But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Rob Menendez
- Endorsed by AIPAC +1 more
Menendez said in October 2025 he has "advocated to bring the hostages home, increase the flow of aid into Gaza, and move us closer to an enduring solution." Asked in 2026 to condition military aid to Israel, he answered about Iran and did not address it.
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You asked Rob Menendez where they stand.
Deep Dive
Menendez has represented New Jersey's 8th District since 2023.
His October 2025 statement on the announced peace agreement sets out how he describes his own record: "The announcement of a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas is a promising and welcome development after two years of tragedy, loss, and unimaginable suffering. Since the start of this conflict, I have advocated to bring the hostages home, increase the flow of aid into Gaza, and move us closer to an enduring solution where both peoples can live with security and dignity." He added that "the United States must remain a steadfast partner in ensuring this agreement's success."
On conditioning aid, the record is a non-answer rather than an answer, and it is worth being precise about that. In March 2026 his primary opponent publicly called on him to condition military aid to Israel so it could not sustain the Iran conflict, and to stop taking AIPAC money. Menendez responded on Iran alone: "My record is clear and consistent, I am against Trump's war on Iran and I voted to end it. I will continue to do everything possible to end this war and to hold the Trump Administration accountable for this unauthorized and reckless conflict." The outlet notes he "did not make any mention of Israel."
His recorded votes appear as badges on this card and are not uniform.
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 4 of 6 tracked votes
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 4 of 6 tracked votes.)
In their words
AIPAC (2026 endorsement) · DMFI PAC (2026 endorsement)
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, 2025-10-10] His statement on the peace agreement, opened and confirmed word for word: "Since the start of this conflict, I have advocated to bring the hostages home, increase the flow of aid into Gaza, and move us closer to an enduring solution where both peoples can live with security and dignity. This agreement marks an important step in that direction, but our work is far from done. The United States must remain a steadfast partner in ensuring this agreement's success and advancing the conditions for an enduring peace."
- **[Position, 2026-03-17] A direct question on conditioning, and a non-answer.** Hudson County View, opened and confirmed word for word. His primary opponent Mussab Ali "specifically called on Menendez to oppose the Iran war and condition military aid to Israel so that it cannot be used to advance or sustain that conflict," and also called on him to stop taking AIPAC money. Menendez's reply, verbatim: "My record is clear and consistent - I am against Trump's war on Iran and I voted to end it. I will continue to do everything possible to end this war and to hold the Trump Administration accountable for this unauthorized and reckless conflict." The outlet states directly that he "did not make any mention of Israel before taking a parting shot."
This is a non-answer to a question that was put to him plainly and publicly, which is different from never having been asked. The card says so.
- [Position, 2025-06-14] Statement on Israel's attack on Iran, as reported emphasising that the U.S. must reaffirm its commitment to Israel's security interests and to preventing nuclear proliferation. Not opened.
- [After October 7, 2023-11-03] Statement on the standalone Israel aid proposal, as reported: it failed to provide humanitarian assistance for Israelis and Palestinians and politicised aid by tying it to IRS cuts. From the weeks right after October 7; not used on the card.
- [After October 7, 2023-11-09] One-month statement urging a comprehensive bipartisan package. From the weeks right after October 7.
- His recorded votes appear as badges on this card and are not uniform.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2025-10-10] "Increase the flow of aid into Gaza" (confirmed verbatim, above), stated as something he has advocated since the start of the conflict.
- [After October 7, 2023-11-09, reported] Emphasised the necessity of delivering humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. From the weeks right after October 7.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2025-10-10] "Two years of tragedy, loss, and unimaginable suffering," and an enduring solution "where both peoples can live with security and dignity" (confirmed verbatim).
- [After October 7, 2023-11-09, reported] Described the October 7 attacks as the "worst attack on the Jewish community since the Holocaust." From the weeks right after October 7.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Position, 2026-03-17] His opponent's call for him to stop taking AIPAC money is recorded above. **No response from him on that point was located**, and no statement of his about pro-Israel organisations was found.
- [2026-03-27] A letter to the editor supporting him. A third party's opinion, not his statement.
- [2024-01-15] Two entries are an advocacy site's page about him. Consulted, never a card source.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [Prior, 2023-07-23, reported] At a House Homeland Security Committee hearing, questioned a witness over alleged affiliations. Prior band; safety context.
Note for coverage
- His 2026 primary opponent, **Mussab Ali**, has an on-record position on this question, calling for conditioning military aid to Israel and for candidates to refuse AIPAC money, and has no record on this site. Relevant to the minting lane.
Also in this race
- ?Mixed Aristotle Eliopoulos (Independent)
- ✗Supports Craig Honts (Other)
- ?Mixed Da'Shone Hughey (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.