More than three dozen former Airmen are running for Congress, including Democrats, Republicans, third-party and independent candidates, Air & Space Forces Magazine has found.
The diverse group includes both former officers and enlisted members whose service spanned the Active, Guard, and Reserve components. They include sitting members as well as newcomers to politics.
Meanwhile, some of Congress’ highest-profile veterans are departing the legislature. They include Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a retired brigadier general who has been deeply involved in legislation affecting his former service. Among the issues Bacon championed: recapitalizing Air National Guard fighter squadrons, rethinking pass-through funding in the Air Force budget, and a 2050 force design. Bacon’s district includes Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., home to U.S. Strategic Command.
Bacon is the highest-ranking among 15 Air Force veterans in the current Congress, and not the only one leaving. Also retiring are Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) and Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.). Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a “total force Airmen” who served in all three components, died unexpected in July.
Even so, the number of former Airmen in Congress could grow come January, depending on how the election turns out. A crop of new candidates either favored to win election or seen as competitive in their House races include:
- Chris McGowan (R-Iowa), heavily favored in his race, served in the Air Force and Iowa Air National Guard. Having attended Undergraduate Pilot Training, he reclassified as an intelligence officer, according to his official bio.
- Jace Yarborough (R-Texas), also heavily favored, has served on Active Duty and remains in the Air Force Reserve. A lawyer, he touts his legal work challenging the military over past “vaccine mandates, religious discrimination, taxpayer-funded abortion travel, and woke diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.”
- David Flippo (R-Nev.), slightly favored in his race, is a retired USAF lieutenant colonel and former maintenance and logistics officer. His official bio touts his work establishing “three combat bases in Iraq.,” Having said in the past that he received a Bronze Star for valor, he later apologized noting he received a Bronze Star without the valor device.
- Carlos De La Cruz (R-Texas), is competing in a race handicapped by pollsters as a toss-up. He served 20 years in the Air Force as a Military Working Dog handler and an intelligence professional, deploying multiple times to the Middle East.
- Rebecca Bennett (D-N.J.), is locked in a tight race. The former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot now serves in the Air National Guard.
- Eric Conroy (R-Ohio), is seen as a slight underdog in his race. The U.S. Air Force Academy grad, he is a former intelligence officer who worked with Special Operations units and later served in the CIA.
- Kristina Knickerbocker (D-Ohio) is also seen as a slight underdog. The Air Force major, a nurse who has served both on Active-Duty and in the Reserve, is running to represent the district that includes Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Combined with House incumbents running in safe seats and Senators not up for reelection this cycle, these Congressional newcomers could raise the number of former blue-suiters in the Capitol. Among them, former F-22 pilot Rep. August Pfluger is the lone fighter pilot. In September, at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber conference, Pfluger called for more “wingmen” to join him as legislators.
“I am the only fifth-generation pilot in Congress,” Pfluger said. “I need some wingmen to come join me. … God bless my Navy SEAL friends, and they are dear friends, but we’ve got a lot of them in Congress. What we don’t have is a lot of air and space expertise.”
Pfluger, facing little challenge, could be up for a leadership position in the Republican conference, depending on how the election goes, according to Punchbowl News.
Another Air Force vet whose leadership position could be affected by the larger midterm results is Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) The former Air Force JAG officer chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, but would become the ranking member if Democrats win the Senate.
Identified Air Force Veterans Running for Congress in 2026*
* Air & Space Forces Magazine made every effort to include all Air Force veterans running for Congress in this list. It is possible that one or more veterans who have not publicized their service may also be among the hundreds of challengers seeking seats in the House and Senate.