Tessa Lynn Hodge
Hodge pledges to be a voice in Congress calling for an immediate ceasefire, to cease funding to Israel, and to eliminate anti-BDS legislation. Her campaign rejects AIPAC contributions; refusing a group's money is a separate act from her funding position.
On U.S. money to the government of Israel, Hodge's platform statement reads: "I will be a voice in Congress calling for an immediate ceasefire, to cease funding to Israel, and for the elimination of anti-BDS legislation" (BallotReady profile). Cutting funding to the government of Israel is her stated direction; the first search found no separate statement from her on U.S. aid to Palestinians.
Voter-guide profiles are reported to add that she supports Palestinian statehood and has characterized Israel's military actions in Gaza as a genocide, but the pages carrying those items (a Local Candidates guide and the La Defensa primary guide) would not open, so they sit on the research page awaiting a working source.
Her campaign runs an ActBlue page framing her bid against AIPAC and its endorsement of incumbent Jay Obernolte. That is a statement about campaign money, recorded as rhetoric; her funding-cutoff pledge above is the policy position. No statements on antisemitism or Jewish community safety were found.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- Undated [Current position; anchored to the BallotReady profile's 2026-06-02 published date; verified]: "I will be a voice in Congress calling for an immediate ceasefire, to cease funding to Israel, and for the elimination of anti-BDS legislation." BallotReady. The same platform text is attributed to a Local Candidates voter guide whose page would not open; that copy is unlinked.
Characterization of the conflict
- Undated [Band unknown; sources did not open]: Reported support for an immediate ceasefire and Palestinian statehood in voter-guide responses. Sources: Local Candidates guide (429), [La Defensa guide] (403). Unlinked; not used on the card.
- Undated [Band unknown; source did not open]: Reported characterization of Israel's military actions in Gaza as a "genocide" in 2026 profile summaries. Only source is the La Defensa guide (403). Unlinked; not used on the card.
Rhetoric and lobbying
- Undated [Current position; page undated]: ActBlue appeal rejecting AIPAC support and framing her run as a challenge to AIPAC-endorsed incumbent Jay Obernolte. ActBlue. Recorded as campaign-money rhetoric, not a weapons or funding position.
- Undated: Anti-BDS-legislation elimination plank, part of the platform quote above. BallotReady.
Safety and antisemitism
- Nothing found. No public statements, positions, or actions on antisemitism or Jewish community safety in any consulted source.
Background
- Licensed clinical social worker and businesswoman; Democratic candidate for CA-23. Ballotpedia, campaign site.
Also in this race: Jay Obernolte (Republican) · All California candidates.
See the full record →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 the interactive card for votes, funding and contact details.