Pat Harrigan
Harrigan co-sponsored two 2026 bills expanding U.S.-Israel defense cooperation. On the second anniversary of October 7 he said the Israeli people "have shown extraordinary courage and discipline" and called Hamas "a network of killers financed by Tehran."
Harrigan represents North Carolina's 10th District and is running for re-election.
His legislative record on this question is about deepening the defense relationship. In February 2026 he co-sponsored H.R. 7540, the United States-Israel FUTURES Act, on joint defense technology development; in June 2026 he co-sponsored H.R. 9322, the Abraham Accords Defense Cooperation Act, directing the Defense Department to expand regional air defense and anti-drone integration among Israel and Abraham Accords partners.
His October 2025 statement marking two years since the Hamas attack is his fullest account: he described "a wave of unspeakable brutality across Israel," called it "the most horrific assault on the Jewish people since the Holocaust," and said Hamas "operates as a network of killers financed by Tehran and driven by a hatred for Israel and America." He added that "every dollar that reaches its hands, and every word spoken in its defense, empowers the same evil that carried out the atrocities of October 7," a statement about money reaching Hamas rather than about U.S. assistance to Israel. He credited President Trump's leadership with an agreement to return the remaining hostages.
In January 2025 he attributed the ceasefire and hostage release to American firmness: "Hostages are finally coming home—not by chance, but through strength and decisive leadership."
His recorded votes appear as badges on this card.
Tracked votes: backed sending U.S. weapons or funding to the government of Israel in 2 of 2 recorded votes.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- [Position, 2026-02-11, reported] Co-sponsored H.R. 7540, the United States-Israel FUTURES Act of 2026, on bilateral defense technology cooperation. This is the bill Rep. Don Davis introduced; see nc1-davis. Co-sponsorship claim rests on the research and BillTrack50; not independently confirmed against the Congressional record.
- [Position, 2026-06-15, reported] Co-sponsored H.R. 9322, the Abraham Accords Defense Cooperation Act of 2026, directing the Defense Department to expand regional military integration, air defense and anti-drone capability among Israel and Abraham Accords partners. Not independently confirmed.
- [Position, 2026-07-22, reported] In a broadcast interview argued for decisive American strategy over a "status quo of doing nothing" in supporting allies against regional security threats. The research's only source is a Facebook video; not readable, and the quoted fragment is not used on the card.
- [Position, 2025-10-07] "Every dollar that reaches its hands, and every word spoken in its defense, empowers the same evil that carried out the atrocities of October 7" (his statement, opened and confirmed word for word). Read in place, "its" is Hamas. This is a statement about money reaching Hamas and is not treated as a position on U.S. assistance to Israel.
- No statement was located in which he addresses conditioning, withholding or increasing U.S. weapons transfers or funding to the government of Israel in those terms. His recorded votes appear as badges on this card.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- No statement or documented position located.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2025-10-07] Two-year anniversary statement, opened and confirmed word for word: "Two years ago today, Iran-backed Hamas terrorists launched a wave of unspeakable brutality across Israel." And: "It was the most horrific assault on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, and it stripped away any illusion about the nature of Hamas and those who enable it. Hamas operates as a network of killers financed by Tehran and driven by a hatred for Israel and America." And: "Through unimaginable grief, the Israeli people have shown extraordinary courage and discipline, proving that moral strength is not a slogan but a way of life." The statement also credits "the leadership of President Donald J. Trump" with shaping an agreement on the remaining 48 hostages.
- [Position, 2025-01-15] On the ceasefire and hostage agreement: "Hostages are finally coming home—not by chance, but through strength and decisive leadership. President Trump made it clear: act swiftly or face severe consequences" (Carolina Journal), opened and confirmed word for word and attributed there to "freshman Congressman Pat Harrigan, NC-10." The research rendered this quote with a comma where the source has an em dash, and joined it to a second sentence the source does not place there; both are corrected.
- [Position, 2025-02-18] Statement marking 500 days since October 7. Not opened.
- [Position, 2026-06-15, reported] In a Newsmax interview said the groups involved "have hated each other for generations." Cource not located as a distinct URL; not used.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Position, 2026-03-07, reported] On LiveNOW from Fox, framed joint deterrence against Iranian proxies as "peace through strength." Not opened.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [Position, 2025-06-09] Original co-sponsor of H.Res. 481 condemning ideologically motivated violent attacks on Jewish Americans and institutions. Safety context, never an answer about U.S. weapons or funding.
⚠ Wrong-person source
- A civicgate.org profile of Richard Hudson was returned among his sources. That is a different North Carolina member, nc9-hudson. Nothing from it is used.
Also in this race: Ashley Bell (Democrat) · All North Carolina candidates.
See the full record →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 the interactive card for votes, funding and contact details.