Newsletter

August 1, 2025

Our Strategic Goals

★  Support Veterans and their Families

★  Defend our Constitution as Written and Amended

★  Protect the Nation at Home and Abroad 

Attention: Check Out AVV's Website and Join Us Here!

Bob Wood

CEO, American Veterans Vote

LTG (R), US Army

 Afterall, in the military, a campaign is a series of military operations intended to achieve a particular objective confined to a particular area, or involving a specified type of fighting.  

Think D-Day, the multinational, amphibious invasion to re-enter Europe and defeat Germany in WWII or, more recently, Operation Midnight Hammer, the Joint mission to strike and destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Outcomes were dramatic and important in each case. More importantly, each were strikingly successful against the clear likelihood of failure. 

In politics, it seems each election campaign in each district or locality is an end in and of itself. Post wins and losses, readjust the legislature, and barely reflect on past campaigns at all. Scottie Scheffler, the world’s best golfer, unwittingly offered a very similar description of political success recently when he noted just how hard PGA golfers work to win but how short is the time they have to celebrate victory. It’s off to the next tournament. In politics, it's off to the next session, next fund raiser, next press event. God bless those who step forward to represent us in elected office, but will anything really change?

Fellow Veterans and Veteran Supporters, may I highlight President Donald J. Trump. As we’ve seen in slightly more than six months, elections have consequences, to the max. America First is resetting international trade, national security, alliances, economies, and much more. It is returning manufacturing to the U.S., restoring and strengthening key supply chains, confronting looming enemies, and disrupting the status quo from universities to media markets. The economy is booming, inflation remains low, and markets have risen.  

All this positive change and welcome momentum is confounding the Democratic Party which remains leaderless with no clear answers or alternative policies to improve lives for all Americans. Dispirited party elders speak of the search for a “savior,” an outsider, a welcome executive from the ranks of barely known governors. They fear Zohran Mamdani in New York City is leading their party even further to the left. He is.

It's a fact. Only elections in “purple” Virginia matter this year nationally. Just one other state, all “blue” New Jersey, holds similar state and local elections this year. Outcomes in the Commonwealth will be dramatic and important across all races and campaigns, up and down the ballot. All results will confirm or deny potential hope and direction to a Democratic Party lost in so many ways. From the 2025 results in Virginia to the 2026 midterm elections nationally, Democrats hope to spin new narratives and stop President Trump and his America First campaign.

Thankfully, the Republican Party of Virginia recognizes the stakes and has launched a critical campaign, Victory Virginia, to unite GOP candidates, integrate statewide actions, meet collective goals, and achieve very consequential outcomes – win elections up and down the ballot, sustain America First momentum, implement common sense solutions, and signal an end to “crazy” Democratic ideologies in Virginia.

Veteran and Veteran Supporters must play an important role in execution of this strategy. In Virginia, election after election, Republican voting Veterans outnumber our fellow Democratic voting Veterans, 62% to 38%. Elections are ours to win IF WE GET OUT TO VOTE! We have the numbers, the reach, and the right to produce change at the ballot box but we must follow through – Every Veteran, Every Vote, EVERY ELECTION – in local, district, and state races.  

As Veterans and Veteran Supporters, we understand UNITY OF EFFORT, INITIATIVE, MASS, and MOMENTUM. We need to exploit the impact of unity of effort in these 100 days ahead. AVV will help with information, alerts, and tools. But in all cases, we need Veterans to exercise initiative, to mass this year for local wins, to sustain national momentum.

VOTE, VOLUNTEER, AND LEAD.

VETERANS FORWARD.

Bob Wood

LTG (R), US Army

CEO, American Veterans Vote

Please donate to AVV at our website

Inspiration Corner

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Michael B. (Yama) Hoyes

COL (R), USAF

While reading Proverbs 27, these words stuck out from verse 17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Well, that took me back to something we all as veterans have experienced…BASIC TRAINING!

No matter what background we brought to our military service, whether a “legacy” trainee with family members who had served, or like me, someone with absolutely no prior military affiliation, we came from sea to shining sea, from Alaska to Hawaii and beyond to join…to serve.

No matter what military career field, we may have heard sharpening corrections such as “Don’t you be eyeballing me boy” (a great line from the movie “An Officer and a Gentleman”). And we learned to sharpen each other. We forged together becoming one through obstacle/assault courses and a host of other training events. We came to understand that we were no longer one individual, or even a group of individuals but one TEAM…and so we sharpened each other to become an incredible war machine.

We still have that in common, not just with those who served with us, but also “Army Strong,” “Semper Fi,” “Navy Strong,” “Long Blue Line,” “Airpower,” “Guardians” all terms that evoke a sharpening we must continue with those who follow… 

So, it is fitting that we continue to encourage our fellow veterans to vote. The opening phrase of the Preamble to our United States Constitution states, “We the People.” All of us have a job to do in running and preserving this nation. No one is going to do that job for us. Let’s be the iron that sharpens other iron in this regard, as we continue building the line of service to our nation.

 EVERY VETERAN, EVERY VOTE, EVERY ELECTION!

A Veteran's Perspective

Veterans Can Really Make a Difference

by

Col. Bill Coburn, USAF (Retired)

Ever wonder how you as a veteran can really make a difference? Navy Veteran and Representative Jen Kiggans provides an amazing story we can all learn from. 

The former Navy helicopter pilot, Nurse Practitioner, Navy wife and mom of 4 became disgusted with politics as usual and decided to run for political office in Virginia Beach. Jen literally got off her couch and put together a grassroots campaign for the Virginia State Senate, winning and serving for three sessions to help make the turnaround in our state government possible.      

In the Virginia Senate, Jen successfully championed legislation to promote election security, establish a military spouse liaison, and advocated for patients, families, and caregivers in long term care facilities. 

Jen observed the growing problems in Washington and resolved to do something about it.  She launched another grassroots campaign, this time for one of the most competitive seats in Congress. Working with her supporters, including many veterans and military family members, she managed to meet and win over common sense Conservatives and Independents to beat a two-term incumbent to flip Virginia’s Second Congressional District. In one of the most closely watched Congressional races, Jen’s victory and reelection helped secure a Republican majority in Congress. 

In Congress, Jen got to work for southeast Virginians as a tireless advocate for our military community and veterans. Serving on the House Armed Services Committee, Natural Resources Committee, and Veterans Affairs Committee, including chairing the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, she works on issues important to southeast Virginians every day.

Jen’s noteworthy commitment is bringing civility and competence to politics, so lacking in government at all levels. Jen desires to provide Virginians with the strong, independent leadership and representation in Congress they deserve. 

Jen remains focused on her mission to restore American strength by promoting a strong national defense, a safe and secure nation, and a prosperous economy for hard working and all Americans. Recent legislative victories include a 3.8% military pay raise, $13 billion shipbuilding program and Tricare medical improvements in the new National Defense Authorization Act. Jen also led the investigation and push for leadership changes at the Hampton VA Medical Center to resolve and improve critical care issues for thousands of Veterans. 

The example of Navy Veteran and Representative Jen Kiggans proves that veterans can make an enormous difference when we go out and do what Newt Gingrich calls “the hard work of freedom.” From Jen’s example, we know that we can mobilize our veterans and military family members, like-minded Conservatives and Independents to win close elections.

Grassroots campaigns with good message development and direct voter contact like door knocking, phone calls, meet and greets, and emphasis on early and mail-in voting are essential to this success. A real key to victory in close elections is a focus on turning out low propensity Conservative or Republican leaning voters. Direct voter contact and other communications with these voters such as texting and other direct communications are keys to stimulating this turnout to achieve victory. 

Remember the example of Representative Jen Kiggans. Elections do matter. Let’s use the proven strategy, methods, and tools as Representative Jen Kiggans has done to achieve victory and make a real difference for our community, state, and country. 

 EVERY VETERAN, EVERY VOTE, EVERY ELECTION!  

American Veterans Vote, Inc. (AVV) is a volunteer team of Veterans and Veteran supporters. We are a 527 Political Action Committee with a nationally-focused mission to promote the political power of Veterans and Veteran supporters in support of our three strategic goals:

• Support of Veterans and their Families
• Defend our Constitution as Written and Amended
• Protect the Nation at Home and Abroad

AVV’s goal is to help Veterans maximize their political voice by supporting Veterans’ ability to Vote, Volunteer and Lead.

"Every Veteran, Every Vote."

We don't speak FOR Veterans... we speak AS Veterans.

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