Four Female Veterans Running for Congress Launch: “The Hell Cats” 

JoAnna Mendoza, Cait Conley, Maura Sullivan, and Rebecca Bennett Launch New Group to Flip the House and Take the Flag Back

Somerville, NJ — They’ve served their country in uniform. Now they’re stepping up to serve again. Today, four female veterans, Maura Sullivan (NH-01), Rebecca Bennett (NJ-07), Cait Conley (NY-17), and JoAnna Mendoza (AZ-06), have officially launched The Hell Cats, a group of four Democratic women veterans and friends running for Congress.

Their name pays tribute to the first all-female Marine unit that served in WWI, known as the “Hell Cats.” At a time when few women worked outside the home and none could vote, these trailblazers proved that patriotism knows no gender, and that courage and competence belong to all who serve.

“The original Lady Hell Cats broke barriers a century ago,” said JoAnna “Jo” Mendoza, a retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant and Drill Instructor from Arizona. “We’re reviving their legacy. But this time, to defend the country we love from division and corruption.”

“I didn’t serve in Fallujah to sit by and watch this country be torn apart,” added Maura Sullivan of New Hampshire, a former Marine Corps Captain and veteran of Iraq. “We’ve led on the front lines, and now we’re leading the charge to restore integrity and accountability in Washington.””

“America needs leaders that will put country above politics and patriotism above partisanship,” said Cait Conley, an Army special operations combat veteran from New York. “When we put on the uniform it was to defend all Americans and fight for a better future for all of America. That’s why we are doing this now. After 16 years in uniform and multiple combat tours, I refuse to allow politicians to ruin what we’ve fought and sacrificed for.”

“I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, against all enemies, foreign or domestic,” said Rebecca Bennett, a Navy helicopter and test pilot veteran from New Jersey. “We love this country, and we’re not waiting for permission to fight for it again.”

Together, the Hell Cats are launching with a mission to flip key House seats and build a new generation of service-driven leadership grounded in courage, integrity, and results.

Their announcement comes on the heels of the resounding victories by Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, Democratic women with records of service to our country.  A group of friends formed along their journey running for office, the Hell Cats  calls to mind the critical role that a new wave of female veterans and former national security officials- including Sherrill and Spanberger along with now-Senator Elissa Slotkin, and Representative Chrissy Houlahan- played in helping Democrats flip control of the House of Representatives during the first Trump Midterms in 2018, proving that service-driven leadership can win even in the toughest of districts.

The Hell Cats coalition is live at www.HellCats.us, along with a launch video asking Americans to join them in answering the call.

About the Hell Cats

The Hell Cats is comprised of four female veterans running in some of the most competitive congressional districts across the country. They are:

• Rebecca Bennett, running in “toss-up” NJ-07 to unseat Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr.
• Cait Conley, running in “toss-up” NY-17 to unseat Republican Rep. Mike Lawler.
• JoAnna Mendoza, running in “toss-up” AZ-06 to unseat Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani.
• Maura Sullivan, running in “toss-up” NH-01, to hold the seat of Rep. Chris Pappas.

Learn more at: www.HellCats.us