But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check

Sandra Van Scotter

Democrat · U.S. House, California District 20
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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.

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Two reviewers, reading the public record as a whole, agree: She calls the relationship important but says unconditional support has enabled military actions and demands accountability, a call for conditions rather than a cut. Reviewed by hand on 2026-09-28. This candidate has no recorded tracked floor votes.

In a 2026 candidate survey Van Scotter opposed unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel: "unconditional support has enabled actions" the U.S. "would not tolerate from other allies," and "blind loyalty is not an alliance; it is an enabler." She also called Israel a democratic ally and said the relationship matters.

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Deep Dive

In her 2026 candidate survey answers on iVoterGuide, Van Scotter affirmed that the U.S.-Israel relationship is important ("Yes — strategically, historically, and as a democratic ally in a volatile region") and in the same answer wrote that "the U.S. has a documented blind spot regarding Israel's human rights record in Gaza and the occupied territories," that "unconditional support has enabled actions — including the attack on Iran — that the U.S. would not tolerate from other allies," and that "true partnership requires honest accountability. Blind loyalty is not an alliance; it is an enabler." She also answered yes that "violent jihadist extremism poses a real threat to U.S. national security."

An April 6, 2026 post on her campaign Facebook page reportedly called her the only pro-ceasefire candidate in the race and worried that public anger over Gaza was turning into apathy; the post URL would not open, so that item is research-page-only pending verification.

Her ActBlue page pledges: "We do NOT accept money from corporations, AIPAC, Political Action Committees (PACs), Big Oil, Big Pharma or Data Centers." That is a decision about campaign money sources; it is not a position on U.S. weapons or funding to the government of Israel or on aid to Palestinians.

In their words

“True partnership requires honest accountability. Blind loyalty is not an alliance; it is an enabler.”
Source ↗, 2026-08-10
“Unconditional support has enabled actions — including the attack on Iran — that the U.S. would not tolerate from other allies.”
Source ↗, 2026-08-10

Research log

The notes behind this card: what we looked at, what we found, and where each item came from.

Identity: Sandra Van Scotter (D), CA-20 candidate, 2026. Ballotpedia; Wikipedia 2026 CA House elections page (does not name her per an initial search).

U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel

  • 2026 [Current position; survey page undated; verified]: Survey answers: affirmed the U.S.-Israel relationship ("Yes — strategically, historically, and as a democratic ally in a volatile region") and wrote "the U.S. has a documented blind spot regarding Israel's human rights record in Gaza and the occupied territories"; "Unconditional support has enabled actions — including the attack on Iran — that the U.S. would not tolerate from other allies"; "True partnership requires honest accountability. Blind loyalty is not an alliance; it is an enabler." iVoterGuide. An initial search labeled this her "Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey," but the cited and verified page is iVoterGuide; Ballotpedia itself blocked opening (robots).

Characterization of the conflict

  • 2026-04-06 [Current position; SOURCE DID NOT OPEN, cannot be used on the card]: Campaign Facebook post reportedly calling her "the only pro-ceasefire candidate in the race" and expressing concern that public anger over Gaza was becoming political apathy. Source is a Facebook group post that would not open (unlinked per source rule); pending verification.
  • 2026 [Current position; survey; verified]: Characterized Israel's actions in Gaza and the occupied territories as raising significant human rights concerns; answered "Yes, violent jihadist extremism poses a real threat to U.S. national security." iVoterGuide.

Rhetoric and lobbying

  • 2026 [Current position; undated fundraising page]: Campaign pledge: "We do NOT accept money from corporations, AIPAC, Political Action Committees (PACs), Big Oil, Big Pharma or Data Centers." ActBlue. A funding-source refusal; must not be read as a weapons/funding position.

Safety and antisemitism

  • No statements, platform entries, or actions found. [Nothing found]

Also in this race

  1. ✗ Vince Fong (Republican)

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. Open Find Your Candidates for votes, funding and contact details.