Laura Friedman

Democrat · U.S. House, California District 30

Friedman signed a May 2025 statement praising resumed humanitarian aid to Gaza and urging a plan that ends Hamas rule. She co-sponsored the West Bank Violence Prevention Act in November 2025. In March 2024 she said Israel has a right to go to war with Hamas.

On U.S. money to the government of Israel, Jewish Insider reported in July 2026 that Friedman voted for the Massie amendment to the 2027 State Department appropriations bill, which would have eliminated the $3.3 billion in annual U.S. aid to Israel; the article counts her among lawmakers who have generally been reliable supporters of Israel. No statement from Friedman explaining that vote was found. A blocked gvwire article (would not open, unlinked) frames the same vote as AIPAC-backed Democrats being punished by AIPAC.

In a March 19, 2024 Jewish Insider profile she said Israel has "a right to go to war" with Hamas, a group "hell-bent" on its destruction, and warned of "a kind of creeping antisemitism that can blur the lines between very legitimate political criticism" of Israel. In April 2025 she joined a Jeffries-led congressional delegation to Israel and Jordan on a durable Gaza ceasefire, hostage returns, and humanitarian aid. On May 28, 2025 she signed a joint House Democratic statement praising the resumption of aid into Gaza, calling on Hamas to release all hostages, and urging a post-war plan that ends Hamas rule; her office reposted coverage of it. On November 10, 2025 she co-sponsored the West Bank Violence Prevention Act on extremist settler violence, and in an April 2026 CNN discussion she spoke for sustained ceasefires, protecting non-combatants, and a negotiated two-state framework.

In November 2025 she co-founded the Alliance Against Antisemitism PAC, saying critique of Israeli government policy is distinct from antisemitism but that denying the Jewish people's right to self-determination crosses into it. As safety context, she leads the Congressional Jewish Caucus on antisemitism matters: letters to the Defense Department (June and July 2025), a Coast Guard hate-symbols letter (November 2025), an AI-antisemitism resolution (December 2025), a Nonprofit Security Grant letter to DHS (January 2026), and an AJC community forum appearance (January 2026). An October 13, 2025 statement welcoming the peace and hostage deal is reported only from another official's Facebook post that would not open, and it is held off the card.

Tracked votes: opposed sending U.S. weapons or funding to the government of Israel in 1 of 2 recorded votes.

Research

Searched 2026-08-10 for Friedman: AIPAC/J Street, antisemitism, conflict stance, military aid). Identity: Wikipedia, CA-30 representative since November 2024, former Assemblymember and Glendale mayor. One source found is a podcast with Lara Friedman of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, a different person; excluded. Recorded key votes (NDAA FY26 missile-defense amendment: No; H.R. 8595: Yes) and the AIPAC funding total are badges, not restated.

U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel

Characterization of the conflict

Rhetoric and lobbying

Safety and antisemitism (context, not a weapons or funding position)

Also in this race: Scott Alan Meyers (Republican) · All California candidates.

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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.