Pete Aguilar
Aguilar opposed a July 2026 amendment to strike U.S. funding for Israel from FY2027 appropriations, calling it "wrong to abandon our allies." In April 2024 he said support for Israelis' security "will never waver" and urged acting on aid to Israel, humanitarian assistance for Gaza, and Ukraine aid together.
On July 15, 2026, Aguilar opposed Rep. Massie's amendment to strike Israel funding from the FY2027 appropriations bill, saying that undermining the U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding would compromise national security and "sabotage our ultimate goal of a two-state solution," and that "it's wrong to abandon our allies and walk away from our agreements during such a fragile moment." On April 16, 2024, at a House Democratic leadership press conference, he said "our support for the safety and security of the Israeli people will never waver" and urged Congress to act immediately on aid to Israel, humanitarian assistance for the people in Gaza, and aid for Ukraine.
On May 16, 2024, he criticized the House GOP's Israel Security Assistance Support Act, which would have compelled delivery of paused arms shipments to the government of Israel, arguing that "the President sets foreign policy" on arms transfers. He voted against that bill; he has spoken about the vote in those terms. In November 2023 he criticized standalone Israel-only aid packages that left out Ukraine and broader security funding.
On the conflict itself: on October 11, 2023 he said "this is not a time for false moral equivalencies," calling Hamas members terrorists, not militants or freedom fighters. On May 7, 2024, discussing Rafah, he named the priorities as returning the hostages, defeating Hamas, and surging humanitarian assistance to Gaza. In July 2026 he framed a two-state solution and humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians as central long-term objectives. He also condemned Iran's April 2024 strikes on Israel, calling Israel America's "closest ally in the Middle East."
Tracked votes: opposed sending U.S. weapons or funding to the government of Israel in 3 of 6 recorded votes.
Research
Searched 2026-08-10 for: Aguilar antisemitism statement; Aguilar Israel rhetoric; Aguilar Israel military aid weapons; Aguilar Gaza conflict statement). Recorded key votes and AIPAC/DMFI totals are badges; not restated here.
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- 2026-07-15 [Current position; verified against source]: Statement opposing Rep. Massie's amendment to strike Israel funding from FY2027 appropriations: undermining the U.S.-Israel MOU "would compromise our national security, hurt our efforts...and sabotage our ultimate goal of a two-state solution"; "I believe it's wrong to abandon our allies and walk away from our agreements during such a fragile moment." Statement. Middle clause of the MOU sentence returned only in part when the page was read; head and tail match the text in the search notes.
- 2024-04-16 [Current position; verified against source]: Leadership press conference: "our support for the safety and security of the Israeli people will never waver"; "We need to act immediately on aid to Israel, humanitarian assistance for the people in Gaza and aid for Ukraine." Release.
- 2024-05-16 [Current position; inline date comes from the text itself; video page undated; not independently verified]: Criticized the Israel Security Assistance Support Act (compelling delivery of delayed arms shipments to the government of Israel), arguing "the President sets foreign policy" on arms transfers. Video. Matches his recorded No vote on H.R. 8369 (badge).
Characterization of the conflict
- 2023-10-11 [Months after October 7, 2023]: Press briefing after October 7: "this is not a time for false moral equivalencies"; called Hamas members "terrorists" rather than "militants" or "freedom fighters." Release.
- 2024-05-07 [Current position; inline date comes from the text itself; video undated]: On Rafah operations, named core priorities: "returning of the hostages, defeating Hamas, and surging the humanitarian assistance to Gaza." Video.
- 2026-07-15 [Current position]: Framed a two-state solution plus humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians as central long-term Middle East objectives. Statement.
Rhetoric and lobbying
- 2023-11-02 inline, source published 2023-11-07 [Months after October 7, 2023; date discrepancy noted]: Criticized House Republicans for standalone Israel aid packages without broader national security funding, arguing separation left allies like Ukraine vulnerable. Release.
- 2024-04-16 [Current position; verified]: Condemned "Iran's unprovoked attack against Israel"; "our closest ally in the Middle East." Release.
- 2025-08-12 [Current position; SOURCE DID NOT OPEN, cannot be used on the card]: Reported congressional educational trip to Israel affiliated with the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF). Only source jpost.com article-800346 would not open; unlinked, on this page only.
Safety and antisemitism (context, not a weapons or funding position)
- 2023-11-07 [Months after October 7, 2023]: Spoke against rising hate crimes, citing defacement of synagogues and Jewish-owned delis in his district; noted membership in the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. Release.
- 2024-05-07 [Current position; inline date comes from the text itself; video undated]: On campus tensions: free speech is protected, "violence and vandalism" are not; Jewish students must feel safe. Video.
- 2026-05-20 [Current position; inline date comes from the text itself; video undated]: Called on both parties to speak out against antisemitic remarks regardless of affiliation. Video.
Also in this race: Stephanie Vargas (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.