Former President Trump on Friday endorsed two Republican House candidates, both of whom served in the U.S. Army and are seeking to win Democratic-held seats this fall.
Trump's endorsement of Derrick Anderson, a former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret, and Laurie Buckhout, a former Army colonel, came a day after his debate against President Biden.
In his endorsement of Anderson, the Republican candidate to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District, Trump said: “He fought bravely for our great country as a Green Beret and served in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Jordan, Israel and Lebanon. Unlike the current administration, he never left anyone behind!”
“Derrick is America First all the way, and he's up against a weak and pathetic Democrat named Yevgeny 'Eugene' Vindman, who, along with Adam 'Shifty' Schiff and others, lied to push the Ukraine impeachment farce, a continuation of the largest and most dangerous political WITCH HUNT in our country's history.”
FORMER SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIER LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA TO WRITE HOUSE SEAT FROM DEMOCRATS
Former President Trump endorsed Derrick Anderson, a former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret, and Laurie Buckhout, a former Army colonel, in their efforts to flip House seats from Democrats to Republicans. (Getty Images, Derrick Anderson, Laurie Buckhout)
Anderson is running for the seat held by Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat who announced in November that she would seek the Democratic Party nomination for governor of Virginia in 2025.
“Derrick Anderson has my full and complete support. HE WILL NOT DISAPPOINT YOU,” Trump said.
Announcing his campaign in September, Anderson told Fox News Digital he could “no longer sit quietly on the sidelines.”
“I have spent my life serving this country overseas, including on combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Watching President Biden and Washington Democrats waste 22 years of sacrifices made by our military and their families was the last straw.” glass for me,” Anderson said at the time.
Anderson served in the Army from 2006 to 2014 before his first career. for Congress in 2022. That year, she narrowly lost the Republican primary to former congressional candidate Yesli Vega. Spanberger, a former CIA officer, defeated Vega in the general election by just under 5%, securing her third term after first being elected in the 2018 midterms.
Anderson advanced to the general election after defeating five other Republicans in the state's June 18 primary. He will face Vindman, the Democratic Party candidate, on November 5.
Former Special Forces soldier and Republican congressional candidate from Virginia, Derrick Anderson. (Derrick Anderson)
In his endorsement of Buckhout, the Republican candidate to represent North Carolina's 1st Congressional District, Trump said: “Laurie bravely served our country as an Army colonel and decorated combat commander and, in Congress, she will grow the economy, will reduce inflation, defend the rule of law, secure our border, support our military/veterans, and protect our ever-under siege Second Amendment.”
FORMER ARMY COLONEL SEEKING TO RETURN NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE SEAT SAYS DEM'S OPPONENT IS 'OBUTED' TO BID
Trump said he believes Buckhout “will be an incredible representative for the fantastic people” of the state's 1st Congressional District.
“Laurie Buckhout has my complete and total support,” the former president added.
Buckhout, who served for 26 years in the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of colonel before retiring in 2010, is seeking to flip a blue House seat red in his challenge against incumbent Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C.
Buckhout advanced to the March general election after defeating Sandy Smith, his only primary challenger.
Speaking to Fox News Digital earlier this year, Buckhout accused Davis, a U.S. Air Force Veteran who served for 14 years in the North Carolina state Senate before being elected to the House of Representatives in November 2022, from being a “career politician” who has “never had a day in his life where he ran a business.”
Buckhout also accused Davis of being “beholden” to President Biden and Democratic policies that continue to wreak havoc on his district.
Laurie Buckhout, the Republican candidate in the race to represent North Carolina's 1st Congressional District, will face Democratic incumbent Rep. Don Davis (left) on November 5. (Getty Images, Laurie Buckhout campaign)
Davis later responded to Buckhout's allegations during an interview with Fox News Digital.
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“I want to be clear. I want to thank Colonel Buckhout for her service to our country, but I think she couldn't be more accurate in that whole comment, because this is not about being beholden to anyone,” the first-term lawmaker said. “I've heard talk of flipping the seat, but for me it's about fighting every day for the families of eastern North Carolina.”
Buckhout will face Davis, who ran unopposed, in the Nov. 5 general election.
