But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Michael LiPetri
Republican · U.S. House, New York District 3
✗Supports
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.
Two reviewers, reading the public record as a whole, agree: In a September 2024 op-ed he writes "I support the full destruction, complete eradication of Hamas. Period. By any means necessary", with nothing pointing the other way. Reviewed by hand on 2026-10-09. This candidate has no recorded tracked floor votes.
Lipetri has not spoken publicly on U.S. weapons or money for the government of Israel, or on U.S. aid to Palestinians. No statement was found in source-checked research across 8 sources.
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8 sources checked and read, every one listed on the research page. Most candidates at this level have simply never been asked.
You are better placed to change that than we are. Ask Lipetri directly, or at a candidate forum, and send us the reply: it goes on this page in their own words, which is worth more than anything we could write about them.
The money
Checked the five lobbying groups we track; no direct 2026 support found
2026 support from the five lobbying groups we track
Nothing recorded (as of 2026-07-23) from the five lobbying groups we track; earlier cycles and earmarked donations not yet tracked.
Support-only OpenFEC data. Opposition independent expenditures are excluded.
Research log
The notes behind this card: what we looked at, what we found, and where each item came from.
What was looked for, and what came back
**U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel:** While LiPetri has consistently expressed strong support for Israel's defense and military actions, he has not issued specific detailed policy proposals regarding particular legislative U.S. military aid packages or arms transfer agreements.
**Characterization of the conflict:** Material returned; set out in full below.
**Rhetoric and lobbying:** Material returned; set out in full below.
**Safety and antisemitism:** Material returned; set out in full below.
What an initial search did return, on the other questions
The card's claim is about what the United States sends, and that question came back empty. These questions did return material. It is reproduced word for word so nothing found is lost, and it is context rather than a position on U.S. weapons or money. Em dashes are rendered as hyphens to satisfy house style; no wording is changed.
### Characterization of the conflict * **September 29, 2024:** In an op-ed in *Israel National News*, LiPetri characterized the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel as "rape, carnage, and violence carried out by the Iran-backed Hamas terrorists," arguing it was a direct consequence of "weak sanctions and oversight". * **September 29, 2024:** Regarding the conflict in Gaza, LiPetri stated: "I support the full destruction, complete eradication of Hamas. Period. By any means necessary. I stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters and fully support their efforts to save their people". * **2024–2026 Campaign Platform:** On his official campaign materials, LiPetri declared that "Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the Terror Republic of Iran must know that any acts of terrorism will be responded to with relentless and unmatched force".
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### Rhetoric and lobbying * **September 2022:** LiPetri traveled to Israel to participate in the International Counter-Terrorism (ICT) World Summit on Counterterrorism. * **September 29, 2024:** In an op-ed in *Israel National News*, LiPetri emphasized the significance of the alliance, stating: "The U.S.-Israeli bond goes beyond simple strategic military and diplomatic relations, but is grounded in our shared values, culture, and vision for the future of our people". * **2024–2026 Campaign Platform:** Addressing economic and diplomatic actions against Israel, LiPetri stated on his campaign platform that "Any attempt to boycott, divest from, or sanction Israel must be shut down, eliminated, and swiftly dealt with". * **April 25, 2026:** In remarks reported by *Newsday*, LiPetri targeted his Democratic opponent Tom Suozzi and Democratic leadership over Israel rhetoric, stating, "Democrats like Tom Suozzi claim to fully back Jewish New Yorkers," while alleging that Democrats have passively allowed anti-Israel sentiment to be normalized.
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### Safety and antisemitism * **January 12, 2020:** While serving in the New York State Assembly, LiPetri joined local officials and more than 2,500 Long Island residents in Mineola, NY, to march in solidarity with the Jewish community and against antisemitism following antisemitic violence in Brooklyn, Monsey, and Jersey City. * **January 27, 2020:** On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, LiPetri posted on social media: "Antisemitism has no place in America and we must always stand up to those who use their platforms to spew hate and denounce the legitimacy of the Jewish faith". * **September 29, 2024:** In an op-ed with *Israel National News*, LiPetri warned of growing prejudice, stating: "Since October 7th in the Halls of Congress, on college campuses, throughout social media, and most significantly right here in New York's 3rd Congressional District acts of Jew hate have gained dangerous traction. This will not be tolerated," adding that U.S. policy toward anti-Jewish hate "must be one of absolute zero tolerance". * **July 28, 2026:** In statements reported by *Newsday* regarding public safety and combating antisemitism, LiPetri stated: "We need leaders who stand up to hate, every day, not pop up when it's convenient and then run and hide".
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.
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