But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Darin LaHood
- Backed with $25K by PACs we track that support U.S. weapons funding for the government of Israel (lifetime)
- Endorsed by AIPAC
LaHood backed the April 2024 supplemental providing "targeted lethal military aid to Israel," calling Israel "our strongest ally in the Middle East" and arguing that "the United States must stand strong with our allies." Nothing located on U.S. aid to Palestinians.
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Deep Dive
LaHood represents Illinois's 16th District, sits on the Intelligence Committee, and is running for re-election.
His position-band statement is his vote for the April 2024 national security supplemental, which he describes as providing "targeted lethal military aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan." His reasoning is framed around deterrence: "To remain a beacon of freedom, the United States must stand strong with our allies to protect our national security interests in response to rising global threats," and the package "helps restore that strength, ensuring that our allies have the military resources necessary to deter rising aggression, without committing American troops." In the same statement he calls Israel "our strongest ally in the Middle East" following Iran's attack.
In October 2025 he called the first phase of the peace agreement a "significant step towards stability in the region," attributing it to "peace through strength."
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 6 of 6 tracked votes
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 6 of 6 tracked votes.)
The money
$25K 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, 2024-04-20] Statement supporting the national security supplemental, opened and confirmed word for word. The release states he "voted to support the National Security Supplemental package, which provides targeted lethal military aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, and strengthens sanctions on our adversaries." His own words: "To remain a beacon of freedom, the United States must stand strong with our allies to protect our national security interests in response to rising global threats." And: "I believe in peace through strength... The National Security Supplemental helps restore that strength, ensuring that our allies have the military resources necessary to deter rising aggression, without committing American troops." He also refers to "Iran launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, our strongest ally in the Middle East."
- [After October 7, 2023-11-02] Statement supporting aid to Israel after voting for H.R. 6126, opened and confirmed word for word: "The United States must stand with the State of Israel in response to the barbaric terrorist attacks by Hamas on October 7 - the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act provides needed funding to Israel for the Iron Dome defense system, advanced weapons systems, and ammunition, while ensuring our own military readiness is not impacted." From the weeks right after October 7; never on a card, and recorded here in full.
- His recorded votes on the tracked bills appear as badges on this card and align with the stated position.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- No statement or documented position found by the research on U.S. humanitarian funding, UNRWA or the aid pipeline.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2024-08-01] WGLT interview: said the strike killing Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was justified, calling Haniyeh a "terrorist" with "blood on his hands," while naming a ceasefire and the return of hostages as top priorities. Not opened.
- [Position, 2024-10-07] One-year anniversary statement: the United States has an obligation to support Israel's right to defend itself against Iran and its proxies.
- [Position, 2025-10-09] Statement on phase one of the peace deal: a "significant step towards stability in the region," attributed to "peace through strength."
- [After October 7, 2023-11-02] Described the October 7 attacks as "barbaric terrorist attacks" and "the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust" (confirmed verbatim, above).
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Position, 2024-07-24] Statement criticizing members who skipped Netanyahu's address to a joint session of Congress. Not opened.
- [2024-10-28] Named in an Arab Center Washington policy roundup; third-party summary, not a statement of his.
- The research also cites an L'Orient-Le Jour item about three lawmakers urging Lebanon to abolish anti-normalization laws; the page does not name him in the found claim and is recorded as consulted only.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [After October 7, 2023-11-02] Said the United States must "stand strongly against the rise in antisemitism accelerating throughout our country,", as reported, in the same November release.
Also in this race
- ✓Opposes Paul Nolley (Democrat)
All Illinois candidates.
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