But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Scott H. Peters
- Backed with $8K by PACs we track that support U.S. weapons funding for the government of Israel (lifetime)
- Endorsed by AIPAC
Peters calls himself "a staunch supporter" of Israel's right to defend itself and criticized the February 2024 Israel aid bill, favoring a Senate package with humanitarian aid for Palestinians. In July 2025 he said it is "long past time" to end the Gaza conflict and urged aid to starving civilians.
The email has replies@butwhatcanyoudo.org in cc, so we can post their answer on their page in their own words; remove it if you prefer. Keep the subject line as it is, add your name, and send.
You asked Scott H. Peters where they stand.
Deep Dive
On the February 2024 standalone Israel aid bill, Peters said: "I am a staunch supporter of Israel's right to defend itself and ensure the return of hostages. This bill accomplishes neither of those because it is going nowhere." He favored the Senate compromise combining Israeli defense needs, humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians, Ukraine support, and border provisions.
On July 29, 2025 he called for immediate action on starvation in Gaza: "It is long past time to end the Gaza conflict, with the return of all hostages and the end of military operations," and "There must be immediate action to deliver the desperately needed humanitarian aid to the starving," naming the Israeli government, the UN, the Trump administration, and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as responsible for getting aid to Palestinian civilians. A JNS article criticized his framing the next day.
Earlier, in December 2023 he said he could not "call for Israel to lay down its arms completely and unilaterally without any assurances that Hamas will do the same" and that Israel must protect Palestinian civilian lives (statement). In March 2023 he voiced concern that Netanyahu coalition actions, including settlement expansion and settler violence, "put into question the future of Israel's democracy" and threaten a two-state solution.
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 3 of 6 tracked votes
• 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 exactly half of their recorded tracked votes. The tie is broken by an endorsement from a group that backs sending weapons. (Supported sending weapons or funding in 3 of 6 tracked votes.)
The money
$8K in lifetime support from the five lobbying groups we track
In their words
AIPAC (2026 endorsement)
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
- 2023-12-15 [Months after October 7, 2023]: Said he could not "call for Israel to lay down its arms completely and unilaterally without any assurances that Hamas will do the same"; Israel has the right to defend itself and must protect Palestinian civilians. Press release.
- 2024-02-06 [Current position; verified]: On the standalone Israel aid bill: "I am a staunch supporter of Israel's right to defend itself and ensure the return of hostages. This bill accomplishes neither of those because it is going nowhere." Criticized Republican leadership for killing the Senate compromise that combined Israel aid, humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians, Ukraine aid, and border provisions. Press release. His roll-call votes are badges and are not restated here.
Characterization of the conflict
- 2023-03-01 [Earlier record]: Netanyahu coalition actions (settlement expansion, judicial overhaul, settler violence against Palestinians) "put into question the future of Israel's democracy" and threaten a two-state solution. Press release.
- 2023-12-15 [Months after October 7, 2023]: Condemned the October 7 attack as "atrocities"; the "horrific images of destruction and loss of innocent Palestinian lives... cannot be ignored"; reiterated support for a negotiated two-state solution. Press release.
- 2025-07-29 [Current position; verified]: "It is long past time to end the Gaza conflict, with the return of all hostages and the end of military operations." "There must be immediate action to deliver the desperately needed humanitarian aid to the starving." "There is no justification for delay." Press release. Next-day criticism of his framing: JNS (2025-07-30).
Rhetoric and lobbying
- 2023-01-25 [Earlier record]: Joined a bipartisan letter to UN leadership urging removal of Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese over alleged antisemitic rhetoric. Israel National News.
- 2023-07-17 [Earlier record]: Signed a joint statement affirming the U.S.-Israel partnership and rejecting rhetoric delegitimizing Israel. Pappas release.
- 2023-11-07 [Months after October 7, 2023]: Joined a statement criticizing Rep. Tlaib's use of "from the river to the sea." AJP Action scorecard.
Safety and antisemitism (context, not a weapons or funding position)
- 2018-10-28 [Earlier record]: Statement after the Tree of Life shooting calling for unity against hate. Press release.
- September 2022 [Earlier record; inline month-only date; source did not open]: Convened San Diego Jewish community leaders on rising antisemitic incidents. Only source is a Facebook post (would not open); no usable link.
- 2024-05-01 [Current position]: On the Antisemitism Awareness Act, said Congress must send a clear message against antisemitism but should legislate in a more unified way. Anyflip document.
- 2025-05-22 [Current position; source did not open]: Condemned a violent antisemitic attack outside a D.C. venue. Only source is a Facebook post (would not open); no usable link.
- 2026-03-13 [Current position; source did not open]: On a wave of anti-Jewish hate incidents, said "no person of any faith should ever live in fear to practice their religion." Only source is a Facebook post (would not open); no usable link.
Also in this race
- –No Position Found Steve Cohen (Republican)
All California candidates.
See everyone on the California ballot →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 Find Your Candidates for votes, funding and contact details.