But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Nellie Pou
- ✓ Cosponsors the Block the Bombs Act
- Backed with $7K by PACs we track that support U.S. weapons funding for the government of Israel (lifetime)
Pou voted against the July 2026 amendment while calling for change: "no relationship, no matter how close, can be without limits. The time has come to reevaluate our foreign aid policy with respect to Israel, but this amendment stripping funding for pathways to peace is the wrong path."
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Deep Dive
Pou has represented New Jersey's 9th District since 2025, having replaced the late Rep. Bill Pascrell on the ballot in 2024.
Her July 2026 statement explains a no vote in terms that are not a defence of the status quo: "The relationship between the United States and Israel is a long one. The U.S. was the first nation to recognize Israel over 88 years ago. But no relationship, no matter how close, can be without limits. The time has come to reevaluate our foreign aid policy with respect to Israel, but this amendment stripping funding for pathways to peace is the wrong path."
She was blunt about why: "I, along with my constituents and millions of Americans, have watched the last few years in disappointment and outrage. Through its actions, the rightwing-led Netanyahu government has committed destructive acts against the Palestinian people on a devastating scale," and, per the research, sanctioned "rampant violence and illegal settlements across the West Bank."
In July 2025 she called the humanitarian situation in Gaza increasingly desperate and urged immediate and safe delivery of aid; that release was not opened, so it is summarised rather than quoted. In April 2025 she sought information about the death of an American teenager in the West Bank and restated support for a two-state solution. In October 2025 she welcomed a draft peace framework.
In August 2024, on being chosen for the ballot, she said she was not looking to depart from Pascrell's foreign policy approach, including continued aid to allies such as Israel.
In August 2025 she took part in a congressional delegation to Israel organised by the American Israel Education Foundation, which drew criticism from New Jersey community and civil rights organisations.
Her recorded votes appear as badges on this card.
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 2 of 2 tracked votes · Cosponsors the Block the Bombs Act
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
$7K 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, 2026-07-15] InsiderNJ's report of her statement, cited four times by the research and opened and confirmed word for word: "The relationship between the United States and Israel is a long one. The U.S. was the first nation to recognize Israel over 88 years ago. But no relationship, no matter how close, can be without limits. The time has come to reevaluate our foreign aid policy with respect to Israel, but this amendment stripping funding for pathways to peace is the wrong path." And: "I, along with my constituents and millions of Americans, have watched the last few years in disappointment and outrage. Through its actions, the rightwing-led Netanyahu government has committed destructive acts against the Palestinian people on a devastating scale."
**This is the most carefully positioned no vote in the state**: against the amendment, and against the status quo, in the same statement. The card carries both because either alone would misstate her.
- [Position, 2024-08-30, reported] On being chosen to replace Rep. Pascrell on the ballot, said she was not looking to stray from his foreign policy approach, including continued U.S. aid to allies like Israel (NJ Spotlight News video). Video source; not readable.
- Her recorded votes appear as badges on this card.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2025-07-26] Called for the safe distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza, as reported describing the situation as increasingly desperate and calling for immediate and safe delivery addressing both the humanitarian crisis and long-term Israeli security. Not opened.
- [Position, 2026-07-15] Her objection to the amendment rests on its stripping "funding for pathways to peace" (confirmed verbatim, above).
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2026-07-15] The Netanyahu government passage above (confirmed verbatim), which, as reported continues that it sanctioned "rampant violence and illegal settlements across the West Bank" and that "bad actions left unchecked always continue."
- [Position, 2025-04-07] Sought information about the death of an American teenager in the West Bank, as reported calling for an end to the "cycle of violence" and committing to a "two-state solution that guarantees Israel and Palestinians the right to live in peace and security." Not opened.
- [Position, 2025-10-09] Welcomed a Middle East peace agreement. Not opened.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Position, 2025-08] Took part in a congressional delegation to Israel organised by the American Israel Education Foundation, an AIPAC affiliate. ⚠ CAIR New Jersey published a statement condemning the trip, which also names nj3-conaway; there is also a petition and a critical blog post. **The trip is a fact and is recorded as one. The organisations' and petition's framing is advocacy material, consulted only, and no claim about her views is drawn from it.**
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [Position, 2024-09, reported] Expressed support for the federal Antisemitism Awareness Act during her campaign. Safety context.
- [Undated] A Legistorm biography.
Note on sources
- Thirteen entries, of which **the InsiderNJ report is cited four times**. Three are advocacy or petition pages criticising her, one is a video and one a biography. Her own releases account for three, none of which was opened; the one item that carries her position was.
Also in this race
- ?Mixed Rosie Pino (Republican)
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.