SERVICE ABOVE SELF

"The year 1992 was dubbed the "Year of the Woman," but twenty-six years later there was a second year of the woman. In 2018, Americans elected a record-breaking four women as senators and 24 women as representatives to Congress. What received less media attention is the fact that the 2018 midterm elections also saw nearly 200 military veterans on the ballot, a dozen of whom were women-the highest number ever. Sixteen former service members-including three women-won their races, the most "new" veterans since 2010. The number of veterans seeking political office increased slightly again in 2020. Among them were 24 women, nearly doubling the number seeking election in 2018 midterms. Despite the growing presence of women candidates with military service or intelligence backgrounds in American politics, there is no book examining who they are, what motivated them to enter politics, how they have constructed their messages, and how they have connected their experiences in the military to public service. Service above Self explores this burgeoning area of interest by looking closely at the careers of women with military, quasi-military, or intelligence backgrounds in the House and Senate, including Elaine Luria, Chrissy Houlahan, Elissa Slotkin, Tammy Duckworth, Joni Ernst, Martha McSally, and Tulsi Gabbard. Service above Self tells the stories of these pathbreaking women and points the way for future study"--