At Least 27 Vets of Iraq, Afghanistan Headed to Capitol Hill

More than two dozen veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan wars are headed to Capitol Hill next year, Military Times reports.

The current Congress includes 26 vets from the two war zones, and voters Tuesday sent at least 27 to Capitol Hill for 2017 – including 18 incumbents and three senators who weren't in re-election races.

The only incumbent vet to lose Tuesday was Illinois GOP Sen. Mark Kirk in a defeat to Democratic state Rep. Tammy Duckworth, who lost both legs when her helicopter was shot down over Iraq in 2004.

The number of vets in Congress has ticked up every year since 2006, even as the overall number of lawmakers with military experience is dropping, Military Times reports.

With multiple races still undecided Wednesday, the total count of vets on the Hill appeared poised to drop under 100 for the first time since the 1950s, the outlet reported.

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