In recent years, the Democratic Party has increasingly embraced a strategy that prioritizes candidates with backgrounds in intelligence, military service, and the diplomacy of the Hillary Clinton State Department. This shift aligns them more closely with the military-industrial complex, as the party leverages “national security” credentials to position itself as the protector of American democracy against perceived threats, particularly from Trump and his supporters.
Anne Applebaum has been a notable proponent of this strategy, praising candidates from this cohort. However, the political reasoning is succinctly captured by Jennifer Rubin, a neoconservative columnist for The Washington Post, who expressed support for rising stars like Abigail Spanberger and Elissa Slotkin:
“At a time when deep tribalism pervades politics and the Republican Party has descended into reactionary nationalism, these are the sort of politicians … who can appeal to Democrats, independents and the kind of normal Republicans [who the] defeated and indicted former president Donald Trump alienated.”
Despite Rubin’s optimism, many candidates from this background have struggled in elections, raising questions about their appeal in a country weary of continuous warfare and in need of housing and healthcare solutions. Nonetheless, the Democratic Party continues to push forward with this strategy, elevating certain “national security” candidates. Spanberger was recently elected as the governor of Virginia, and Mikie Sherrill took the governorship in New Jersey. A more in-depth look at their results reveals that they outperformed Kamala Harris’s 2024 campaign, although their policy stances offer little distinction. Voter sentiment may have been influenced by economic frustrations, including masked ICE agents in neighborhoods and significant federal government budget cuts, particularly in Virginia.
Let’s examine the politicians with military and intelligence backgrounds who successfully secured office. We will also review their actions in power, focusing on the best-known figures from this group—specifically the newly elected governors and a third candidate preparing for higher office.
The following is a non-comprehensive list of recent Democrats (with many more existing on the GOP side) who have been elected to office with backgrounds in intelligence, military service, or the State Department. Please feel free to add more names in the comments:
- Jason Crow. Represents Colorado’s 6th Congressional District, covering southeast Denver. He led a paratrooper platoon during the invasion of Iraq and served with the Joint Special Operations Task Force in Afghanistan.
- Chrissy Houlahan. Represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District. She is a former US Air Force captain.
- Sara Jacobs. First elected in 2020, she represents California’s 51st Congressional District, encompassing suburban San Diego. Jacobs previously worked with Hillary Clinton on her campaign and held positions dealing with terrorism and conflict in East and West Africa.
- Andrew Kim. U.S. Senator from New Jersey. Initially a strategic adviser for Generals David Petraeus and John Allen in Afghanistan, he later became Obama’s director for Iraq.
- Amy McGrath. Although she is currently out of Congress, she was the first woman to complete a combat mission for the Marine Corps and pilot the F/A-18 in combat. She is running again after losing to Mitch McConnell in 2020.
- Patrick Ryan. Serving as the U.S. representative for New York’s 18th congressional district since 2023, he is a former U.S. Army intelligence officer.
- Mikie Sherrill. Recently elected governor of New Jersey, she previously served in the House representing New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District and has a background as a Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor.
- Abigail Spanberger. Governor-elect of Virginia and a three-term House Democratic Representative from Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, Spanberger worked as a CIA officer focusing on counterterrorism and nuclear proliferation.
- Elissa Slotkin. Serving as a senator from Michigan, Slotkin has held various positions under both Republican and Democratic administrations and developed a robust fundraising network.
Each of these politicians has leveraged their backgrounds in military or intelligence operations to fortify their public messages. For example, during her tenure, Spanberger has frequently highlighted her CIA experience in her committee work. Her support for Israel is robust; she stresses the importance of continued U.S. support in terms of intelligence and defense against threats like Hamas.
Despite her claims, Spanberger’s positions have occasionally drawn criticism from within her party, as she has notably opposed calls for a more progressive agenda aimed at the working class. As recent events illustrate, she hardly showed concern during discussions about government censorship that emerged from the Twitter Files.
Meanwhile, both she and Sherrill have endorsed traditional Democratic narratives, even as the party grapples with economic challenges affecting many voters. With rising healthcare costs and inflation, they claim to offer practical solutions, yet their historical records indicate limited action on these pressing issues.
The outcome of their recent election campaigns suggests that rising dissatisfaction with the current political landscape may allow them to ascend further in the party hierarchy, potentially positioning them as prominent figures in the 2028 election cycle.
As Spanberger and Sherrill prepare to take on greater roles, it remains to be seen whether they can effect real change within their states or if they will predominantly focus on maintaining their party lines amidst calls for accountability and reform. The coming years may serve as a litmus test for whether these “national security” Democrats can address the economic and social challenges facing the country effectively, or whether they will adhere to a status quo that prioritizes the interests of the elite.
