Call to duty: In battle for House, Republicans and Democrats looking to veterans

And 17 veterans are running as Democrats in 35 competitive Republican-controlled districts Democrats are targeting in next year's midterms, according to Democratic strategists familiar with House races.

Among the Republican veterans who've launched campaigns are John Braun of Washington's 3rd District, Kevin Lincoln in California's 13th District, Eric Flores in Texas' 34th District, Mike Bouchard in Michigan's 10th District, Jennifer-Ruth Green in Idianna's 1st District and Greg Cunningham in New Mexico's 2nd District.

And Matt Van Epps, a West Point graduate and combat veteran who serves in the Tennessee Army National Guard, is running in next month's special congressional election in Tennessee's 7th District.

Among the Democrat veterans who have declared their candidacy are Joe Mendoza in Arizona's 6th District, Rebecca Bennet in New Jersey's 7th District and Cait Conley in New York's 17th District.

Of the current 78 members of the House who are veterans, 59 are Republicans and 19 are Democrats, according to figures from the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

And Van Orden emphasized that Republicans are "recruiting a new generation of battle-tested leaders to make sure veterans' voices are heard loud and clear in Washington."