But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check

Henry J. Ward, III

Independent · U.S. House, Tennessee District 8
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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. We found nothing in their own words about Israel, Gaza or the war.

No statement by Ward on U.S. weapons or money for Israel's government was found (source-checked research). In a 2026 voter guide he names "endless warfare" a top issue: the U.S. "must reduce the number of overseas military bases and installations and begin to divorce our nation from foreign entanglements."

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Deep Dive

Ward is an Independent candidate for Tennessee's 8th District.

His VOTE411 survey answers, read in full, list "excessive taxation, government intrusion and endless warfare" as the primary issues facing constituents. On the warfare point: "We must reduce the number of overseas military bases and installations and begin to divorce our nation from foreign entanglements. We should continue to have a powerful military. Our focus should be upon the stability and security of our continent." He also notes the U.S. has "over 750 military bases in 80 countries" costing "$70 billion or more annually" and would redirect those funds to domestic infrastructure.

None of it names Israel, so the card treats it as what it is: a blanket position on foreign entanglement, not an Israel position.

You are better placed to get his specific position than we are: ask Ward directly, or at a candidate forum, and send us the reply. It goes on this page in his own words.

In their words

“We must reduce the number of overseas military bases and installations and begin to divorce our nation from foreign entanglements. We should continue to have a powerful military. Our focus should be upon the stability and security of our continent.”
Source ↗, 2026-08-12

Research log

The notes behind this card: what we looked at, what we found, and where each item came from.

U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel

  • No recorded statements or actions specifically addressing U.S. military aid or weapons sales to Israel.
  • [Position, published 2026-08-12] VOTE411 answers, confirmed verbatim: top issues are "Excessive taxation, government intrusion and endless warfare." And: "We must reduce the number of overseas military bases and installations and begin to divorce our nation from foreign entanglements. We should continue to have a powerful military. Our focus should be upon the stability and security of our continent." Also: bases "could be reduced and those funds directed to upgrade domestic infrastructure and fund the growth of our economy." Blanket foreign-entanglement position; Israel is not named anywhere in his answers.
  • He has no federal voting record.

U.S. aid to Palestinians

  • No statement or documented position found by the research.

Characterization of the conflict

  • No recorded statements or actions found by the research.

Related rhetoric and lobbying

  • No recorded statements or actions found by the research.

Safety and antisemitism (context)

  • No recorded statements or actions found by the research.

Consulted

Also in this race

  1. ✗ David Kustoff (Republican)
  2. – Heidi Kuhn (Democrat)
  3. – Adam D. Austill (Independent)
  4. – Antonio Futch (Independent)
  5. – Horace Taylor (Independent)
  6. – Pamela Jeanine "P." Moses (Independent)
  7. – Wendell "Wells" Blankenship (Independent)

All Tennessee candidates.

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 Find Your Candidates for votes, funding and contact details.