But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Herb Conaway
- Backed with $6K by PACs we track that support U.S. weapons funding for the government of Israel (lifetime)
- Sits on House Armed Services
Conaway said in October 2025 that "the suffering on both sides of this conflict is undeniable," citing 41,000 Palestinian deaths alongside the deadliest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. He supports the security aid.
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You asked Herb Conaway where they stand.
Deep Dive
Conaway has represented New Jersey's 3rd District since 2025.
His position on assistance is stated plainly, though in sources could not open. In an October 2024 questionnaire he said he has long held that the United States must be a guarantor of Israeli sovereignty and therefore supports the billions in security aid. In April 2024 he told InsiderNJ that the United States must be a guarantor of Israel's safety and security, while also noting that there are far too many civilian casualties in Gaza. We could not open either page, so both are summarised rather than quoted.
His October 2025 statement marking two years since the attack holds both sides of that together. It records 1,200 lives lost including 46 Americans and more than 250 people taken hostage, calls it "the deadliest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust," and then: "Over 41,000 Palestinians have died, thousands more have been wounded, and Gaza's population now faces an overwhelming humanitarian crisis. The suffering on both sides of this conflict is undeniable. Israelis and Palestinians alike deserve safety, dignity, and the opportunity to determine their own futures." He urged swift implementation of the American peace plan.
In March 2026, after joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in Iran, he criticised the military action for proceeding without a clear strategy or a full understanding of the risks to American service members.
His recorded votes appear as badges on this card.
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 2 of 2 tracked votes
House Committee on Armed Services
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 2 of 2 tracked votes.)
The money
$6K 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, 2024-10, reported] In an NJ Spotlight News candidate questionnaire he said he has long held that the United States must be a guarantor of Israeli sovereignty and therefore supports the billions in security aid (the district special report). Not opened; recorded as the research turns up it and quoted on the card as his questionnaire answer.
- [Position, 2024-04-07, reported] Told InsiderNJ that the United States must be a guarantor of Israel's safety and security. Summarised, not quoted. Not opened.
- His recorded votes appear as badges on this card.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2025-10-07] His two-year anniversary statement, opened and confirmed word for word: "Over 41,000 Palestinians have died, thousands more have been wounded, and Gaza's population now faces an overwhelming humanitarian crisis." He urged "all parties to swiftly implement the American peace plan to end the war," and, as reported called for the release of all hostages and for aid delivery to Gaza.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2025-10-07] Confirmed verbatim: the attack "was the deadliest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, a staggering and painful reminder of the dangers of violent extremism." And: "The suffering on both sides of this conflict is undeniable. Israelis and Palestinians alike deserve safety, dignity, and the opportunity to determine their own futures. We must reject antisemitism, just as we reject all forms of hate, and renew our commitment to peace."
- [Position, 2024-04-07, reported] Called the October 7 attack heinous and unprovoked, said Israel has a right to defend itself, supported the attrition of Hamas, and said there are far too many civilian casualties. Not opened, so summarised rather than quoted.
- [Position, 2024-11-04, reported] Supported a two-state solution (Ark Republic). Not opened.
- [Position, 2026-03-02, reported] After joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in Iran, criticised the action: "Without a clear strategy, without a full understanding of the risks to our service members..." The quotation is truncated in the research and is not completed by inference. See NJ Spotlight News on his complaint about scarce security briefings. Not opened.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Position, 2025-05-29] Signed a bipartisan House letter urging the use of all available diplomatic efforts, carried on Rep. Friedman's site. Another member's page for a group letter; no individual quote.
- ⚠ CAIR New Jersey published a statement condemning an AIPAC-funded trip to Israel taken by him and by nj9-pou. An advocacy organisation's criticism of him, consulted only; the trip itself is a fact about him and is recorded here, and no claim about his views is drawn from the organisation's framing.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [Position, 2025-10-07] "We must reject antisemitism, just as we reject all forms of hate" (confirmed verbatim, above).
- [Undated] Coverage of a Hadassah New Jersey visit to Capitol Hill. Not opened.
Note on sources
- Ten entries. One is a New Jersey legislature bill PDF from 2022 from his time in state office, one is a YouTube short, one is an advocacy organisation's statement and one is another member's page. His single fullest statement was opened and verified.
Also in this race
- –No Position Found Michael McGuire (Republican)
- –Research Underway Steven Welzer (Green)
- –Research Underway Ryan Kelly (Other)
All New Jersey candidates.
See everyone on the New Jersey 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.