Whether a presidential candidate served in the military is important to a majority of veterans, according to a survey released by the Veterans of Foreign Wars on Wednesday.
The survey found that 54 percent of respondents said a candidate’s veteran status mattered when running for president, while an additional 33 percent said it “maybe” mattered.
The results come from more than 9,000 responses from VFW members. More than 96 of respondents were men, the average age was between 60 and 69 and the majority served during the Vietnam War.
The survey did not ask veterans which candidate they support. None of the presidential or vice presidential candidates has any military service, though both Sen. Tim Kaine and Gov. Mike Pence have sons who are Marines.
A candidate’s status as a veteran matters to VFW members in congressional elections as well. Fifty-eight percent said it would influence how they vote, while another 31 percent said it might impact who they vote for.
The 114th Congress has 102 veterans: 82 in the House and 20 in the Senate, according to a Congressional Research Service report.
