The Democrats’ latest strategy in their quest to regain male voters is to prop up female former intelligence officials and military veterans, insiders told Politico.
As the left contends with male voters leaving them in droves to vote red, Democratic insiders told Politico the party should throw their weight behind the likes of Democratic New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot who won New Jersey’s Democratic gubernatorial primary Tuesday.
“Candidates with records of service showed in 2018 their ability to win in the most challenging districts and states in the country,” Dan Sena, a former executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), said.
Alongside Sherrill, insiders reportedly touted former Democratic Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA agent who is also running for her state’s governorship. (RELATED: ‘Never Going To Get Them Back’: Dem Party’s Efforts To Win Male Voters Are Doomed, Its Own Strategists Say)
Beyond the two Congressional veterans, Politico zoomed in on the “Hellcats” group chat, a group of four female military veterans, all of whom are running for Congress.
“Right now, especially as this administration continues to create more chaos and dismantle our democracy, you’re seeing veterans continuing to answer the call to serve their country,” JoAnna Mendoza, a member of the Hellcats group chat, said.
Mendoza, a retired U.S. Marine, is running as a Democrat to challenge Republican Arizona Rep. Juan Ciscomani for his seat. Another Marine veteran in the group chat, Maura Sullivan, is running to replace Democratic New Hampshire Rep. Chris Pappas, who is running for Senate.
this is my vibe today #hellcats pic.twitter.com/9PoZMUSEjp
— Emily Cherniack (@echerniack) June 12, 2025
The other two members of the group chat are Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy officer running against New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom Kean and Cait Conley, an Army vet and former official with the National Security Council who is challenging Republican New York Rep. Mike Lawler.
Politico rounds out the piece highlighting the success of Democratic Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin. Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, delivered the Democrats’ response to President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress in March.
While the left touts her intelligence background as an asset, conservatives and independents seem more skeptical.
“Enter a woman who I believe is the establishment choice for the presidency. She does not serve, by her own admission, she does not serve only one ideology. She has worked for both Bush, I believe she worked for Obama,” comedian Tim Dillon claimed in May.
Slotkin served in Iraq for three tours and held national security posts at the Pentagon and the White House under both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, according to her U.S. Senate biography.
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