But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Kristi Burke
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.
See a dash? Ask the candidate where they stand, then send us their answer and we'll review it and update the mark. Or volunteer to help review candidates.
No recorded votes on the bills we track. In their own words on June 25, 2026.
Burke wants U.S. military funding for Israel ended: "I want to state clearly and unapologetically that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and the United States and our tax dollars are funding it," pledging to stop "the blank check this country keeps writing to Netanyahu and the Israeli government."
The email has replies@butwhatcanyoudo.org in cc, so we can post their answer on their page in their own words; remove it if you prefer. Keep the subject line as it is, add your name, and send.
You asked Kristi Burke where they stand.
Also in this race
- ✗ Diana Harshbarger (Republican)
- – Billy Cody (Independent)
- – Chris Campbell (Independent)
- – Joshua Ray Ashburn (Independent)
- – Richard G. Baker (Independent)
- – Tyler Brice Mitchell McClain (Independent)
All Tennessee candidates.
See everyone on the Tennessee ballot →