Claudia Tenney
Tenney sought a special counsel to investigate the 2024 pause in U.S. military aid shipments to Israel, calling it unlawful. Her 2026 Israel and Iran Plan proposes expanding joint U.S.-Israel defense capabilities.
Tenney represents New York’s 24th District and has the most legislative record on this of any Republican in this group.
In May 2024 she wrote to the Attorney General requesting a special counsel to investigate President Biden’s decision to pause certain military aid shipments to Israel, contending the delay violated the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. That is an unusual move: not an argument that the pause was unwise but that it was unlawful.
On August 7, 2026 she published her 2026 Israel and Iran Plan, setting out legislative priorities to enhance U.S.-Israel military cooperation and expand joint defense capabilities against Iranian threats. She has also led a resolution supporting Israeli strikes aimed at ending Iran’s nuclear programme.
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 6 of 6 recorded votes.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- 2023-10-10 [Months after October 7, 2023; on this page only, but SEE FLAGS]: Introduced the "Operation Swords of Iron" Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act, proposing $2 billion in federal funding to restock Israel’s Iron Dome.
- 2023-10-25 [Months after October 7, 2023]: Introduced legislation appropriating $14.056 billion in targeted security aid for Israel to advance its military capabilities against Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
- 2024-05-15 [Current position; card-leading]: Letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting appointment of a special counsel to investigate the decision to pause certain military aid shipments to Israel, contending the delay violated the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. Independent local reporting, and the strongest source page on this card.
- 2026-08-07 [Current position; card-leading]: Published her 2026 Israel and Iran Plan, with an accompanying release, highlighting legislative priorities to enhance U.S.-Israel military cooperation and expand joint defense capabilities against Iranian threats.
Characterization of the conflict
- 2023-10-10 [Months after October 7, 2023]: Characterised the October 7 attacks and the ensuing war; the first search did not capture the specific wording.
- Undated [Current position]: Statement on the one-year anniversary of the attacks.
- Undated [Current position]: Led a resolution supporting Israel’s strikes to end Iran’s nuclear programme. About Iran rather than about what the U.S. sends to Israel, and recorded rather than used on the card.
Rhetoric and lobbying
- Nothing separable from the above.
Safety and antisemitism
- Nothing located.
What came back empty or unusable
- No statement located on U.S. aid to Palestinians, UNRWA or Gaza humanitarian funding.
- Her two largest and most specific appropriations proposals, $2bn and $14.056bn, both fall in the months after October 7, 2023. See the flag: they are legislative acts, not sentiments.
Also in this race: Alissa Ellman (Democrat) · 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.