But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Robert Garcia
- ✓ Cosponsors the Block the Bombs Act
- Backed with $10K by PACs we track that support U.S. weapons funding for the government of Israel (lifetime)
Garcia endorsed H.R. 3565 to limit transfers of certain offensive weapons to Israel, saying it would pressure Netanyahu to end the war while he continues supporting Iron Dome. In July 2026 he backed an amendment restricting unconditioned U.S. military assistance to Israel.
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You asked Robert Garcia where they stand.
Deep Dive
On September 28, 2025, Garcia endorsed H.R. 3565, which would limit the transfer of certain offensive weapons to Israel, saying the bill would pressure Netanyahu to end the war, and adding: "I will continue to support programs like the Iron Dome and renewed diplomatic achievements such as the Abraham Accords." In April 2024, after the World Central Kitchen strike in Gaza, he signed a congressional letter calling for conditions on U.S. military aid to Israel and a pause in offensive weapon transfers. On July 15, 2026, he supported the Massie amendment restricting unconditioned military assistance to Israel; he told the Guardian: "Netanyahu, like Donald Trump, is a corrupt authoritarian who should face criminal courts–not receive billions more for weapons."
On the conflict: in October 2023 he told MSNBC Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas within international law, and endorsed a humanitarian pause for hostages and aid. On November 20, 2023 he endorsed a lasting ceasefire contingent on hostage-release negotiations. On January 15, 2025 he welcomed the ceasefire agreement, saying "Palestinian and Israeli lives have the same value, and the Palestinian people deserve an independent state free of Hamas." On August 10, 2025 he warned against Israeli government escalation in Gaza, saying Netanyahu seemed more motivated by staying in power. On October 10, 2025 he welcomed peace negotiations: all hostages must come home and the nightmare must end.
In September 2025 he also called Netanyahu's declaration that there will never be a Palestinian state an incredibly dangerous and irresponsible statement, and said: "I understand the fear and anguish felt by my Jewish friends and community. Antisemitism is spreading." In August 2023, before the war, he traveled to Israel on a delegation organized by AIEF, AIPAC's educational affiliate.
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 2 of 6 tracked votes · Cosponsors the Block the Bombs Act
• 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.
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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
$10K 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.
Searched 2026-08-10 for: Garcia antisemitism press release; Garcia Long Beach Israel Palestine; Garcia CA-42 Israel Gaza ceasefire military aid; Garcia AIEF/AIPAC; Garcia Israel rhetoric lobbying). Recorded key votes are badges.
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- 2024-04-05 [Current position; multi-signer letter; source is the advocacy scorecard ajpaction.org, undated page]: Signed a congressional letter calling for conditions on U.S. military aid to Israel and a pause in offensive weapon transfers after the World Central Kitchen strike. AJP Action scorecard.
- 2025-09-28 [Current position; verified against source]: Endorsed H.R. 3565, "which would limit the transfer of certain offensive weapons to Israel," to "pressure Netanyahu to end this war"; "I will continue to support programs like the Iron Dome and renewed diplomatic achievements such as the Abraham Accords." Statement.
- 2026-07-15 [Current position; Guardian will not open for us here; quote pending verification]: Supported the Massie amendment restricting unconditioned U.S. military assistance to Israel; quoted: "Netanyahu, like Donald Trump, is a corrupt authoritarian who should face criminal courts-not receive billions more for weapons." Guardian.
Characterization of the conflict
- 2023-10 statement, reported 2023-11-01 [Months after October 7, 2023; month-only inline date anchored to source publish date]: Told MSNBC Israel has the "right to defend itself against Hamas" within international law; endorsed a "humanitarian pause" for hostage releases and aid delivery. Long Beach Post.
- 2023-11-20 [Months after October 7, 2023; source published 2023-11-21]: Endorsed a conditional "lasting ceasefire in Israel and Gaza" contingent on hostage-release negotiations. FORTHE report.
- 2025-01-15 [Current position; verified against source]: Welcomed the ceasefire: "Palestinian and Israeli lives have the same value, and the Palestinian people deserve an independent state free of Hamas." Statement.
- 2025-08-10 [Current position]: Warned against Israeli government escalation in Gaza; "Netanyahu seems more motivated by staying in power" (fragment, not independently verified); Israeli and Palestinian lives have equal value. Statement.
- 2025-10-10 [Current position]: On peace negotiations: "All the hostages must come home safely and we must end this horrific nightmare immediately. Israeli & Palestinian lives have the same value and all deserve a lasting peace" (fragment per the search notes). Statement.
Rhetoric and lobbying
- 2023-08 [Earlier record; month-only inline date; source is an undated YouTube video that does not name him in metadata]: Participated in an educational delegation to Israel organized by AIEF, AIPAC's educational affiliate. Video. Weak sourcing; not card-linked beyond the deep-dive mention.
- 2025-09-28 [Current position; verified]: Criticized Netanyahu's "There will never be a Palestinian state. This place is ours" as "an incredibly dangerous and irresponsible statement" (the Netanyahu words are Netanyahu's, quoted in Garcia's release). Statement.
- 2026-07-15 [Current position; pending verification]: "Corrupt authoritarian" remark, see weapons section. Guardian.
Safety and antisemitism (context, not a weapons or funding position)
- 2025-09-28 [Current position; verified in part]: "I understand the fear and anguish felt by my Jewish friends and community. Antisemitism is spreading." A longer passage in the search notes ("...too often ignored or brushed aside. Our strategic goal must be a safe and secure Israel and Palestine...") only partially returned when the page was read; remainder carried as found. Statement.
- 2026-03-16 [Current position; SOURCE DID NOT OPEN AND WRONG-ACCOUNT RISK, not card-usable]: Claimed statement condemning the Temple Israel attack in Michigan ("Antisemitic attacks are on the rise"; "Violence against places of worship and against our communities must end"). Only source is a Facebook post by the Michigan Attorney General (would not open), another official's account. Excluded from card; unlinked.
Also in this race
- –No Position Found Brian Burley (Republican)
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