But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. How we check
Bobby Scott
Scott supports Israel's right to defend itself while insisting it "must be done in accordance with international law, which includes minimizing civilian casualties," and said after the World Central Kitchen strike that Netanyahu's government "cannot continue on their current course."
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You asked Bobby Scott where they stand.
Deep Dive
Scott represents Virginia's 3rd District in Hampton Roads and is running for re-election.
His position pairs support for Israel's defence with conditions on how it is conducted. In April 2024, after the Israeli airstrike that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers, he said: "I remain supportive of Israel's right to defend themselves and their efforts to defeat Hamas. However, as President Biden has repeatedly said, this must be done in accordance with international law, which includes minimizing civilian casualties to the greatest extent possible. I am disturbed by continued reports of heavy losses of Palestinian civilian lives."
The same statement raises a question specific to his district: "The attack on the World Central Kitchen humanitarian aid convoy underscores questions about whether Non-Governmental Organizations and international organizations are able to facilitate reliable aid safely." He notes that soldiers from the Army's 7th Transportation Brigade at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, in his district, were deployed to help build the floating pier off Gaza to deliver aid.
A June 2026 congressional letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio was offered as his, described as raising concerns about the destruction of civilian structures in Gaza. The only copy of the letter we could locate is about Lebanon, so we do not use it, and the research page records the mismatch.
The record
Supported sending weapons or funding in 2 of 6 tracked votes · Backs 0 of 1 tracked bills to restrict weapons transfers
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 2 of 6 tracked votes.)
The money
Checked the five lobbying groups we track; no direct 2026 support found
In their words
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
- [Position, 2024-04-12] Statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, opened and confirmed word for word: "I remain supportive of Israel's right to defend themselves and their efforts to defeat Hamas. However, as President Biden has repeatedly said, this must be done in accordance with international law, which includes minimizing civilian casualties to the greatest extent possible. I am disturbed by continued reports of heavy losses of Palestinian civilian lives in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and the recent Israeli airstrike that [killed aid workers]." Also verbatim on the same release, recovered by a targeted re-read after a first extraction pass missed them: "Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli government cannot continue on their current course." And: "The United States must be able to trust that Israel is doing everything they can to provide safety to aid workers and military personnel conducting humanitarian missions."
- [Position, 2026-06-26] Joined a congressional letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the destruction of civilian structures in Gaza and possible misuse of U.S.-supplied weapons under international humanitarian standards. The found source is a letter PDF hosted by Rep. Vasquez, whose filename refers to Lebanon rather than Gaza; not verified, and the mismatch is recorded rather than assumed away.
- [After October 7, 2023-12-14] Statement on the war: acknowledged Israel's right to self-defence while saying military action "must be in accordance with international law which includes minimizing civilian casualties to the greatest extent possible." From the weeks right after October 7.
- [After October 7, 2023-10-12] Statement that the United States "will stand behind Israel and its right to defend itself."
- His recorded votes on the tracked bills appear as badges on this card. They are mixed, and the statements above are his own account of the conditions he attaches.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2024-04-12] The same statement is his most specific material on this direction: whether aid organizations can operate safely, and the deployment of soldiers from his district to build the floating pier to deliver aid into Gaza (confirmed verbatim).
- [After October 7, 2023-12-14] Called for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza alongside a lasting ceasefire and hostage release.
- [Position, 2025-01-15] Statement on the ceasefire and hostage deal: supported post-conflict humanitarian aid, reconstruction of Gaza, and a two-state solution. Not opened.
Characterization of the conflict
- [After October 7, 2023-10-12] Described "horrifying terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel."
- [After October 7, 2023-12-14] Voiced concern over "heavy losses of Palestinian civilian lives" and called for a ceasefire, hostage release, and progress toward a two-state solution ensuring the "safety and dignity of the Israeli and Palestinian people."
- [Position, 2024-04-12] "Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli government cannot continue on their current course" (same release, verified verbatim).
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- Nothing located.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
- [2025-05-07] As Ranking Member of the Education and Workforce Committee he delivered an opening statement at the committee's eighth hearing on campus antisemitism, and a July 2026 opening statement was also returned. Committee business on campus antisemitism; context, never the answer to what America sends.
Also in this race
- –No Position Found Edwin Rivera, Jr. (Republican)
- –No Position Found Makiba Gaines (Independent)
- –Research Underway Stephen C. Woll (Independent)
All Virginia candidates.
See everyone on the Virginia 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.