Washington state congressional candidate Alex Scheel, a veteran and organizer, is challenging incumbent Rep. Marilyn Strickland for the 10th District seat, running on a progressive platform that includes Medicare for All and housing justice. His campaign, officially launched on June 13, seeks to capitalize on a growing movement of left-wing political insurgents across the United States.
Who is Alex Scheel?
Alex Scheel is a 38-year-old U.S. military veteran and longtime member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Scheel served as an interrogator in Iraq from 2007 to 2011 and worked in intelligence in Afghanistan in 2012. After leaving the military, he attended Evergreen State College and became active in local community organizing, specifically focusing on housing justice in Tacoma. Scheel has held various roles within his local DSA chapter, including housing justice chair and campaign coordinator.
The 10th District Campaign
Scheel is running in Washington’s 10th Congressional District, which encompasses cities including Tacoma and Olympia. He faces Rep. Marilyn Strickland, an incumbent Democrat who holds the backing of the local party and had approximately $800,000 in campaign cash on hand, according to reports. Scheel has stated his campaign has raised roughly $5,000 to date.
The contest is set to take place under Washington’s "jungle primary" system, where the top two finishers—regardless of party affiliation—advance to the general election in November.
Contrasting Platforms and Political Strategy
Scheel’s candidacy is framed as a direct challenge to what he describes as "neoliberal politics." His platform emphasizes:
- Medicare for All: A central pillar of his legislative agenda.
- Housing Justice: Leveraging his experience in local tenant advocacy.
- Anti-War Stance: Scheel has explicitly campaigned against military aid to Israel, a point of contrast with Rep. Strickland, who participated in a March 2024 trip to Israel sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation, an arm of AIPAC.
The race also features fellow veteran candidate Adam Arafat, who has stated he would refuse corporate PAC and AIPAC funding.
Veterans in the 2026 Election Cycle
Scheel is part of a broader trend of military veterans entering the political arena. Data from the advocacy group With Honor, which monitors veterans in politics, indicates that 2026 has seen a 47 percent increase in candidates with military backgrounds compared to the 2024 cycle. The number of such candidates rose from 513 in 2024 to 752 in 2026.
While veterans have historically been recruited by centrist party wings—such as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s efforts under former chair Rahm Emanuel—Scheel represents a segment of veterans aligning with the left wing of the party. This shift mirrors recent electoral upsets by progressive candidates in states like Colorado and New York. Scheel maintains that his background, combined with a focus on working-class issues, provides a viable alternative to establishment candidates who he argues have failed to address voter concerns regarding affordability and standard of living.