Mike Durant, famously known for his heroics in the 1993 “Black Hawk Down” incident, has formally declared his candidacy to seek to Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.
In announcing his bid for the U.S. Senate, Durant lambasted President Joe Biden over what he sees as the administration’s failures.
“The career politicians have ruined this country, and their leader Joe Biden is pushing us to the brink,” said Durant. “Between ridiculous vaccine mandates, trillions in spending, and constant assaults on innocent life and the 2nd Amendment, it’s clear that we need to mobilize people from outside of politics to step forward and serve.”
The first-time candidate, who is running as a political outsider, gave a nod to the accomplishments of former President Donald Trump.
“President Trump showed us what’s possible when outsiders step forward and take on the insiders and the politicians,” he added. “I’ve spent my life either in service to my nation or focused on growing a successful business in Alabama. I’m not going to sit idly by while Joe Biden and the career politicians wreck the country I love. I’m signing up for one more tour of duty. I’m running for U.S. Senate.”
Yellowhammer News in early September first reported of Durant exploring the possibility of launching a campaign for the U.S. Senate.
While on combat mission Operation Gothic Serpent in Mogadishu, Somalia, Durant’s Black Hawk helicopter was struck by an RPG and crashed within the city’s interior. The crash resulted in Durant and his crew suffering severe injuries.
As a violent mob approached the injured crew, two members of the elite Special Operations unit Delta Force stepped in to defend them. All of Durant’s fellow servicemen were overcome by the mob.
Durant, the incident’s lone survivor, was captured and held as a Prisoner of War by Somali General Mohamed Farrah Aidid for 11 days. Durant credits the bravery of his fellow Americans in combat as the reason why he survived the horrors which took place.
As part of his announcement, the Durant campaign released an introductory video called “God Made a Soldier,” which tells the story of the candidate’s service and his inspiration to run for the U.S. Senate.
Watch:
Durant, in his announcement, noted the pledge he was given as he was detained behind enemy lines, which was that American forces would not abandon him. His campaign contrasted this uniquely American sentiment to the crisis which engulfed Afghanistan as Americans were stranded in the war-torn country following the withdrawal of U.S. military personnel.
“Irene” served as the code word go-signal for Operation Gothic Serpent, which his campaign said is a “warning for all career politicians.”
The release further states that the Biden administration is “cowering” to Chinese influence as the communist regime “evades responsibility” for what his campaign calls the “Wuhan Virus.” Durant’s campaign also levied an attack against the administration’s lax border policies and progressives’ support of “distorted revisions” of history through Critical Race Theory teachings.
The Durant campaign heaped praise on the prior administration as the candidate believes Trump was the first president to have consistently fought for “America First” policies, which he says he will fight for as senator.
In 2006, Durant authored a book detailing the events which took place while on mission in Somalia and his military career titled, “In the Company of Heroes.” Additionally, he wrote “The Night Stalkers,” outlining the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment in which he served.
Upon completing his 22-year Army career of active-duty service, Durant and his family moved to Alabama, where he founded Huntsville-based engineering services company Pinnacle Solutions.
The company employs over 500 people and has over 175 subcontractor personnel operating in 16 locations nationally and abroad. Durant’s firm holds prime and subcontracts supporting the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, NASA and the U.S. Special Operations Command.
Durant holds a bachelor’s degree in professional aeronautics and an MBA in aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
The highly decorated veteran has received a number of awards in recognition of his military service.
Among the awards Durant holds are the Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star with Valor device, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, one with Valor device, the POW/MIA ribbon, the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and numerous other awards.
He and his wife Lisa, who was also an Army aviator, reside in Madison and have a family of six children, three grandchildren with a fourth soon-to-be addition.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.