Tom Kean
Kean voted for the April 2024 supplementals, saying they "provide much needed defense assistance to our allies and partners overseas" and send "a strong message of our unwavering commitment to democracy and freedom across the world."
Kean has represented New Jersey's 7th District since 2023 and chairs the Europe Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
His April 2024 statement records that he voted yes on the Israel, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific supplementals and on the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act: "These critical security supplemental bills provide much needed defense assistance to our allies and partners overseas. Time is of the essence for the United States to address the enduring threat posed by the evil alliance of Russia, China, and Iran. The House of Representatives is sending a strong message of our unwavering commitment to democracy and freedom across the world." The release notes he spoke on the House floor for the Israel supplemental.
That statement is framed around allies and adversaries generally rather than around Israel specifically, and it is the fullest located statement of his on U.S. assistance.
His other located items are about the war rather than the aid: statements on the January 2025 ceasefire, the second anniversary of the October 7 attack, and the October 2025 agreement. In 2020, running for Congress, his campaign published a position paper on Israel.
He has also worked on domestic antisemitism, hosting a roundtable in May 2024.
His recorded votes appear as badges on this card. No statement was located from him on conditioning U.S. transfers, or on U.S. humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
Tracked votes: backed sending U.S. weapons or funding to the government of Israel in 6 of 6 recorded votes.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- [Position, 2024-04-20] His statement on the passage of the security supplemental bills, opened and confirmed word for word. The release records that he "issued the following statement after voting YES on the three supplemental bills: the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, the Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, and H.R. 8038, the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act." His words: "I applaud the passage of the three supplemental bills and H.R. 8038... These critical security supplemental bills provide much needed defense assistance to our allies and partners overseas. Time is of the essence for the United States to address the enduring threat posed by the evil alliance of Russia, China, and Iran. The House of Representatives is sending a strong message of our unwavering commitment to democracy and freedom across the world." It also records that he spoke on the floor in support of the Israel supplemental.
**Note the framing**: the statement is about allies and adversaries in general and does not single out Israel, which is why the card quotes it as what it is rather than as a statement about Israel specifically.
- **No statement located** on conditioning, withholding or restricting U.S. transfers to Israel.
- [Prior, 2020] His 2020 campaign published a position paper on Israel, cited twice by the research as a PDF hosted by Jewish Insider, and a 2020 campaign page cited twice. Six years old, prior band, and campaign material from a previous cycle. Not opened.
- 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, 2025-01-16] Statement on the reported ceasefire deal, also carried by WRNJ Radio. Not opened.
- [Position, 2025-10-07] WRNJ Radio on his marking two years since the attack and calling for the hostages' release, cited three times. Not opened.
- [Position, 2025-10-09] Statement on the peace deal, cited twice. Not opened.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- Nothing located beyond the 2020 campaign material above.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [After October 7, 2023-11-02] Co-sponsored resolution condemning antisemitism on college campuses, cited twice. From the weeks right after October 7; safety context.
- [Position, 2024-05-14] Hosted a roundtable on combatting antisemitism, with JNS coverage. Safety context, never an answer about U.S. weapons or funding.
Note on sources
- Twenty-five entries and heavy duplication: **five separate items are cited two or three times each**, and **six are unlabelled YouTube videos**. One is a community listings page. The card rests on the one dated release that was opened.
Also in this race: Rebecca Bennett (Democrat) · All New Jersey 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.