George Latimer
Latimer called Iron Dome funding "vital" and commended the 2024 security package as a crucial step for allies. He says peace begins with the hostages’ release, and that humanitarian aid follows from that point forward.
Latimer represents New York’s 16th District in Westchester and the Bronx, and is running for re-election. He won the seat in 2024 by defeating the incumbent, Jamaal Bowman, in a primary in which Israel policy was central.
On U.S. weapons he is on the record, on his own campaign site, in April 2024. He commended the security package: "Today, the US took a crucial step to advance a global security package, sending a clear message to our allies in the fight against terror and international drug cartels that we stand with them and will support them in their time of need." He then attacked his opponent for voting against it, naming the aid specifically: "Mr. Bowman voted against Iron Dome funding, which was vital in repelling Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel this week."
On aid to Palestinians his position is about sequence. At their televised primary debate in May 2024 he said: "Any future for peace begins with the release of the hostages or the remains of the hostages and from that point forward humanitarian aid, the cessation of hostilities makes sense." On a ceasefire: "You can call for it all you want. You have to make it part of the deal." He distanced himself from the Israeli prime minister while doing it: "I don’t stand with Benjamin Netanyahu, I stand with the hostage families", adding that "The Israeli people need to see that they have a partner in peace." On responsibility: "It takes both sides to be committed to peace. Hamas on Oct. 7 went over that borderline, viciously murdered people."
In September 2025, after a congressional trip to Israel, the first search reports he said critics overlook Hamas’s role in the humanitarian crisis and that Israel must also do more to facilitate aid. His recorded votes on the tracked bills are shown separately on this card.
Tracked votes: backed sending U.S. weapons or funding to the government of Israel in 2 of 2 recorded votes.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- 2024-04-22 [Current position; card-leading; VERIFIED 2026-08-11 ON A SECOND CHECK]: On his campaign site: "Today, the US took a crucial step to advance a global security package, sending a clear message to our allies in the fight against terror and international drug cartels that we stand with them and will support them in their time of need." And, criticising his primary opponent: "Mr. Bowman voted against Iron Dome funding, which was vital in repelling Iran's unprecedented attack against Israel this week." He also faulted Bowman for voting against terminating the tax-exempt status of terrorist-supporting organisations and against condemning Iran's attack.
⚠ **CORRECTED 2026-08-11. THIS CARD PREVIOUSLY SAID NO STATEMENT OF HIS ON U.S. MILITARY AID WAS LOCATED.** That was wrong, and the cause was mine: our first reading of the page lost its body text, so a readable page looked empty. Read again properly, the statement is there word for word. He has a clear position and it is now on the card.
- 2025-09-04 [Current position]: After a congressional trip to Israel the first search reports he said international critics frequently overlook Hamas's central role in causing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and that Israel must also do more to facilitate aid and work toward ending the war (Jewish Insider). Not opened.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- 2024-05-13 [Current position; card-leading; VERIFIED]: At the televised primary debate, per JTA: "Any future for peace begins with the release of the hostages or the remains of the hostages and from that point forward humanitarian aid, the cessation of hostilities makes sense." And on a ceasefire: "You can call for it all you want. You have to make it part of the deal." A sequencing position: hostages first, then aid.
Characterization of the conflict
- 2024-05-13 [Current position; VERIFIED]: "I don't stand with Benjamin Netanyahu, I stand with the hostage families." "The Israeli people need to see that they have a partner in peace." "It takes both sides to be committed to peace. Hamas on Oct. 7 went over that borderline, viciously murdered people."
- 2023-12-04 [Months after October 7, 2023; on this page only]: After a November 2023 solidarity trip organised by the Westchester Jewish Council he held a press briefing placing responsibility for the war on Hamas.
- 2025-10-07 [Current position]: His statement commemorating the second anniversary, condemning Hamas, calling for release of the remaining hostages and saying Hamas must accept a ceasefire proposal.
- 2024-05-14 [Current position]: The Jerusalem Post also covered the debate.
The tracked votes on this record
- His badge records **No** on `hr8595-119`, the Massie amendment to bar FY27 funds for Israel and cut $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing, and **No** on `ndaa-fy26-cut-missile-defense-119`, an amendment to strike $500 million for Israeli Cooperative Programs. Both are less-support amendments, so a No on each is a vote against making the cut. He has not been located speaking about either vote, so this card does not characterise them; they are named here because the bill titles became available only on 2026-08-11, and before that a card could not have described them at all.
Rhetoric and lobbying
- 2023-12-07 [Months after October 7, 2023]: On entering the race he pushed back against framing his candidacy around pro-Israel advocacy.
- 2024-02-10 [Current position]: At a Black History Month event he told a constituent his primary opponent was "taking money from Hamas", which drew threats of a defamation suit. An accusation about an opponent's funding, barred from a card by the writing contract's rule against motive-characterizations.
- 2024-08-22 [Current position]: At a Jewish Democratic Council of America event he rejected claims the party was deeply fractured over Israel policy (JNS).
- 2025-08-10 [Current position]: He joined a congressional delegation to Israel sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation.
Safety and antisemitism
[Context only, never the answer to what America sends.]
- 2024-01-08 [Months after October 7, 2023]: After an antisemitic incident at a Yonkers school basketball game he said Westchester County "will not tolerate anti-Semitism".
- 2024-05-13 [Current position; out of scope]: At the debate he characterized certain pro-Palestinian campus slogans as hate speech.
What came back empty or unusable
- Three sources found are YouTube urls with no retrievable text.
- The September 2025 Jewish Insider interview was not opened.
Also in this race: Joseph Cinquemani (Republican) · All New York 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.