Military service gives Democratic candidates an edge
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Evan Munsing is a first-time politician navigating a crowded Democratic primary for Colorado's 8th Congressional District, one of the most contested seats in the nation.
Yes, but: It's not the toughest job on his resume. The former Marine first lieutenant previously led a platoon deployed to Afghanistan, where he served as an adviser to the Afghan military.
- "Good people sometimes don't step up for office because they see the hurdles," he said in an interview. "But that's why it is so important for us … as veterans to stand up, to do the hard work to overcome those hurdles, to serve the country."
Why it matters: Munsing and two other first-time Democratic congressional candidates — Jessica Killin and Eileen Laubacher — are leaning on their military service to build cross-partisan appeal in the 2026 election in three Colorado districts held by Republicans.
What they're saying: "Colorado is a case in point for what we're doing nationwide," said Max Rose, a former New York congressman and adviser to VoteVets PAC, which helps recruit and support Democratic veterans.
- "The common element … is that they are perfectly well-suited to build trust amongst their constituents … and describe how this president and Republicans have failed their constituents on issues like affordability, on issues like preventing forever wars."
The intrigue Munsing believes his military background will put him on equal footing with Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, who served 12 years in the Army, including a Middle East combat deployment, and flew helicopters in the Colorado Army National Guard.
The big picture: Democratic candidates for governor in New Jersey and Virginia campaigned extensively on their military and intelligence backgrounds and both cruised to victory in November's elections.
- The Democratic Party wants to recruit veteran candidates across the country, an effort led in part by U.S. Rep. Jason Crow of Aurora, a former Army Ranger.
By the numbers: Colorado counts 340,000 military veterans, or 7.4% of the adult population, which exceeds the national average. About 40,000 more are active duty.
Zoom in: Killin and Laubacher hope to win broad support as they challenge Republicans without military service in deeply red districts.
Killin is looking to defeat incumbent U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank in the 5th District, home to multiple military bases near Colorado Springs.
- She is an Army veteran who served as a captain and paratrooper, deploying overseas for peacekeeping missions, she said.
- Crank emphasizes that his father served in the Navy and fought in World War II.
In the 4th District, Laubacher takes on U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, whose record on military issues is mixed.
- Laubacher served 34 years in the Navy, following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather, and became an admiral in 2018. She deployed to Afghanistan in 2009.
- She's pledging to work across the aisle, a clear difference from Boebert, who is best known as a conservative firebrand.
The bottom line: Veterans are not "considered your typical Democrat," Laubacher acknowledged. But with her military experience, "I can walk into rooms that other Democrats have a hard time getting into."