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

Misti Cordell

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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.

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.

No recorded votes on the bills we track. We found nothing in their own words about Israel, Gaza or the war.

Nothing located has Cordell taking a position on U.S. weapons or money for the government of Israel, or on U.S. aid to Palestinians. Her own campaign site and candidate profile carry nothing on it.

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Your record on weapons and funding for the government of Israel [ref: la5-cordell]

Dear Misti Cordell,

You're asking for my vote, and there is one question I can't find your answer to: should the United States keep sending weapons and funding to the government of Israel?

Your campaign hasn't said where you stand, and for many voters in this race it decides the vote. A short answer would help: will you vote against further weapons and funding for the government of Israel, or for enforceable conditions on that support?

I may share your answer publicly so other voters can see it.

Respectfully,
[Your name]

Deep Dive

Cordell is a Republican candidate in Louisiana's 5th District, a healthcare consultant and entrepreneur who chaired the Louisiana Board of Regents.

Her campaign site was read straight through and carries nothing on Israel, Gaza, Palestinians, foreign aid or foreign policy. Her Ballotpedia profile records that she has not completed that site's 2026 candidate survey, which is where the question would sit and which several candidates in this state have answered. Local coverage of her campaign keeps to Louisiana subjects.

What was checked to reach that conclusion is listed on this card's research page. You are better placed to get an answer than we are. Ask Cordell directly, or at a candidate forum, and send us the reply: it goes on this page in her own words.

The money

Checked the five lobbying groups we track; no direct 2026 support found

2026 support from the five lobbying groups we track

Nothing recorded (as of 2026-09-27) from the five lobbying groups we track; earlier cycles and earmarked donations not yet tracked.

Support-only OpenFEC data. Opposition independent expenditures are excluded.

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

Nothing located.

U.S. aid to Palestinians

Nothing located.

Characterization of the conflict

Nothing located.

Related rhetoric and lobbying

Nothing located.

Safety and antisemitism (context)

Nothing located.

Where the absence was checked

[Consulted, read 2026-08-20] Her campaign site. Opened and read in full; no mention of Israel, Gaza, Palestinians, foreign aid or foreign policy. This is the own-site check the standing rule requires before a card rests on absence, and here it confirmed the absence rather than overturning it.
[Consulted, read 2026-08-20] Her Ballotpedia profile. Opened; it records that she has not completed the 2026 candidate survey.
[Consulted, read 2026-08-20] Local radio coverage of her candidacy, dated 2026-08-07. Opens and names her; nothing in scope.

Race and status context

Qualified on Louisiana's certified list for the all-candidate November election in the 5th District, with a December runoff between the top two if nobody clears half the vote. Nine candidates are on the ballot in this district.
She has held no federal office, so there are no recorded votes on this card.

Also in this race

– Austin Magee (Republican)
– Gabe Firment (Republican)
✗ Michael Echols (Republican)
– Oscar "Omar" Dantzler (Republican)
? Stewart Cathey Jr. (Republican)
– Antonio Wilson (Democrat)
? Dan McKay (Democrat)
– Patricia "Pat" Moore (Democrat)

All Louisiana candidates.