But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Sanford Bishop
- Backed with $20K by PACs we track that support U.S. weapons funding for the government of Israel (lifetime)
- Endorsed by AIPAC
- Sits on House Appropriations
Bishop voted against the July 2026 amendment cutting aid: while it "drew attention to how our support, including military aid, can be misused and abused," its "broad language effectively cut off our nose to spite our face." He opposes "expanding settlements and occupation."
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You asked Sanford Bishop where they stand.
Deep Dive
Bishop represents Georgia's 2nd District and is running for re-election.
His July 2026 statement is unusually candid about both halves. On the amendment he voted against: "While it drew attention to how our support, including military aid, can be misused and abused, its broad language effectively cut off our nose to spite our face. I remain committed to supporting the rights, security, freedom, and self-determination of both Israelis and Palestinians. I remain opposed to expanding settlements and occupation."
His objection was to reach, not to the concern: "But this amendment does not limit its effects to just Israelis and Palestinians. It jeopardizes the investment we need in regional missile defense and our ability to counter other regional state and non-state groups that threaten the United States." He also noted the amendment "did not enjoy bipartisan support and no Republicans, other than Congressman Massie, supported the measure."
A 2017 statement records his support for the ten-year, $38 billion U.S.-Israel security assistance agreement and for a negotiated two-state solution.
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 3 of 6 tracked votes
House Committee on Appropriations
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 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
$20K 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
- [Position, 2026-07-16] His statement on the bill and the Massie amendment, opened and confirmed word for word. ⚠ **His office's own description of the amendment: "The amendment prohibited funds in the bill from being used for Israel as well as humanitarian aid for Palestinian refugees and civilians in Gaza."** His words: "I also could not support the Massie Amendment. While it drew attention to how our support, including military aid, can be misused and abused, its broad language effectively cut off our nose to spite our face. I remain committed to supporting the rights, security, freedom, and self-determination of both Israelis and Palestinians. I remain opposed to expanding settlements and occupation." And: "But this amendment does not limit its effects to just Israelis and Palestinians. It jeopardizes the investment we need in regional missile defense and our ability to counter other regional state and non-state groups that threaten the United States." And: "This amendment did not enjoy bipartisan support and no Republicans, other than Congressman Massie, supported the measure."
- [After October 7, 2023-11-02] Statement opposing the Republican emergency funding bill: supported aid for Israel's defence alongside humanitarian aid for Gaza, opposed tying emergency aid to domestic tax-enforcement cuts. From the weeks right after October 7; not opened.
- [Earlier record, 2017-01-05] Statement on U.S. commitment to Israel, recording support for the ten-year $38 billion security assistance agreement. Prior band; not opened.
- His recorded votes on the tracked bills appear as badges on this card, and the July 2026 statement is his own explanation of the most recent one.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2026-07-16] His stated reason for opposing the amendment includes its effect on humanitarian aid for Palestinian refugees and civilians in Gaza (his office's framing, confirmed verbatim above), and he restates opposition to "expanding settlements and occupation."
- [After October 7, 2023-11-02] Supported humanitarian aid for Gaza inside the emergency package.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2026-07-16] Commitment to "the rights, security, freedom, and self-determination of both Israelis and Palestinians" (confirmed).
- [After October 7, 2023-10-07] Statement on the attack and 2023-10-25 support for a bipartisan resolution.
- [Earlier record, 2017-01-05] Reaffirmed commitment to a negotiated two-state solution and co-sponsorship of a supporting resolution, while opposing boycott campaigns.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- Anti-boycott co-sponsorship (2017) is outside what this project tracks on cards; recorded above.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
Also in this race
- –No Position Found Matt Day (Republican)
All Georgia candidates.
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