But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Joaquin Castro
On the House floor in July 2026 Castro said "Israel does not need, and quite honestly does not deserve, more American money for weapons". In 2024 he commended withholding offensive weapons over a Rafah invasion.
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You asked Joaquin Castro where they stand.
Deep Dive
Castro represents Texas’s 20th District and sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. His position has hardened along a line he first drew in 2021.
In May 2021 he raised serious concerns about a proposed $735 million U.S. weapons sale, warning against exacerbating violence in Gaza and arguing Congress must ensure military aid complies with human rights standards. In the same statement he called the status quo of occupation and de facto annexation "unjust and unsustainable".
In May 2024 he commended President Biden’s commitment to withhold offensive weapons shipments if Israeli forces launched a full-scale ground invasion of Rafah. He also voted against the Republican Israel security supplemental and explained why.
On July 15, 2026, in floor remarks titled around not rewarding a wrongdoer, he said Israel "does not need, and quite honestly does not deserve, more American money for weapons", argued Netanyahu was leading the country down an "ugly path", and said self-defense does not justify indiscriminate attacks. Local coverage carried it. His recorded votes on the tracked bills are shown separately on this card.
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 1 of 6 tracked votes · Cosponsors the Block the Bombs Act
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Vote record imported from official House Clerk roll calls for H.R. 6126, H.R. 8034, and H.R. 8369. Other position fields remain under investigation.
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.
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Voted to send weapons or funding in some, but no more than half, of their recorded tracked votes. (Supported sending weapons or funding in 1 of 6 tracked votes.)
The money
Checked the five lobbying groups we track; no direct 2026 support found
In their words
A New Policy PAC (2026 endorsement)
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
- 2021-05-17 [Earlier record]: Raised serious concerns about a proposed $735 million U.S. weapons sale to Israel, warning against exacerbating violence in Gaza and emphasising that Congress must ensure military aid complies with human rights standards.
- 2024-05-09 [Current position]: Commended President Biden’s commitment to withhold U.S. offensive weapons shipments if Israeli forces launched a full-scale ground invasion of Rafah.
- 2026-07-15 [Current position]: In House floor remarks he said "Israel does not need, and quite honestly does not deserve, more American money for weapons", argued Prime Minister Netanyahu was leading the country down an "ugly path", and said self-defense does not justify indiscriminate attacks. His own release and San Antonio Current coverage. Two source pages, one independent.
- Undated [Current position]: Explained his vote against the Republican Israel security supplemental. This is the explanation of a tracked-vote badge, in his own words.
Characterization of the conflict
- 2021-05-17 [Earlier record]: Characterised the status quo of occupation and de facto annexation as "unjust and unsustainable", calling the disproportionate toll on Palestinian civilians unacceptable.
- 2023-11-02 [Months after October 7, 2023; on this page only]: Called for an immediate ceasefire after the outbreak of the war.
- Undated: Statements on a ceasefire and hostage deal and on implementation of the Israel-Hamas agreement.
Rhetoric and lobbying
- 2020-10 [Earlier record]: Jewish Insider reported his pledge to bring Palestinian voices to the Foreign Affairs Committee.
- Undated: A committee hearing compilation in which lawmakers pressed the State Department on Gaza ceasefire, humanitarian aid and alleged settler attacks; an initial search did not establish which parts are his.
Safety and antisemitism
- Nothing located.
What came back empty or unusable
- No statement located on U.S. aid to Palestinians or UNRWA as a budget line.
- The hearing compilation does not distinguish his remarks from other members’, so nothing is drawn from it.
Also in this race
- –No Position Found Edgardo Baez (Republican)
All Texas candidates.
See everyone on the Texas ballot →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.