VoteVets says Darren McAuley is the right candidate to battle against Laurel Lee

A Democratic veterans group says Darren McAuley is the best candidate to oust Republican U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee.

The VoteVets PAC announced its endorsement of McAuley, a 25-year Air Force veteran, among several candidates in races the group views as battlegrounds.

“Col. Darren McAuley is a U.S. Air Force veteran, sports medicine specialist, happily married father of three, and prospective candidate for Florida’s 15th Congressional District,” reads a release from VoteVets

“His military service has taken him on six tours of duty and more than 300 combat hours, including caring for injured servicemen and women in combat zones in Iraq and Syria. He currently serves as State Air Surgeon for Florida and provides care within the Veterans Health Administration. He also serves as department chair at the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine.”

McAuley in July filed to challenge Lee in Florida’s 15th Congressional District. He stressed his military background when he launched his campaign.

“We deserve more than the chaos in Washington,” McAuley said at the time. “Much like in the military, I’ll work past party lines to deliver for America. I’m ready to bring leadership that puts hardworking Floridians ahead of political elites and partisan games — grounded in service, sacrifice, and love of country.”

McAuley is one of several Democrats running for the seat and hasn’t filed his first financial report yet. Kimberly Overman through the end of September has raised more than $40,000 for the run, while Robert People raised about $9,000 through June. Jose Engell also has filed but hasn’t reported any fundraising yet.

Lee, a former Florida Secretary of State, won election in 2022 over Democrat Alan Cohn with almost 59% of the vote. She won a second term in 2024 over Democrat Pat Kemp with about 57% support.

Democrats in the district hope to see stronger turnout in the 2026 Midterms following Republican President Donald Trump’s return to power.

To date, the House Democratic Congressional Committee has not identified Lee’s district as a battleground. But VoteVets leaders say Democrats have a chance this year to put more districts in play.

“As the map continues to expand thanks to the failed policies and chaos we’re seeing from Republicans in Washington, Veterans remain the best positioned candidates to make crucial flips,” said VoteVets Political Director Travis Tazelaar.

He said McAuley and other endorsed candidates “have been in tough fights before and they know what it takes to put their country first and actually deliver results.”

“We know there is no path to flipping the House without Veteran candidates running and winning in districts that other Democrats can’t compete in,” Tazelaar added.