But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Melissa Hernandez
Democrat · U.S. House, California District 14
✗SupportsFrom money backing them
How this mark works
We track key votes on sending U.S. weapons and money to the government of Israel. A check means every tracked vote they cast came down against sending more, on the side of peace and de-escalation. A question mark means a mixed record: they sided with sending up to half of the time. An X means they voted to send more weapons and money in over half of their tracked votes, even as the way those weapons and dollars were being used became more and more obvious. At exactly half, money this election cycle from a lobbying group we track, or an endorsement from a group that backs sending weapons, makes it an X. Only votes actually cast are counted. Where a candidate has no recorded votes on these bills, the mark comes instead from a reviewed reading of their public record (money from the lobbying groups we track, endorsements, and their own words since January 26, 2024). There an X also covers fully backing the conduct of the war by the government of Israel without significant reservations, and a question mark also covers speaking about Israel without saying clearly where they stand on U.S. weapons and funding. A dash means No Position Found: we found nothing in their own words about Israel, Gaza or the war.
No public position found on U.S. weapons or money to the government of Israel, or on aid to Palestinians. At an April 7, 2026 candidate forum she declined to say whether Israel's actions in Gaza are genocide, saying "the destruction in Gaza has gone too far."
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We found no statement, policy position, or action from Melissa Hernandez on U.S. military assistance or weapons to the government of Israel, on conditioning that aid, or on U.S. aid to Palestinians. Her campaign has centered on East Bay issues: public safety, housing affordability, cost of living, per her campaign site.
Her one recorded statement on the conflict came at an April 7, 2026 virtual candidate forum hosted by Indivisible Tri-Valley. Asked whether Israel's military actions in Gaza constitute genocide, other candidates answered yes; Hernandez declined a yes-or-no answer and said: "As a democracy, Israel had the right to defend itself after the terrorist attacks on Oct. 7 a few years ago, and the right to secure the release of hostages. However, the destruction in Gaza has gone too far and the people are paying the cost, and so are the civilians."
Outside spending in the CA-14 race, including AIPAC-affiliated groups, has drawn coverage from The American Prospect and Jewish Insider; an initial search recorded no lobbying activity or Israel-policy rhetoric by Hernandez herself beyond the forum answer.
The money
$830K in lifetime support from the five lobbying groups we track
Lifetime support from the five lobbying groups we track
United Democracy Project: $825,292.77 · DMFI: $5,000
Support-only OpenFEC data (as of 2026-10-03). Opposition independent expenditures are excluded.
Who these lobbying groups are
United Democracy Project$825,292.77A super PAC founded by AIPAC in 2022; it spends independently to support candidates aligned with AIPAC's positions and to oppose those who are not.DMFI PAC$5,000Democratic Majority for Israel's PAC; calls itself the home for pro-Israel Democrats and backs Democratic candidates who support a strong U.S. alliance with the government of Israel.Direct contributions and independent expenditures supporting this candidate from the five lobbying groups we track, every cycle each has filed, through 2026. Excludes earmarked and conduit contributions.
Endorsed by DMFI PAC
DMFI PACDemocratic Majority for Israel's PAC; calls itself the home for pro-Israel Democrats and backs Democratic candidates who support a strong U.S. alliance with the government of Israel.These endorsements come from groups that back sending U.S. weapons and funding to the government of Israel.
In their words
“As a democracy, Israel had the right to defend itself after the terrorist attacks on Oct. 7 a few years ago, and the right to secure the release of hostages. However, the destruction in Gaza has gone too far and the people are paying the cost, and so are the civilians.”
The notes behind this card: what we looked at, what we found, and where each item came from.
Identity: Melissa Hernandez (D), CA-14 (2026 special and regular elections); former Mayor of Dublin; President of the BART Board of Directors. Ballotpedia, Wikipedia special-election page, BART profile (page 2024-12-06).
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
No statements, policy positions, or actions found. [Nothing found] Sources checked: J. Weekly (2026-04-17), The American Prospect (2026-08-05).
Characterization of the conflict
2026-04-07 [Current position; verified]: At an Indivisible Tri-Valley virtual candidate forum, declined a yes-or-no answer on whether Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide (other candidates answered yes). Said: "As a democracy, Israel had the right to defend itself after the terrorist attacks on Oct. 7 a few years ago, and the right to secure the release of hostages. However, the destruction in Gaza has gone too far and the people are paying the cost, and so are the civilians." J. Weekly (2026-04-17); race context in JNS (2026-06-18), The American Prospect (2026-08-05).
Rhetoric and lobbying
[Current position, 2026 campaign season]: No lobbying campaigns authored and no extended Israel-policy rhetoric found; campaign focus is East Bay issues (public safety, housing affordability, cost of living). Her conflict statements are limited to the forum answer above. Campaign site, J. Weekly (2026-04-17), Jewish Insider (2026-08-07). The Prospect and Jewish Insider pieces cover AIPAC/United Democracy Project involvement in the CA-14 race; an initial search recorded no claim about Hernandez's own conduct from them.
Safety and antisemitism (context, not a weapons or funding position)
No statements or actions on antisemitism or Jewish community safety found. [Nothing found] Her safety record as Dublin mayor and on the BART Board concerns local law enforcement, transit security, and public health. BART profile (2024-12-06), campaign site.
But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and
funding for the government of Israel. Every claim on this page goes through at least two verification steps.
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