Matt Reel is running for Congress. But he can’t campaign until June — two months before Tennessee’s August primary.

Even if his staff knew where he is — which they don’t — and even if he had time while overseas, Reel can’t legally communicate with them about campaign strategy for his 7th District race while he’s on active duty.

It’s not unheard-of for candidates and members of Congress to step away from campaign or official responsibilities for reserve duty or training for a weekend or a few weeks. (The Constitution forbids active-duty military members from serving in Congress.)

But strategists on both sides of the aisle were hard-pressed to think of other examples of candidates facing overseas deployment that takes them away from the campaign for an extended period of time. Reel finds himself in the unusual situation of trying to mount a campaign while legally unable to contribute to that effort.

That means his family and friends, including his old boss, former 4th District Rep. Lincoln Davis, are running his campaign and raising money for him. Through his connections to the Blue Dog Coalition, he’s got a group of experienced Washington, D.C., consultants working for him, too.