But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check

John Elleson

Republican · U.S. House, Illinois District 9
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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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Two reviewers, reading the public record as a whole, agree: In a February 2026 election questionnaire he says "We need to support Ukraine, help Israel, and play a condole in Venezuela", without saying where he stands on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. Reviewed by hand on 2026-10-09. This candidate has no recorded tracked floor votes.

Elleson told a February 2026 questionnaire the U.S. needs to "support Ukraine, help Israel, and play a condole in Venezuela." His survey answers back defending Israel and call it "a key ally." No position located on packages or conditions.

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Deep Dive

Elleson is the Republican candidate for Illinois's 9th District, running against Daniel Biss.

Asked in a February 2026 questionnaire about U.S. intervention in Ukraine, Israel and Venezuela, his whole answer was: "We need to support Ukraine, help Israel, and play a condole in Venezuela." The wording is his, including the apparent typo, and it is quoted as written.

In candidate surveys for both his 2018 and 2026 campaigns he marked "Strongly Agree" to the statement that the United States should help defend Israel from attack by its enemies, and he described Israel as "a key ally that shares U.S. democratic values, supports regional security, and strengthens America's influence in the Middle East." He answered substantively across those surveys, which is what makes the marks evidence.

What none of it addresses is what the United States should send: no package, no transfer, no condition, and nothing on U.S. aid to Palestinians. The research found no such statement.

In their words

“We need to support Ukraine, help Israel, and play a condole in Venezuela.”
Source ↗, 2026-02-07

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, 2026-02-07] Shaw Local 2026 election questionnaire, opened and confirmed word for word, read beneath its own question ("What is your position on U.S. intervention, specifically Ukraine, Israel and Venezuela?"): "We need to support Ukraine, help Israel, and play a condole in Venezuela." Quoted as written, typo included.
  • [Position, published 2026-08-12, and 2018] iVoterGuide surveys for his 2026 and 2018 campaigns record "Strongly Agree" on the United States helping defend Israel from attack by its enemies, as reported. Not separately opened. **Questionnaire test:** the research turns up substantive answers across the same forms, including on Islamic terrorism, so the marks are evidence rather than a non-response artifact.
  • No statement located on packages, transfers, or conditions on aid.
  • He has no federal voting record.

U.S. aid to Palestinians

  • No statement or documented position found by the research.

Characterization of the conflict

  • [Position, published 2026-08-12] From his 2026 iVoterGuide profile, as reported: "Yes, Israel is a key ally that shares U.S. democratic values, supports regional security, and strengthens America's influence in the Middle East." Not separately opened; the card attributes it to his survey answers rather than quoting it as opened text.
  • [Position, published 2026-08-12] Same survey: "Strongly Agree" that Islamic terrorism presents a national-security threat.
  • The research found no statement outlining a framework for the broader conflict, such as a two-state position.

Related rhetoric and lobbying

Safety and antisemitism (context)

  • Nothing located beyond the Islamic-terrorism survey mark.

Consulted

Also in this race

  1. ? Daniel Biss (Democrat)

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.