Most don't think military service makes a candidate more qualified
Core finding
Verasight surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults from September 25 to 30, 2026. 68.8% of Americans see a candidate who served in the armed forces as neither more nor less qualified than a similar candidate who didn't, while 27.8% see the veteran as more qualified.
Just 3.4% see a veteran as less qualified. The question compares two candidates who are otherwise similar.
Topline distribution
Most don't think military service makes a candidate more qualified.
Some political candidates have also served in the armed forces prior to politics. Do you think they are more qualified for office than an otherwise similar candidate who did not serve, or do you see them in the same way?
n = 1,000 · Sep 25–30, 2026 · MoE ±3.5%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Sep 25–30, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.5% |
| Module | Democracy, Politics, & Participation |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
Do you think they are more qualified for office than an otherwise similar candidate who did not serve, or do you see them in the same way?
Cite this question
APSA Omnibus Survey #2026-153, fielded September 25-30, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.