But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Brad Schneider
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You asked Brad Schneider where they stand.
Deep Dive
Schneider represents Illinois's 10th District on Chicago's North Shore and is running for re-election. Beyond his votes, he has spent years legislating on the mechanics of what the United States sends.
In May 2024 he objected to the pause on a heavy-weapons shipment: "while I am grateful for all President Biden has done since October 7th to support Israel's security and increase humanitarian relief for the people of Gaza, I am deeply concerned about the Administration's recent decision to pause a shipment of weapons as well as the President's comments about withholding security assistance to Israel. I fear the U.S. is sending dangerous mixed messages." The same statement says he shares the aim of "a sustainable pause to the fighting in Gaza" and agrees "we must do everything possible to minimize civilian harm."
On the April 2024 supplemental he set out both halves: it "critically replenishes Iron Dome and other defensive systems, as well as providing artillery and other munitions," and "crucially, these bills also provide desperately needed and long overdue humanitarian aid for civilians in all of these regions, including Gaza."
His earlier record is about preserving Israel's military edge over other buyers: he introduced the Defending Israel's QME Act in 2017 and the Guaranteeing Israel's QME Act in 2020, and led nine House Democrats in urging the administration to protect that edge amid planned F-35 sales to the United Arab Emirates.
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 4 of 6 tracked votes
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
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 more than half of their recorded tracked votes. (Supported sending weapons or funding in 4 of 6 tracked votes.)
The money
$23K in lifetime support from the five lobbying groups we track
In their words
AIPAC (2026 endorsement) · DMFI PAC (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, 2024-05-10] Response to the delayed weapons shipment, opened and confirmed word for word: "I share the Administration's desire to help bring a sustainable pause to the fighting in Gaza and bring home the more than 130 hostages, including 8 Americans. I also agree we must do everything possible to minimize civilian harm while taking the necessary steps to defeat Hamas and end its reign of terror." And: "while I am grateful for all President Biden has done since October 7th to support Israel's security and increase humanitarian relief for the people of Gaza, I am deeply concerned about the Administration's recent decision to pause a shipment of weapons as well as the President's comments about withholding security assistance to Israel. I fear the U.S. is sending dangerous mixed messages, not just to the government and peo[ple of Israel...]."
- [Position, 2024-04-20] Statement on passage of the national security funding, confirmed verbatim: "The Israel security supplemental critically replenishes Iron Dome and other defensive systems, as well as providing artillery and other munitions and funds to procure more advanced systems, as it counters attacks from multiple fronts including from Iran, Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah." And: "Crucially, these bills also provide desperately needed and long overdue humanitarian aid for civilians in all of these regions, including Gaza, as well as necessary funds for US military operations."
- [Position, 2024-04-10] Floor speech urging immediate passage of emergency military aid for Israel while opposing H.Res. 1117. Not opened.
- [Earlier record, 2017-06-09] Co-introduced the Defending Israel's QME Act of 2017 (H.R. 2833), requiring executive consultation with Israel before authorizing U.S. military sales to other Middle Eastern states.
- [Earlier record, 2020-09-11] Led nine House Democrats urging the administration to safeguard Israel's qualitative military edge amid reports of planned F-35 sales to the United Arab Emirates.
- [Earlier record, 2020-10-02] Introduced the Guaranteeing Israel's QME Act of 2020 (H.R. 8494), requiring presidential consultation with Israel and congressional reporting on Middle East arms sales affecting its military advantage.
- His recorded votes on the tracked bills appear as badges on this card. They are mixed, and the April and May 2024 statements are his own account of the distinction he draws.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2024-04-20] Same statement, confirmed verbatim: the bills "provide desperately needed and long overdue humanitarian aid for civilians in all of these regions, including Gaza."
- [Position, 2024-05-10] Credits the administration with having "increase[d] humanitarian relief for the people of Gaza" (same release).
- [Position, 2024-06-14] WTTW interview: described the region at a "crossroads" and argued for a "day after" vision including recovery for Gaza. Not opened.
Characterization of the conflict
- [After October 7, 2023-10-29] Floor remarks condemning Hamas, saying its "aspirations are no different than Al-Qaeda or ISIS."
- [Position, 2024-11-27] Statement welcoming the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire.
- [Position, 2025-01-23] Statement praising the ceasefire and hostage-release agreement.
- [Position, 2025-03-21] Statement blaming Hamas for the breakdown of negotiations, calling its continued holding of hostages "reprehensible."
- [Position, 2025-07-25] Further statement, as reported; source not identified.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Earlier record, 2019-03-21] Co-introduced H.Res. 246 opposing the global BDS movement and reaffirming support for a negotiated two-state solution. Anti-boycott material is outside what this project tracks on cards.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [After October 7, 2023-11-26] Spoke against what he described as "open and accepted anti-Semitism on college campuses" after the October 7 attacks.
Also in this race
- –No Position Found Carl Lambrecht (Republican)
All Illinois candidates.
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