Mike Cargile
Has not stated a position on U.S. weapons or money to the government of Israel, or on U.S. aid to Palestinians. His campaign site, read August 2026, says "Not Israel first, not Ukraine first... AMERICA FIRST!" and that it takes no money from AIPAC.
Mike Cargile, an Army veteran and filmmaker, is the Republican nominee in CA-35, per Ballotpedia. His campaign site describes him as an "AMERICA FIRST Constitutional Conservative": "Not Israel first, not Ukraine first, not Europe first, not China first, not Mexico first… AMERICA FIRST!" The site also states the campaign "receives NO financial support from AIPAC, any Political Party, SUPER PAC, Corporation or Special Interest Group." That is a statement about campaign money. Neither line says what he would do about U.S. weapons or U.S. money sent to the government of Israel, or about U.S. aid to Palestinians.
The first search also reported campaign-material language that "support of Israel is conditional" and "The tail CANNOT wag the dog." Those sentences do not appear on the campaign homepage as read, and the only other source carrying them would not open, so they are held on the research page pending a human check.
In an undated iVoterGuide survey, likely from an earlier cycle, Cargile answered "Strongly Disagree" on supporting boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel if Israel refuses to allow creation of a Palestinian state. He opposed imposing economic sanctions on Israel over Palestinian statehood in the same questionnaire set.
Research
Searched 2026-08-10. Republican nominee, CA-35. 6 sources, 5 opened; localcandidates.org would not open.
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- Campaign site, undated, read 2026-08-10 [current, current position as-read]: cargileforcongress.com: "Not Israel first, not Ukraine first, not Europe first, not China first, not Mexico first… AMERICA FIRST!" Verified verbatim 2026-08-10. General priority ordering; no direction stated on weapons or money to the government of Israel.
- Found but unconfirmed [undated; source did not open]: "Mike believes that support of Israel is conditional. The tail CANNOT wag the dog. Our support MUST be based on its benefit to the United States...FIRST." Claimed for the campaign site and localcandidates.org; not found on the homepage when it was read on 2026-08-10. Not card-usable.
Characterization of the conflict
- Undated iVoterGuide survey, likely earlier cycle (companion cafamilyvoter page published 2022-10-10) [on this page only, undated]: answered "Strongly Disagree" on supporting BDS against Israel if Israel refuses to allow a Palestinian state (iVoterGuide 667, iVoterGuide 765); opposed economic sanctions or conditioning U.S. recognition on Israel over Palestinian statehood.
- No other statements characterizing the conflict found.
Rhetoric and lobbying
- Campaign site, undated, read 2026-08-10: "This campaign receives NO financial support from AIPAC, any Political Party, SUPER PAC, Corporation or Special Interest Group"; "solely funded by 'we, the pEople'." Verified verbatim 2026-08-10. A funding statement; per the content rule it is never read as a weapons/funding position.
- Non-interventionist "America First" framing throughout the site.
Safety and antisemitism
- Nothing found. [Nothing found]
Identity
- Army veteran, filmmaker; Republican, CA-35, November 2026 general (Ballotpedia, CA Family Voter 2022-10-10).
Also in this race: Norma J. Torres (Democrat) · 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.