Veteran Democrats Make Opposition To The Iran War A Personal Midterm Pitch

Several Democratic congressional hopefuls with military backgrounds are centering their midterm campaigns on opposition to the Iran war, turning foreign-policy concerns into a personal appeal as they court voters in competitive districts.

Veterans On The Trail

Matt Maasdam, a retired Navy SEAL from Michigan who once carried the nuclear football for President Barack Obama, says he intentionally connects with fellow veterans while campaigning in the state’s 7th District. At a recent St. Patrick’s Day parade, Maasdam recalled meeting Iraq War veterans who voiced frustration that domestic priorities were being neglected.

“They say things like, ‘I was in Baghdad’ — and I can say this, too — ‘I was in Baghdad when I watched America rebuild all their roads. I want to see America rebuild our roads,’” Maasdam told NBC News.

Cait Conley, an Army veteran campaigning in New York’s 17th District, described meetings with local veterans worried about “getting thrust into yet another endless war” and about conflicts diverting attention from issues facing families at home. “That frustration is palpable,” she said.

Nancy Lacore, a retired vice admiral running in South Carolina’s 1st District after being removed as chief of the Navy Reserve, said the Iran conflict has reawakened memories of her deployments to Afghanistan. “I feel like I’m holding my breath,” she said, warning of the risk of another multidecade war.

Where These Races Stand

All three are competing in Democratic primaries or challenging Republican incumbents in districts the party is targeting this fall: Conley is challenging Rep. Mike Lawler in a district Vice President Kamala Harris carried last year; Maasdam is positioning to take on GOP Rep. Tom Barrett in a swing Michigan seat; and Lacore is running in an open, red-leaning South Carolina district vacated by Rep. Nancy Mace, who is running for governor.

Each candidate expressed skepticism about tentative ceasefire proposals and emphasizes how the war abroad is affecting everyday Americans at home — from higher energy costs to diverted federal attention from domestic needs.

“People are mad about what we’re doing over there, but they’re also mad about the impact it’s having here,” Lacore said, pointing to rising costs and strained priorities.

Political Ramifications And Messaging

Veterans remain politically valuable recruits for both parties. Former Rep. Max Rose, an Army veteran and senior adviser to VoteVets, said the Iran war has reinforced the themes of these campaigns. VoteVets has run ads linking the conflict to higher gas prices in several contests, and industry tracker AdImpact counts more than 160 ads mentioning Iran since March 1 — roughly two-thirds of them from Democratic candidates and groups.

Energy costs are already a talking point: the national average price for a gallon of gas rose to about $4.18, according to AAA — the highest level since the start of the conflict.

In Maine, Democrat Graham Platner, an Iraq- and Afghanistan-era veteran, is using opposition to the Iran war in his primary challenge to Sen. Susan Collins. Supporters at recent events cited the war as a motivating concern for their votes.

Broader Context

Across the Atlantic, King Charles III delivered a rare address to the U.S. Congress praising the long U.K.–U.S. partnership and acknowledging “times of conflict from Europe to the Middle East,” though he did not explicitly reference the Iran war. Back in Washington, other political stories — from an assassination attempt at a high-profile dinner to debates over federal spending and legal battles involving high-profile figures — continue to shape the broader news environment as the midterms approach.

As Election Day nears, these veteran candidates are using their service and clear opposition to the Iran war to draw contrasts with Republican incumbents and to connect with voters worried about foreign entanglements and their domestic consequences.