But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Emanuel Cleaver
Cleaver made his 2024 vote conditional: "My vote was contingent on that aid being included," meaning over $9 billion in humanitarian aid. In 2026 he voted against cutting aid to Israel, saying "the status quo is not tenable."
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You asked Emanuel Cleaver where they stand.
Deep Dive
Cleaver has represented Missouri's 5th District, centred on Kansas City, since 2005.
He attached a condition to his April 2024 vote for the $95 billion national security package and said so in the same statement: "I was proud to fight, along with my Democratic colleagues, for the inclusion of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza, civilians in Ukraine, and those around the world, and am reassured to see over $9 billion in aid provided in the package. My vote was contingent on that aid being included, and I recognize that the U.S. and other allies must continue to hold the Israeli government to their promise to speed up the process and increase the amount of humanitarian aid going into Gaza." He added that he remained "concerned about Prime Minister Netanyahu's plans for military action in Rafah, and the impact that would have on the over 1 million civilians living in southern Gaza."
In July 2026 he voted against the amendment that would have cut aid to Israel, and his reasons were about what else it would cut: it "could block all foreign aid to Israel, including programs I strongly support that are focused on peacebuilding and humanitarian aid," and it was "drafted in such a broad way that it leaves the Trump Administration, who will implement it, with wide discretion to decide which funding accounts should be blocked."
In the same statement he set out where he stands: "Israel has the right to exist and the right to defend their people, and I believe the U.S. should continue to have a strong strategic alliance with Israel. However, the status quo is not tenable; not for the Israeli people long term, not for the Palestinians trying to live in an ever-shrinking territory in the West Bank, and certainly not for the people still suffering in Gaza." He called it "outrageous that this Republican bill provided no aid for the Palestinian people continuing to suffer in Gaza."
His recorded votes appear as badges on this card, and both statements above are his own explanations of two of them.
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 3 of 5 tracked votes
• Vote record imported from official House Clerk roll calls for H.R. 6126, H.R. 8034, and H.R. 8369. Other position fields remain under investigation.
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 3 of 5 tracked votes.)
The money
$20K in lifetime support from the five lobbying groups we track
In their words
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] His statement on the security assistance package, opened and confirmed word for word: "I was proud to fight - along with my Democratic colleagues - for the inclusion of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza, civilians in Ukraine, and those around the world, and am reassured to see over $9 billion in aid provided in the package. My vote was contingent on that aid being included, and I recognize that the U.S. and other allies must continue to hold the Israeli government to their promise to speed up the process and increase the amount of humanitarian aid going into Gaza. I remain concerned about Prime Minister Netanyahu's plans for military action in Rafah, and the impact that would have on the over 1 million civilians living in southern Gaza." The release records the package as $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and Palestinian civilians. **This is a conditional support statement, not a support statement, and the card says so.**
- [Position, 2026-07-16] His statement on the Massie amendment, opened and confirmed word for word: "Republicans included an amendment to the bill by Rep. Massie that could block all foreign aid to Israel, including programs I strongly support that are focused on peacebuilding and humanitarian aid. I voted no on Rep. Massie's amendment because I ardently believe in peacebuilding programs which are working daily to bring people together, rather than divide them." And: "Despite its title and messaging, the amendment was drafted in such a broad way that it leaves the Trump Administration, who will implement it, with wide discretion to decide which funding accounts should be blocked. This creates the false impression that Congress had ended their support. That's not honest policymaking." And: "If Congress is serious about examining and changing U.S. policy, then we should debate and vote on legislation that actually does what it claims to do."
- [Position, 2024-02-07] Statement criticising House Republican leadership for what he called politicising Israel security assistance through standalone measures. Dated 2024-02-07, which is position band; it concerns congressional process rather than the substance of assistance, so it sits here. Not opened.
- His recorded votes appear as badges on this card. They are not uniform, and the two statements above are his own account of two of them.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2024-04-20] The $9 billion humanitarian figure and the condition attached to his vote (confirmed verbatim, above). This is the clearest located instance in Missouri of a member tying support for a package to Palestinian humanitarian aid.
- [Position, 2026-07-16] "It is outrageous that this Republican bill provided no aid for the Palestinian people continuing to suffer in Gaza" (confirmed verbatim).
- [After October 7, 2023-11-20] Called for a bilateral ceasefire, the release of hostages, and diplomatic measures to deliver humanitarian aid. From the weeks right after October 7; not used on the card.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2026-07-16] "Israel has the right to exist and the right to defend their people, and I believe the U.S. should continue to have a strong strategic alliance with Israel. However, the status quo is not tenable; not for the Israeli people long term, not for the Palestinians trying to live in an ever-shrinking territory in the West Bank, and certainly not for the people still suffering in Gaza" (confirmed verbatim).
- [Position, 2024-07-24] Statement on Prime Minister Netanyahu's address to Congress:, as reported, said he respects the alliance but disagreed with the Israeli government's policies and called for an end to the war with a clear post-war plan. Not opened.
- [Position, 2024-10-07] One-year anniversary statement. Not opened.
- [After October 7, 2023-10-10] Condemned the October 7 attacks, said Hamas in no way represents the Palestinian people, and supported a two-state solution. From the weeks right after October 7.
- [After October 7, 2023-11-18] Said "guns should go silent" at a Kansas City constituent meeting (KCUR). From the weeks right after October 7; not opened.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- Nothing located beyond the process criticism above.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [After October 7, 2023-12-06] Statement on House Resolution 894 calling the rise of antisemitism "abhorrent" and urging full funding of the White House national strategy. the weeks right after October 7 and safety context; never an answer about U.S. weapons or funding.
Consulted
- KCUR primary preview. Nine of eleven sources found are his own releases, two of them duplicated.
Also in this race
- ?Mixed Rick Brattin (Republican)
- –No Position Found Randall Langkraehr (Libertarian)
All Missouri candidates.
See everyone on the Missouri 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.