alaska Senate race puts Sullivan, a retired Marine colonel, against Peltola, who never served. She leads. Cook rates a Trump +13 state a toss-up.

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