Brinker Harding
In the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s 2026 voter guide, Harding answered “Unequivocally yes” on Israel’s right to exist, writing “Israel’s survival is not a given; it must be actively defended”, and backed renewing the $3.8 billion military-aid memorandum. He opposes Palestinian Authority funding until “pay-to-slay” ends.
Harding, an Omaha City Council member, is the Republican nominee in Nebraska’s 2nd District.
His fullest record is his own written answers in the Jewish Federation of Omaha JCRC 2026 voter guide, verified against the published questionnaire. Asked whether he supports Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state: "Unequivocally yes. Israel is a democratic state with deep historical, religious, and cultural roots. The October 7th Hamas attacks reaffirmed that Israel’s survival is not a given; it must be actively defended." The same answer backs continued security assistance and renewal of the U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding providing $3.8 billion annually in military aid.
On the Palestinian side he supports the Taylor Force Act and opposes "any U.S. funding to the Palestinian Authority until it ends its ‘pay-to-slay’ program", and writes that "The BDS movement’s goals are rooted in antisemitism and have no place in American institutions." He calls the U.S.-Israel relationship "one of America’s most important alliances" and endorses the IHRA working definition of antisemitism as "a sound framework", saying political speech crosses into antisemitism when it "singles out Israel with a double standard not applied to other nations, or seeks to delegitimize Israel’s right to exist altogether".
In December 2025, he opened an Omaha City Council meeting with a statement he had first delivered at the Jewish Community Center, commemorating victims of the Sydney Hanukkah attack and condemning antisemitism.
His comments on the 2026 U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran sit on the research page.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- [Position, 2026-04] The JCRC 2026 voter guide (landing page), verified in the published PDF: continued security assistance and MOU renewal, quoted on the card. His listing of specific missile-defense systems in the same sentence is held off the front.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2026-04] The same guide, verified: Taylor Force Act support and opposition to Palestinian Authority funding until "pay-to-slay" ends.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2026-04] The guide’s right-to-exist answer, verified and quoted on the card, including the October 7 framing.
- [Position, 2025-06-13, read by a volunteer] A photo caption on his campaign Facebook page frames Israel as fighting for its right to exist and protecting not only its own citizens but freedom-loving people generally; a volunteer read it in September 2026 and confirmed it. The wording was not transcribed, so nothing is quoted.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Position, 2026-04] The guide: "peace through strength, not appeasement", opposing revival of the Iran nuclear deal and backing Abraham Accords expansion.
- [Iran, 2026-03] Nebraska Public Media’s candidate survey on the Iran war, verified: he backed the U.S.-Israeli operation and called Iran "a radical theocratic state" that "funded terror around the world". Iran material, research page only.
Safety and antisemitism
- [Position, 2026-04] The guide, verified: his definition of antisemitism, IHRA endorsement ("a sound framework"), and the double-standard test, quoted in the deep dive.
- [Action, 2025-12-16] The council statement on the Sydney Hanukkah attack, verified via Flatwater Free Press.
- [Community pledge, 2026-04] The guide: a "proud friend of the Jewish people around the globe and our 8,800 Jewish neighbors in Omaha".
Race and status context
- Republican nominee for an open swing seat. His Democratic opponent’s card carries its own record.
Also in this race: Denise Powell (Democrat) · All Nebraska 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.