But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Michael Whatley
- Backed with $5K by PACs we track that support U.S. weapons funding for the government of Israel (lifetime)
- Endorsed by Republican Jewish Coalition
Whatley, the former RNC chair, has stated general support, "We stand by Israel. We stand with the Jewish people," and made "pro-Israel" a party identity claim. No statement was located from him on any specific U.S. aid package, weapons transfer, or money to Palestinians.
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You asked Michael Whatley where they stand.
Deep Dive
Whatley chaired the North Carolina GOP and then the Republican National Committee before becoming the 2026 Senate nominee. He has never held public office and has no votes; his record is party rhetoric, and on the aid question itself it is empty: no located statement on any specific package, transfer, or conditioning question.
What he has said is allegiance. At the September 2024 Republican Jewish Coalition summit, as reported by the Jerusalem Post: "We stand by Israel. We stand with the Jewish people." At a November 2024 campaign event: "as long as I'm the chair of the RNC, we are absolutely pro-life, we are pro-family, and we are pro-Israel." As RNC chair in May 2024 he attacked the administration for "backtrack[ing] on his support for Israel" and called for restoring "peace through strength." The Republican Jewish Coalition endorsed him in April 2026.
The same JPost exchange shows how he handles the antisemitism question: "There is no element of antisemitism within the Republican Party... If you want to talk about antisemitism, you need to go across the aisle," and, asked about a North Carolina legislative candidate with reported ties to Nazi groups, "I have no idea what you're talking about." In October 2025 state Democrats criticized him for declining to condemn a political ally's antisemitic and racist group texts; that account comes from an opposition source.
If you want his actual aid position, you are better placed to get it than we are: ask Whatley directly and send us the reply.
The record
• Published a North State Journal op-ed in late October 2023, after attending the Republican Jewish Coalition's Annual Leadership Summit, framing the Hamas attacks as 'a time for choosing' and pledging that 'North Carolina, and America, stands with' Israel.
• Launched his Senate campaign July 31, 2025, while still RNC chairman (he stepped down from the RNC chairmanship in August 2025); neither his launch coverage reviewed nor his campaign issues page (accessed July 23, 2026) addresses Israel, U.S. aid, or foreign policy.
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. Backed with $5K by Republican Jewish Coalition (FEC filings); endorsed by Republican Jewish Coalition.
The money
$5K in lifetime support from the five lobbying groups we track
In their words
Republican Jewish Coalition (2026)
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
- No specific statement or policy position located on aid packages, weapons transfers, or conditions; his support statements are general (we searched his RNC and campaign record).
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- Nothing located.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Reaction window, 2023-10-07, reported] Condemned Hamas terrorism; Israel's right to defend itself. Not on the card summary.
- [Reaction window, 2023-10-31] His North State Journal op-ed, written as state party chairman after the Republican Jewish Coalition's leadership summit: "While leaders in Israel resolve to protect their people from a war that’s been thrust upon them, they should know that North Carolina, and America, stands with them." And, a paragraph later: "Israel is one of America’s closest allies. But this special alliance is far more than geopolitical, more than cultural – it’s moral. Israel and the United States of America are built upon a shared foundation of Judeo-Christian values which, in turn, rest upon the very value of human life itself." (his op-ed, "A time for choosing"). Not on the card summary.
- [Position, 2024-05-06] RNC statement: "Joe Biden's weakness is on display for all the world to see as he refuses to condemn the antisemitic violence on college campuses and continues to backtrack on his support for Israel"; "this is no time for ambiguity - we need President Donald J. Trump back in office to restore order, support our critical ally, Israel, and bring peace through strength once more" (reported; the RJC video release page is the nearest source).
- [Position, 2024-09-05] At the RJC summit, attributed the conflict's duration to administration weakness (Washington Examiner, Dispatch).
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Position, 2024-09-05] RJC summit, JPost, read and verified verbatim: "We stand by Israel. We stand with the Jewish people" (spoken within his answer on antisemitism).
- [Position, 2024-11-01] "Believers and Ballots" event, Austell, Georgia (Al Jazeera longform): "Let me just tell you, as long as I'm the chair of the RNC, we are absolutely pro-life, we are pro-family, and we are pro-Israel."
- [Position, 2026-04-21] RJC endorsement of his Senate campaign (Jewish Insider, RJC). RJC support is a badge; not restated.
- [Position, 2024-10-21, record's prior research] Called himself a strong supporter of Israel in an interview (existing record quote).
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [Position, 2024-09-05] The JPost exchange, verified verbatim: "There is no element of antisemitism within the Republican Party... If you want to talk about antisemitism, you need to go across the aisle"; on the North Carolina candidate with reported Nazi-group ties: "I have no idea what you're talking about."
- [Position, 2025-10-29, opposition source] The NC Democratic Party criticized him for declining to condemn a political ally's antisemitic and racist group texts. Partisan source; recorded as their account, asserted as nothing more.
Also in this race
- ✗Supports Roy Cooper (Democrat)
- –No Position Found Shannon Bray (Libertarian)
- ✓Opposes Michael Dublin (Green)
All North Carolina candidates.
See everyone on the North Carolina 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.