But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Mark Messmer
- Backed with $965K by PACs we track that support U.S. weapons funding for the government of Israel (lifetime)
- Endorsed by AIPAC
- Sits on House Armed Services
Messmer voted against both amendments cutting that aid and backs regional military alliances: co-sponsoring the Abraham Accords defense bill, he said he was proud to unite America, Israel and partners "to end the reign of terror which has long tormented the region". His survey statement opposes boycott movements "unequivocally".
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 Mark Messmer where they stand.
Deep Dive
Messmer represents Indiana’s 8th District, elected in 2024 after sixteen years in the state legislature.
His two recorded votes on the tracked bills, against both amendments to cut aid to Israel, appear as badges on this card. In July 2025 he co-sponsored the Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act, saying in his release he was proud to support military alliances between "America, Israel, and our Middle Eastern partners as we unite to end the reign of terror which has long tormented the region".
His fullest written statement sits in his Ballotpedia survey: Israel "stands as a beacon of democracy in a tumultuous region, a nation with not only the right to exist but to defend itself", he "steadfastly support[s] Israel’s sovereignty", and movements advocating boycott, divestment and sanctions "undermine the possibility of peace and stability in the region... I oppose these movements unequivocally, standing in solidarity with Israel, our friend and ally."
Nothing located has him addressing U.S. humanitarian aid for Palestinians at any date.
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 2 of 2 tracked votes
House Committee on Armed Services
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 more than half of their recorded tracked votes. (Supported sending weapons or funding in 2 of 2 tracked votes.)
The money
$965K 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
- His recorded votes appear as badges on this card: No on both amendments to cut aid to Israel; he took office in January 2025.
- [Position, 2025-07-10] His Abraham Accords bill release, verified: the reign-of-terror quote on the card. Unlike two colleagues in this panel whose co-sponsorship of the same bill rode on a source that never named them, his own release names and quotes him.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- Nothing located at any date.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, survey] His Ballotpedia statement, verified: the beacon-of-democracy and right-to-defend passages quoted in the deep dive.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Position, survey] The same statement’s unequivocal opposition to boycott movements, verified and quoted.
- Tracked funding totals appear as a badge on this card. The Republican Jewish Coalition’s campaign page names its own effort; the committee’s framing stays its own.
- A Jerusalem Post piece and two video sources were offered; the videos were not watched and nothing is claimed from them.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- Nothing located in the position band.
Race and status context
- Sitting member, nominated. His Democratic challenger’s card carries its own record.
Also in this race
- ?Mixed Mary Allen (Democrat)
All Indiana candidates.
See everyone on the Indiana 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.