Newsletter

December 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

Spanberger v. Sears - $61M v. 34M; Hasmi v. Reid – $7.8M v. $1.4M; Jones v. Miyares - $14M v. $23M (!).  On average, in those HD races that flipped from R to D, the Democratic candidates had, on average, 3x the money of Republican candidates. This money came early, was spent across all media types, and was focused by DPV, PAC’s, and candidates on reinforcing the state ticket and flipping vulnerable House districts.

 

Motivation, or lack thereof, was most evident in local elections. Although the Democratic state ticket was virtually unknown and undistinguished, if not absent (Hasmi) or disgraced (Jones), Spanberger, of the CIA, succeeded in cloaking the state ticket as a benign group of moderates. But statewide, the Democrats successfully tied President Trump to the ticket. Federal job cuts, government shutdown, No King rallies, abortion scares, growth of the “affordability issue”, and early RPV disunity energized Democrat voters and opened the electoral path to crushing Democrat victories at HD level.

Republican turnout was far below expectations given past history. Below are two tables. The first table shows the drop in turnout percentages post Presidential elections in Virginia. The second chart shows the actual drop in vote totals. Some observations:


1.  Governor Youngkin’s election in 2021 was remarkably close but he 
 won.

2.  A Democrat winning statewide in Virginia is far from unusual; it’s not a
 bellwether despite the news narrative.

3.  Republican turnout is declining. The Trump vote total is the highwater 
 mark. 

4.  Must grow the vote – registration, GOTV, expand the tent, early voting.  

The data is not yet in on Veteran voting totals. But AVV’s targeting of 2024 Trump voters in the 2025 race seems valid as the right GOTV low propensity target. With the help of our donors, we expanded our outreach on Social Media and in statewide event support. With over 1.4 million “impressions,” AVV messaging touched our target voters numerous times (sorry!) and expanded the reach of our brand. Our goal was to reach all 210,000 Low Propensity RVETS to encourage them to vote. Realistically, we are most effective in affecting close elections at the margin. This last election, with a difference of 625K votes, was beyond our reach to be decisive. Good, but not great enough. The Youngkin race, with a difference of 63K, was in our range!

The bad news is we must weather the storm of bad legislation and likely progressive retrenchment in the Old Dominion state. But the good news is there are at least two battles where our Veteran votes can make a huge difference – the upcoming State vote on proposed changes to Congressional districts and the midterm Congressional races. In each case, our active presence and ready networks can accelerate necessary messaging and organizing to turn out votes at the margin. Our Social Media experience is growing. Our data is done for all CD’s and for all Precincts. Targeting is ready.

As ready and willing as we might be to reorganize and reconstitute and continue the mission, one stark reality is facing AVV. We expended all resources to fight this last fight. We are fully validating the fact that we are a non-profit! We know full well what it takes to get our business done and care for our members and support our candidates. As the one and only Veteran organization actively working as a 527 Political Action Committee in the Republican/Conservative space, we feel the responsibility to deliver on expectations. 

We will undertake a fundraising drive that truly is make or break for us. Thank you to our steady supporters! The whole team – members, old and new supporters, and past donors - need to consider becoming regular donors to either our 501c4 at AmericanVeteransVote.com or our 527 PAC at AVVAction.org. The 501c4 handles member support, issue advocacy, and enterprise management. The 527 PAC supports the election of endorsed candidates and advances other political support issues important to Veterans.    

Fight, Fight, Fight = Every Veteran, Every Vote, Every Election!

Veterans Forward

Bob Wood, LTG (R)

CEO, American Veterans Vote

Inspiration Corner

“Like a Bridge over Troubled Water"

Michael B. (Yama) Hoyes

COL (R), USAF

Music has the capacity to uplift…to revive…to inspire…to provide hope. As I think of this Thanksgiving and Christmas season juxtaposed with what was a disastrous election result for Virginia earlier this month (and what that might bode for Virginia’s immediate future), a song came to mind…”Bridge Over Troubled Water”. It was a hit by Simon and Garfunkel, released in 1970. The line, “like a bridge over troubled water” is a sort of metaphor for a person who is living through a very trying time in life, and then “I will lay me down” describes the perseverance and sacrifice that person might need to find a way through that difficulty. During the late 1960s America was going through some very troubled waters…Vietnam, assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy…

Psalm 23:2, 4 says, “He leads me beside quiet waters…even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” Simon and Garfunkel’s song depicts passing over the troubled waters, but the Psalmist provides a promise that God will be with us through the darkest valleys…not avoidance (passing over), but survival (going through), and even victory in the face of the struggle. It is through His strength that we can find peace, provision and renewal regardless of the season.

So, as we enter this season of Thankfulness, let us be sure to take the time to thank a God who is with us even during times of trouble. The song bears an implication that perhaps we can get through on our own…the Psalmist is clear that it is not of our own strength, and that we should be thankful for that promise!

WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS!

EVERY VETERAN---EVERY VOTE---EVERY ELECTION

Election 2025: GOP-Wide Election Survey

America First Caucus Survey:

AVV Members: Excerpts from important America First Caucus message follow. Please click the link below if you wish to participate in their survey. (Note if the link doesn't work, simply copy and paste it into a browser and hit return).

https://s.surveyplanet.com/8wfhcbgo

"We seek input from faithful GOP leaders and conservative activists to gather candid input—so together we can help strengthen the RPV into a well-managed, winning organization. This will be 8-12 minutes well spent to obtain your insight!

Based on your input we will provide results to RPV leaders and participants and solicit their active role in saving Liberty from Cultural Marists and their progressive Democrat handmaidens.

Confidentiality: This survey is anonymous unless you choose to provide contact information. We do ask for your Congressional District, years of political experience, and current role—strictly for analysis purposes, so feedback can be applied in context to your CD and the RPV Executive Committees and Republicans."

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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