Charles Djou‘s upcoming deployment to Afghanistan may keep him from knocking on doors in Hawaii, but his service may also appeal to voters in the First Congressional District he wants to represent.

“I realize that the timing of this deployment is far from ideal,” Djou wrote in an email announcing his candidacy. “But, I am thankful to be able to do my small part. The heavy load of defending our great nation does not fall evenly between all families.”

The number of veterans in Congress is at the lowest level since World War II, according to a January report by CNN. But there are plenty of groups that support electing service members to Congress, which may give Djou a fundraising edge.