But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Rick Brattin
Republican · U.S. House, Missouri District 5
?Mixed
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.
Two reviewers, reading the public record as a whole, agree: In a 2026 voter-guide answer he says "I supported the Israel Non-Discrimination Act in Mo, and would support the same in D.C.", 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.
Brattin has not spoken publicly on U.S. weapons or money for the government of Israel, or on U.S. aid to Palestinians. No statement was found in source-checked research across 10 sources.
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10 sources checked and resolved, every one listed on the research page. Most candidates at this level have simply never been asked.
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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 2026-07-23) 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.
What was looked for, and what came back
**U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel:** Rick Brattin has generally expressed support for strong foreign policy alliances and national security measures backing U.S. allies, though he has not released detailed policy positions specifically outlining conditions or exact spending figures regarding U.S. military aid or direct arms transfers to Israel. Other material came back under this heading; it is set out in full below.
**Characterization of the conflict:** Material returned; set out in full below.
**Rhetoric and lobbying:** Material returned; set out in full below.
**Safety and antisemitism:** Material returned; set out in full below.
What else came back
The card's claim is about what the United States sends, and no position was found there. These sections returned material beyond a bare verdict. It is reproduced word for word so nothing found is lost; none of it is a position on U.S. weapons or money. Em dashes are rendered as hyphens to satisfy house style; no wording is changed.
### U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel Rick Brattin has generally expressed support for strong foreign policy alliances and national security measures backing U.S. allies, though he has not released detailed policy positions specifically outlining conditions or exact spending figures regarding U.S. military aid or direct arms transfers to Israel.
In a candidate interview published on July 20, 2026, by the *Martin City Telegraph*, Brattin discussed Middle East security, stating that while he "hopes" to avoid U.S. boots on the ground, he favors U.S. advisory military posturing and strategic deterrence in the region. In voter guides published during his campaigns, he indicated support for U.S. strategic cooperation and cutoffs of U.S. aid to state sponsors of terrorism that target Israel, such as Iran.
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### Characterization of the conflict Brattin characterizes the conflict as a struggle against radical terrorism directed at Israel and the United States. * On April 10, 2026, during state legislative discussions covered by the Missouri Press Association, Brattin asserted that surging conflict and hostility were directly tied to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. * In an interview published on July 20, 2026, in the *Martin City Telegraph*, Brattin commented on anti-terrorism actions in the region, stating, "They wished to destroy us and Israel... We took out all the leadership there – mowing the lawn, so to speak". * In candidate voter profile questionnaires, Brattin strongly rejected calls for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and opposed demands for Israeli territorial concessions.
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### Rhetoric and lobbying Brattin has aligned his political platform with pro-Israel and anti-BDS state policies. * In candidate survey responses (including a profile maintained for congressional candidates), Brattin stated: "I supported the Israel Non-Discrimination Act in Mo, and would support the same in D.C." This refers to anti-BDS legislation aimed at preventing state government contracts from being awarded to entities that engage in economic boycotts of Israel. * Throughout his campaign for MO-5 leading up to the August 4, 2026 Republican primary, Brattin framed his foreign policy views around a combination of U.S. national defense and explicit support for Israel as an ally.
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### Safety and antisemitism Brattin has advocated for legislative policies targeting antisemitic harassment and discrimination, particularly within educational settings. * On April 10, 2026, during Missouri legislative debates, Brattin pushed back against critics of antisemitism measures, arguing that antisemitism in the United States stemmed directly from radical violence against Israel rather than domestic policy debates. * In the Missouri Senate during the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions, Brattin supported state legislative efforts (such as HB 937 and related measures signed into law by Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe in May 2026) that established statutory definitions and prohibitions against antisemitic harassment in public schools and universities.
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.
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