Newsletter

February 2, 2026

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

This proposed amendment directly “hacks” the congressional districts set in law by the Virginia Supreme Court on Dec 28, 2021.  On January 27, 2026, Circuit Court Judge Jack S. Hurley struck down this action by Democrats in the General Assembly ruling the proposed amendment and the legislative hack was illegal. Appeal is underway. Hack potentially averted. Democracy has consequences. Thanks, Judge.

A potential Second Hack is the recent election of our new Governor Spanberger. Virginia took the bait and voted for a state ticket that promised moderation and common sense. Was this a clever shortcut to make Virginia a “soon to be” California on the East Coast? There were some flashes of common sense in our governor’s early terms in Congress. And in her campaign, she used soft words and comforting deflections likely reflecting the guidance of her political mentors (Pelosi, Biden) and her own professional background (CIA, Law Enforcement). The “Let your rage fuel you!” cry was a rare slip up. But it took barely one day in office for our new governor to abandon any charade as a moderate and come out as the Far left Liberal she must be. Her voting record during her three terms in Congress mirrored Biden policies. On reflection, no real surprise, no trick.  

A revealing short list of her early actions and endorsements as governor reveal the hack: elimination of cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, green light for 22 new tax hikes (so far) potentially heading to her desk, back to woke policies across Virginia schools and severely ending parental choice in the education of their children, multiple bills advancing Second Amendment infringements of gun rights, unlimited abortion rights embedded in the Va Constitution, elimination of mandatory minimum sentences for serious criminals, renewal of Va membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative increasing energy costs for consumers, and more... Elections have consequences. You bet. 

These hacks, this sampling of Democrat overreach and executive endorsements have direct negative consequences for all three goals of American Veterans Vote - Support of Veterans and their families, our Constitution as written and amended, and security for our nation at home and abroad.  

Veterans and their families are the strength of Virginia and their communities. They operate the businesses, power the service industry, teach in the schools, coach the sports teams, contribute to the federal sector, and so much more. Virginia’s over 1.18M Veterans and Veteran supporters, from blue collar to senior government and business leaders rely on an affordable cost of living. Paying to build, operate and subsidize the expensive, suboptimal windmills off our coast and the acres of solar panels displacing our farms drives energy costs higher. And hikes in labor costs, greater taxes, and the growing restrictions and regulations of the emergent Virginia “nanny state” drive this valuable Veteran human capital away from the Commonwealth. 

AVV seeks to defend our US Constitution, a Constitution ironically modeled closely after Virginia’s constitution. To see the rushed march of politically motivated amendments, so poorly framed and explained to voters, disrespects our history and is, frankly, an affront to the citizens of Virginia. The power grab of Democrats in the redistricting scramble is adding momentum to another march, that of U-Hauls out of the state.

Security at home is most imperiled by the vast number of unknown illegal immigrants residing in Virginia. Get the criminals out! Understand who is living, working, or just surviving in our communities. There are humane ways to work together on this huge human problem created by the Biden administration. But don’t depict the real need for security in our homes, streets, and businesses as racist or motivated by hate. Democrats must own the problem they created. Veterans, with their worldwide experiences, understand and have seen real hate.

Last point – To those who sat out this last election, the Best Hack Of All to achieve our goals and make the task easier in our Democracy is to VOTE!

Every Veteran, Every Vote, Every Election

VETERANS FORWARD!

Bob Wood

LTG (R), US Army

CEO, American Veterans Vote

Inspiration Corner

Did You Pray?

Michael B. (Yama) Hoyes

COL (R), USAF

Virginia Vets…I don’t know about you, but there is plenty going on in our nation and our state that is causing me great anxiety. Too often I see something that runs counter to our nation’s founding principles—inalienable rights that come from God: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. All too often events feel overwhelming and out of control.

There is a source of truth: the Bible. Philippians 4:6 states, “…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Scripture describes God through many names, such as “Abba,” Father; “Jehovah Rapha,” Healer; “Jehovah Shalom,” Peace; “Jehovah Jireh,” Provider. All are descriptions of things we may be anxious over.

“Supplication” means being humble and earnest in our requests for help that we direct towards God through prayer. We give thanks because we know God is good, even when we cannot yet see the results.

But we do not sit idly by—our actions are part of the plan. We are blessed with a nation whose government is “of the people, by the people, for the people,” as stated by Abraham Lincoln. So, do you have anxiety about circumstances? Did you pray? Did you vote?

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

A Veteran's Perspective

Answer the Call

Col (Ret) Terri G. Duenas
US Army

In the words of Ronald Reagan – Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction! Seeing the need to conserve freedom for our beloved nation, this is why​ I plan to run as Unit Chairman for Spotsylvania’s GOP this February. 

We all as Veterans signed up to serve to preserve the freedoms so hard-fought by our forefathers. Now, regardless of our stage in life, the most important action each of us can take to preserve our freedoms is to VOTE! And as a Veteran, you are uniquely positioned to continue serving your brothers and sisters in meaningful ways in the public space – so be

listening for that call to duty!  

With the recent election, we have already seen their plan to redistrict in an effort to undo the bi-partisan redistricting agreement from only a few years ago. We have also seen an effort to raise taxes considerably on all Virginians which takes us in the wrong direction -away from economic freedom.  These actions effectively reduce the representation of thousands of Veterans who have valiantly served to preserve their voice in our Representative Republic. 

As I consider the ways I might lead a local committee, I reflect back on my days as a Medical Service Corps Officer in Germany and at Fort Hood and as a Logistician in Kandahar supporting the 110,000-man Coalition in Afghanistan. We achieved success with clear goals and an unwavering commitment which remain critical in what lies ahead. 

With the Redistricting vote only weeks away, we have no time to waste. Our necessary Objectives are clear — with each and every Vote at the top of the list!


• Get Out the Vote!
• GROW the coalition to defend the freedom we fought for Candidates – Search, Train & Support
• Communicate - Strategically 

Veterans are uniquely positioned to support our freedoms in America’s political and public spaces. As a Veteran, you have already answered the call in serving your country -- you placed country over self and demonstrated courage that set you apart. Likewise, you may consider participating in this space beyond your vote – indeed, your community could benefit from your commitment again! 

You may feel called to serve in your local community! Initially, I participated as member of a local committee for a few years, then served as a Vice Chair for Precincts for a couple of years. If you hear the call, please listen to that voice inside, leverage your talents and reach

out to your local committee. Many of you are just what your community needs to grow the coalition that will keep us free. 

As Benjamin Franklin replied when asked what kind of government the Constitutional Convention had created: “A republic, if you can keep it.” Veterans have a special place in this effort to defend the freedoms we fought for -- at the Ballot Box and beyond!

With clarity of goals and defined action, common sense and discernment, while leveraging the gifts of many, there is no limit as Reagan said to the amount of good that can be done regardless of who gets the credit. 

Let’s defend the freedoms we fought for and continue to serve to move our country forward.

EVERY VETERAN, EVERY VOTE, EVERY ELECTION! 

Terri G Duenas

US Army COL, Ret

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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