But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Salud O. Carbajal
- Backed with $3K by PACs we track that support U.S. weapons funding for the government of Israel (lifetime)
- Sits on House Armed Services
Carbajal voted for the July 2026 Massie amendment to deny the Netanyahu government funding for more offensive weapons, saying the U.S. cannot keep giving Netanyahu a blank check. In May 2025 he co-led 94 Democrats urging Israel to let humanitarian aid back into Gaza.
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Deep Dive
On the July 15, 2026 Massie amendment, Carbajal explained his vote: "I voted yes on Representative Massie's amendment to not give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration funding for more offensive weapons," adding "we cannot continue to provide Netanyahu a blank check" and "I remain deeply opposed to how Netanyahu has conducted this war." He said he would keep fighting for more rigorous oversight of U.S. military assistance programs and more humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza. In July 2024, after Netanyahu's address to Congress, he criticized the premise that the path to ending the conflict runs through more violence and weapons, and said he had repeatedly urged the administration to tighten oversight of military assistance.
On aid to Palestinians, he co-led a May 2025 letter with Rep. Bera and 94 House Democrats demanding Israel resume humanitarian shipments into Gaza, with the letter calling the blockade strategically counterproductive for Israel's own long-term security. In March 2024, after a J Street delegation trip to Israel and the West Bank, he said he opposed offensive operations proceeding without a credible Israeli plan to protect civilians and distribute aid safely, and called the civilian toll in Gaza unacceptable.
On the conflict, he called the October 7 attack an unconscionable terrorist attack in November 2023 and backed humanitarian pauses. In February 2024 he and colleagues returning from the region criticized Netanyahu for moving toward the total destruction of Gaza and obstructing relief. At an October 2024 anniversary statement he said innocent Palestinians must be able to live without fear and pointed to a two-state solution, and he separately condemned the rise in antisemitism at home and abroad.
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 2 of 6 tracked votes
House Committee on Armed Services
• Vote record imported from official House Clerk roll calls for H.R. 6126, H.R. 8034, and H.R. 8369. Other position fields remain under investigation.
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.
See a dash? Ask the candidate where they stand, then send us their answer and we'll review it and update the mark. Or volunteer to help review candidates.
Voted to send weapons or funding in some, but no more than half, of their recorded tracked votes. (Supported sending weapons or funding in 2 of 6 tracked votes.)
The money
$3K in lifetime support from the five lobbying groups we track
In their words
Research log
The notes behind this card: what we looked at, what we found, and where each item came from.
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- 2024-03-06 [Current position]: After a delegation trip, said he supported eliminating Hamas as a military force and opposed offensive military actions proceeding without a credible Israeli plan to protect civilians and distribute humanitarian aid safely. Release.
- 2024-07-24 [Current position]: After Netanyahu's address to Congress, criticized the insistence that the path to ending the conflict lies solely through "more violence and weapons"; said he had repeatedly urged the U.S. administration to conduct more rigorous oversight of military assistance programs. Release.
- 2024-10-07 [Current position]: Facing constituent protests calling for an arms embargo, reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself against security threats and advocated hostage releases, humanitarian aid, and a renewed ceasefire. KEYT; release.
- 2026-07-15 [Current position; verified]: Voted yes on the Massie amendment: "I voted yes on Representative Massie's amendment to not give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration funding for more offensive weapons"; "we cannot continue to provide Netanyahu a blank check"; opposed to Netanyahu's push for illegal settlements and condoning of settler violence in the West Bank; pledged continued oversight of military assistance and more humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza. Release.
- Recorded key votes (H.R. 6126, H.R. 7217, H.R. 8034, H.R. 8369, NDAA FY26 missile-defense amendment, H.R. 8595) are badges and are not restated here.
Characterization of the conflict
- 2023-11-09 [Months after October 7, 2023]: Called October 7 an "unconscionable terrorist attack"; backed U.S.-brokered humanitarian pauses; said rooting out Hamas and protecting Palestinian civilians are not mutually exclusive. Release.
- 2024-02-29 [Current position; multi-member joint statement]: With colleagues after a trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, called October 7 "horrifying," said Hamas must be defeated, and criticized Netanyahu for moving toward the "total destruction of Gaza" with "an utter disregard for Palestinian lives" and for obstructing relief. Release.
- 2024-03-06 [Current position]: Called the loss of civilian life in Gaza "unacceptable." Release.
- 2024-03-24 [Current position]: Telephone town hall: Israel has a right to defend itself against Hamas; operations must be "more surgical"; two-state solution the only viable path. Independent.
- 2024-10-07 [Current position]: Anniversary statement on devastation to civilians on both sides; innocent Palestinians must live without fear; two-state solution plus dismantling terror networks. Release.
- 2025-05-07 [Current position; verified with correction]: Co-led with Rep. Bera a letter from 94 House Democrats demanding Israel resume humanitarian shipments to Gaza; the letter calls the blockade "strategically counterproductive and will only hurt Israel's international standing and long term security." The phrase in the search notes "morally wrong" does not appear in the release. Release; letter PDF.
Rhetoric and lobbying
- 2024-03-06 [Current position]: Five-day delegation trip to Israel and the West Bank organized by J Street. Release.
- 2024-07-24 [Current position]: Condemned Netanyahu's speech to Congress, including the claim that American protesters were acting as foreign agents; accused Netanyahu of "reckless rhetoric." Release.
Safety and antisemitism (context, not a weapons or funding position)
- 2023-12-12 [Months after October 7, 2023]: Supported a resolution condemning anti-Zionism and rising antisemitism; defended citizens' right to criticize Israeli government policy. Independent.
- 2024-10-07 [Current position]: Cited the "disturbing rise in antisemitism and hate here in the United States and around the globe" and committed to Jewish community safety. Release.
Also in this race
- ?Mixed Bob Smith (Republican)
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