But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check

Carmen Bucco

Republican · U.S. House, New Jersey District 10
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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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Two reviewers, reading the public record as a whole, agree: In a 2024 news interview he says Israel "deserves our unwavering support" and speaks of "our sympathies for the effects on innocent people from the devastation of Gaza and Palestine", which points both ways. Reviewed by hand on 2026-10-09. This candidate has no recorded tracked floor votes.

Bucco told a candidate guide that "Israel is a key ally in the Middle East," and told a New Jersey paper that Israel "deserves our unwavering support as a strategic partner in protecting our interests abroad."

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Deep Dive

Bucco is the Republican candidate for New Jersey's 10th District.

His fullest statement on the alliance is a candidate guide answer, confirmed word for word: "The U.S.-Israel relationship is crucial due to shared democratic values, strategic interests, and historical ties. Israel is a key ally in the Middle East, enhancing regional stability and security, and supporting counterterrorism and technological innovation. The partnership also reflects common Judeo-Christian values, making its maintenance vital for national security and global democratic ideals."

Asked by a New Jersey paper about Israel as a strategic partner, he answered: "Israel is a critical ally and deserves our unwavering support as a strategic partner in protecting our interests abroad. But equally important to these practical considerations is that Israelis are targets due to their religious beliefs and if we are true to our value system we must join in their fight for independence and religious freedom."

Asked in the same interview how he would advise the president on Gaza, he answered: "This is a complex issue that calls on our sympathies for the effects on innocent people from the devastation of Gaza and Palestine as Israel justifiably roots out terrorists. I recognize Israel’s need to protect itself and the consequential military action required to suppress threats. But we must also envision a future for those who are currently displaced through no fault of their own and have a right to their own culture."

Those are positions on the alliance and on the war. He has not said what he would do about any particular weapons transfer, funding measure or condition, and he has no federal voting record.

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.

U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel

  • No statement located on any particular weapons transfer, funding measure or condition on assistance.
  • [Position, 2024] Asked about the value of Israel as a strategic partner, he said Israel "is a critical ally and deserves our unwavering support as a strategic partner in protecting our interests abroad" (Jewish Link). Read and confirmed word for word.
  • He has no federal voting record.

U.S. aid to Palestinians

  • [Position, 2024] On Gaza, he said "we must also envision a future for those who are currently displaced through no fault of their own and have a right to their own culture" (Jewish Link). Confirmed word for word. It is about displaced people rather than about U.S. humanitarian funding.

Characterization of the conflict

  • [Position, 2024] Described the U.S.-Israel relationship as "crucial due to shared democratic values, strategic interests, and historical ties" and Israel as "a key ally in the Middle East, enhancing regional stability and security, and supporting counterterrorism and technological innovation," reflecting "common Judeo-Christian values" (iVoterGuide). Confirmed word for word.
  • [Position, 2024] On the war: "This is a complex issue that calls on our sympathies for the effects on innocent people from the devastation of Gaza and Palestine as Israel justifiably roots out terrorists." Same source, confirmed word for word.

Related rhetoric and lobbying

  • Nothing located.

Safety and antisemitism (context)

  • Nothing located distinct from the material above.

Note on the sources

  • Both sources were opened and read on 17 August 2026, and a volunteer confirmed the iVoterGuide passage independently. An earlier version of this card said the guide could not be located and summarised everything; both are now quoted in his own words.

Also in this race

  1. ? LaMonica McIver (Democrat)

All New Jersey candidates.

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.