Emilia Sykes
Sykes opposed the July 2026 amendment because it "would have eliminated all funding for the American Embassy in Israel under this bill and cut billions in foreign aid to Israel, and also the Palestinian and Lebanese people."
Sykes has represented Ohio's 13th District since 2023.
Her position has been consistent across four votes: she supports assistance to Israel when it travels with humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, and votes against measures that separate them.
On the July 2026 amendment she said: "Israel is one of our most important allies and I strongly support its security and right to defend itself. I opposed this amendment because it would have eliminated all funding for the American Embassy in Israel under this bill and cut billions in foreign aid to Israel, and also the Palestinian and Lebanese people."
In February 2024 she voted against the standalone Israel bill, H.R. 7217, which her release describes as legislation that "delays Congress' ability to help Israel defend itself and fails to include funding for humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza." Her words: "Once again, the House Majority is playing political games with our national security."
In April 2024 she supported the bipartisan packages that carried defence assistance for Israel, humanitarian relief for Gaza and support for Ukraine together.
In August 2023 she travelled to Israel and the West Bank on a delegation sponsored by an AIPAC affiliate, met Israeli and Palestinian officials, and, as reported called Israel one of the United States' most important strategic allies while urging a viable two-state framework. That release was not opened, so it is summarised rather than quoted.
Her recorded votes appear as badges on this card, and the statements above are her own explanations of three of them.
Tracked votes: opposed sending U.S. weapons or funding to the government of Israel in 3 of 6 recorded votes.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- [Position, 2026-07-15] Her statement on the national security funding bill, opened and confirmed word for word. The release notes she "also opposed an amendment to the bill that would have eliminated U.S. assistance to Israel," and quotes her: "Israel is one of our most important allies and I strongly support its security and right to defend itself. I opposed this amendment because it would have eliminated all funding for the American Embassy in Israel under this bill and cut billions in foreign aid to Israel, and also the Palestinian and Lebanese people." Note she opposed the underlying bill on unrelated grounds, over a voting-access provision, as well as opposing the amendment.
- [Position, 2024-02-06] Her statement on H.R. 7217, opened and confirmed word for word: the release states she "voted against H.R. 7217, legislation that delays Congress' ability to help Israel defend itself and fails to include funding for humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza," and quotes her: "Once again, the House Majority is playing political games with our national security. By refusing to pass a bipartisan national security agreement that would secure the border, support the people of Israel, and provide humanitarian assistance to people directly impacted by Hamas' te[rror]..." The quotation is truncated where the opened extract ends and is not completed by inference.
- [Position, 2024-04-20] Statement supporting three security funding bills:, as reported, defence assistance for Israel alongside humanitarian relief for Gaza and support for Ukraine. Not opened.
- [After October 7, 2023-11-02] Statement objecting to conditioning emergency aid on IRS funding cuts, arguing military assistance to Israel must be paired with humanitarian aid for Gaza and support for Ukraine. From the weeks right after October 7; not used on the card.
- Her recorded votes appear as badges on this card, and three of the statements above are her own explanations of them.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2026-07-15] Her stated objection names "the Palestinian and Lebanese people" among those the amendment would have cut (confirmed verbatim, above).
- [Position, 2024-02-06] Her objection to the standalone bill rests on its omission of humanitarian assistance for Gaza (confirmed verbatim).
- [After October 7, 2023-11-22] Statement welcoming a humanitarian pause. From the weeks right after October 7.
- [Undated] The research also cites Rep. Nikema Williams's release leading a call for humanitarian aid to Gaza. That is another member's release; if Sykes signed the letter it does not establish her wording, and no individual quote is drawn from it.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Prior, 2023-08-14] After her delegation trip, as reported, called Israel one of the United States' most important strategic allies and urged a viable two-state framework; not quoted, because the release was not opened. Before 2023-10-07, so prior band. Not opened.
- [Position, 2025-01-19] Statement welcoming the agreement ending fifteen months of fighting, as reported saying long-term peace requires mutual recognition of statehood. Not opened.
- [Position, 2025-10-07 and 2025-10-09] Two-year anniversary statement and statement on the hostage-release agreement. Not opened.
- [After October 7, 2023-10-26] Described the October 7 attacks as "barbaric" and "heinous" while distinguishing Palestinian civilians from Hamas. From the weeks right after October 7.
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Prior, 2023-08-05 to 2023-08-13] Educational trip to Israel sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation, an AIPAC affiliate, recorded in a House travel disclosure. Prior band; the disclosure is the appropriate record.
- [Undated] Coverage of AIPAC spending in Ohio races. Third-party reporting about spending decisions, not a statement by her.
- [2024-01-15] Two of her sources found are pages on an advocacy site, cited twice. Advocacy sources are consulted, never card sources (C3).
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [After October 7, 2023-12-19] Condemned threats against Temple Israel in Canton (Legistorm record). the weeks right after October 7 and safety context.
- [Position, 2024-05-01] Statement condemning antisemitism. Safety context, never an answer about U.S. weapons or funding.
Note on sources
- One of the research's twenty entries resolved to no URL at all, and two are the same advocacy page. Fourteen are her own releases.
Also in this race: Carey Coleman (Republican) · All Ohio 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.