Yevgeny “Eugene” Vindman is running to fill the seat of Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger. He and his twin brother Alexander drew President Trump’s ire when he first attempted impeachment.

Vindman’s primary win could be a boost to the Democratic Party’s larger attempt to make 2024 a referendum against the former president, who is also the GOP frontrunner.

After Spanberger announced that she would run for Virginia Governor in 2025, he is the first Democrat to announce a bid.

Semafor was the first to announce his intention to seek the seat. Axios reported first in October that Semafor was considering a bid.

Vindman’s team has launched a page for fundraising.

Context: Vindman was dismissed in 2020 from his position as senior lawyer and ethics officer, along with Alexander.

The Vindmans, both born in Ukraine and raised there, played a key role during Trump’s initial impeachment due to the President’s phone call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on February 19, 2019 requesting that an investigation into Joe Biden’s corruption be opened.

The Washington Post reported that Alexander was an outstanding witness at hearings and Eugene flagged Trump’s activities to his superior.

Vindman said to The Washington Post before a formal announcement: “I am not your typical candidate.”

“I want to serve my local community.” “I’ve retired from my Army service, but I now have a new mission — to serve the community where I chose to live and raise my children.”

Note: Both Vindmans are strong advocates of continued military aid to Kyiv in order to help it repel Russia’s invasion.

Since leaving the military they have been openly political, working with VoteVets a progressive PAC which works to elect Democrats.

Spanberger has been representing Virginia’s 7th district congressional district since 2019. She was elected in the blue wave of 2018 midterm elections.