Jessica Killin is running to represent Colorado’s Fifth Congressional District after a career spanning military service, Capitol Hill leadership, White House service, veterans policy, and public-sector advocacy. A fourth-generation Coloradan raised in Colorado Springs, Killin served in the U.S. Army as a Captain, paratrooper, and Military Police Officer overseas before earning her law degree from Georgetown. In D.C., Killin served as Chief of Staff for members of Congress, and later served in the White House as Deputy Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to Second Gentleman. Her profile shows her experience as a senior congressional and White House staff leader with direct experience in institutional governance, veterans policy, executive-branch operations, and military public service.

Johnny Olszewski represents Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District, covering much of Baltimore and Carroll counties and portions of Baltimore City. A former public-school teacher, Olszewski holds degrees from Goucher College and George Washington University and a Ph.D. in public policy from UMBC. He served more than nine years in the Maryland House of Delegates and two terms as Baltimore County Executive before being elected to Congress in 2024. Olszewski has built a growing national security and foreign policy profile through his service on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Tom Perriello is running to represent Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District after a career in Congress, diplomacy, conflict prevention, democracy work, and nonprofit leadership. He previously represented Virginia’s Fifth District in Congress and later served in senior diplomatic roles at the State Department, including as U.S. Special Envoy for the African Great Lakes region and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and as U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan. His State Department work focused on conflict resolution, humanitarian access, regional security, civilian protection, and democratic transitions. Perriello’s profile brings congressional experience, high-level diplomacy, human rights work, and direct engagement with some of the world’s most difficult security and humanitarian crises.

Chris Backemeyer is running to represent Nebraska’s First Congressional District after a career in diplomacy, sanctions policy, and national-security policymaking. He served in senior State Department and National Security Council roles focused on Iran, sanctions, Middle East diplomacy, and regional security. At the White House, Backemeyer served as NSC Director for Iran, advising senior national-security decision makers on Iran policy. At the State Department, he served in senior roles including Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iranian Affairs and helped represent the United States in P5+1 Iran nuclear negotiations, including work as a lead sanctions negotiator. His experience gives him a substantive national-security profile rooted in diplomacy, sanctions implementation, interagency policy, and high-stakes negotiations.

Nancy Lacore is running to represent South Carolina’s First Congressional District after a 35-year career in the U.S. Navy. Her service began as a Navy helicopter pilot and culminated in senior command as the 16th Chief of Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Force. Lacore also held major operational and institutional leadership roles, including Vice Commander of U.S. Sixth Fleet, Chief of Staff for U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, Commandant of Naval District Washington, and commander of Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. Her background brings senior military command, overseas operational leadership, Navy Reserve management, and direct national-security experience to her candidacy.

Mark Warner represents Virginia in the United States Senate and has built one of the strongest intelligence-oversight profiles in Congress. Before entering the Senate, Warner worked as a technology and business leader and served as Governor of Virginia. In the Senate, he serves as Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, where his work has focused on intelligence oversight, cybersecurity, counterintelligence, artificial intelligence, and the relationship between national security and democratic accountability. His profile is especially relevant given Virginia’s central role in the intelligence community, defense leadership, and federal national-security workforce.

Carmela Conroy is running to represent Washington’s Fifth Congressional District after a 25-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service. Her diplomatic service included assignments across Asia, Europe, South Asia, and the Pacific, with work in political affairs, consular operations, public diplomacy, and interagency coordination. Conroy’s national-security background includes service as Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Naha, Japan; political advisor to the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan, Afghanistan; watch officer in the State Department Operations Center; and political-military affairs work at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo. Her profile brings direct diplomatic, crisis-management, alliance, and overseas national-security experience to the race.

Jim Himes represents Connecticut’s Fourth Congressional District and has built a senior intelligence-oversight profile through long service on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Before Congress, Himes worked in finance and nonprofit leadership and served in local government in Greenwich. In Congress, he serves as Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee, where his work centers on oversight of the intelligence community, constitutional limits on intelligence activities, national-security accountability, and protecting intelligence capabilities while ensuring they operate within American law and values.

Derek Tran represents California’s Forty-Fifth Congressional District and currently serves in the U.S. House of Representatives. Before being elected to Congress in 2024, he worked as an attorney and served as a small-business owner and community leader in Orange County. In Congress, Tran has focused on issues including national security, veterans, economic opportunity, healthcare, and protecting democratic institutions, bringing his background as a first-generation American and attorney to his work in the House.

Brad Sherman represents California’s 32nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he has served since 1997. A Democrat with a strong focus on foreign policy, consumer protection, and economic issues, Sherman has developed a prominent congressional profile through his work on the House Foreign Affairs and Financial Services Committees. He currently serves as Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa and has been a leading voice on U.S. foreign policy and national security.

Ted Lieu represents California’s Thirty-Sixth Congressional District and is currently serving his sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He served in the California State Assembly and State Senate before being elected to Congress in 2014, and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Colonel after service on active duty and in the Reserves. In Congress, Lieu has built a strong foreign policy and national security profile through his service on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, his military background, and his work on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, civil liberties, oversight, and the rule of law.

Dina Titus is a Democratic congresswoman representing Nevada’s 1st Congressional District, which includes much of the Las Vegas area. She was first elected to the U.S. House in 2008 and returned to Congress in 2012 after serving in the Nevada State Senate from 1989 to 2008, including as Senate Minority Leader. In Congress, she has focused on transportation, foreign affairs, veterans, and environmental protection. She currently serves on the House Foreign Affairs and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.

Sydney Kamlager-Dove represents California’s 37th Congressional District and comes from a background rooted in public service, state leadership, and advocacy for equity and justice. She previously served in the California State Senate and California State Assembly, where she worked on issues including criminal justice reform, housing, healthcare, and women’s rights. In Congress, Kamlager-Dove has built a foreign policy profile through her service on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where her work has focused on democracy and governance, U.S.-Africa relations, global human rights, and advancing U.S. engagement with international partners.

Sara Jacobs represents California’s Fifty-First Congressional District, which includes much of San Diego and surrounding communities. She worked on conflict prevention, international security, and development issues at the United Nations, UNICEF, the U.S. Department of State, and as a foreign policy advisor before being elected to Congress. In Congress, Jacobs has built a strong foreign policy and national security profile through her service on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Armed Services Committee, including as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa and as Founding Co-Chair of the Protection of Civilians in Conflict Caucus.

Jimmy Gomez represents California’s Thirty-Fourth Congressional District, one of the country’s most diverse districts, and has served in Congress since 2017. A graduate of UCLA and Harvard Kennedy School, he served in the California State Assembly, where he chaired the Assembly Appropriations Committee, before being elected to the U.S. House. In Congress, Gomez has built a national security profile through his service on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, including as Ranking Member on the CIA Subcommittee.

Jim Costa represents California’s Twenty-First Congressional District, which includes parts of Fresno and Tulare counties, and has served in Congress since 2005. He worked as a congressional aide and served for 24 years in the California State Legislature before being elected to the U.S. House. In Congress, Costa has built a strong foreign policy profile through his service on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where his work has focused on U.S. support for Ukraine, sanctions on Iran, recognition of the Armenian Genocide, U.S.-Israel relations, and defending democratic principles abroad.

Cory Booker represents New Jersey in the United States Senate and has served since winning a special election in 2013. He founded a nonprofit providing legal services to low-income families and served on the Newark City Council and as Mayor of Newark before being elected to the Senate. In Congress, Booker has built a strong foreign policy and national security profile through his service on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, alongside his work on democratic governance, economic security, and global human rights.

Lou Correa represents California’s 46th Congressional District, including Anaheim, Santa Ana, Orange, and Garden Grove. He worked as a banker, attorney, and real estate broker before serving in the California State Assembly, Orange County Board of Supervisors, and California State Senate. In Congress, Correa has built a strong homeland security profile through his service on the House Homeland Security Committee, where his work has focused on border security, counterterrorism, law enforcement, intelligence, cybersecurity, and oversight of the Department of Homeland Security.

Fred Wellman is running to represent Missouri’s Second Congressional District after a career spanning military service, veterans advocacy, and democracy-focused civic engagement. Wellman served more than 22 years in the U.S. Army as an aviator and public affairs officer, including multiple combat tours in Iraq. After retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, he founded ScoutComms, a communications and advocacy firm. His profile combines senior military leadership, combat aviation, strategic communications, veterans advocacy, and a sustained public commitment to democratic accountability.

Jon Ossoff represents Georgia in the United States Senate and is currently serving his first term. He previously led an investigative journalism company focused on exposing war crimes, public corruption, human trafficking, and organized crime before being elected to the Senate in 2020. In Congress, Ossoff has built a strong national security and oversight profile through his service on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.