Where Do Dem Presidential Favorites Stand on Israel?

A Florida Man’s Response to NY’s Hochul

Reclaiming the Lunar High Ground

In Today’s NBA, Beliefs Can Be a Firing Offense

Obama Judge Halts Trump Effort to End Parole for Hundreds of Thousands

House Passes Legislation to Combat Mexican Government’s Seizure of American-Owned Port

Judge, Longtime Thorn for Trump, Sides With Administration

Appeals Court Hands Trump Big Win on Detaining Illegal Immigrants

Reclaiming the Lunar High Ground

The Space Race Is Back: NASA Prepares for Liftoff of Deep Space Exploration Crew

China’s Military Went Silent Around Taiwan for First Time in Years. Why?

Congressman Asks Trump to Press China to Release Prisoners

Members Confused Why British Monarch Set to Address Congress 250 Years After America Dumped Him

‘Hollywood for Ugly People’ Finally Gets a Taste of Celebrity Treatment

GOP Rising Star Backs Paxton’s Senate Bid

A GOP Senator’s Fight for Life Continues on Capitol Hill

Democrats Sue to Stop Trump’s Latest Election Integrity Effort

Trump Mail-In Ballot Order Sets Up Battle With States

4 Key Election Law Battles Hitting Court Rooms During 2026 Midterms

Maryland Loves My Ratty Old Rug More Than It Loves Me

Where Do Dem Presidential Favorites Stand on Israel?

 PoliticsSecurityNews

Trump Claims Gold Star Families Told Him to ‘Finish the Job’ in Iran

Citing ‘Echo Chamber’ on Iran, Trump Counterterrorism Chief Resigns

International Commentary

‘It’s a Very Surreal War’

Conservative and Proud: Is the Right Representing Women? 

Girl Boss vs. Trad Wife: Forced to Choose?

Beyond the Oyster Fork: An Etiquette Expert’s Tips for ‘Relationships, Work, and Life’

Is the Iran Operation ‘America First’?

If Donald Trump Did What Obama Did, Media Would Cheer—So Why the Outrage Now?

Victor Davis Hanson: Trump Could Crush Iran, So Why Doesn’t He?

The Democrats Have Descended Into Utter Nihilism

Victor Davis Hanson: The New Democratic Party

Where Do Dem Presidential Favorites Stand on Israel?

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-N.Y. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images)

George Caldwell / @GCaldwell_news

George Caldwell is a correspondent for The Daily Signal. Send an email to George.

Prominent Democrats considering a 2028 presidential run face a new litmus test: telling the public where they stand on America’s relationship with Israel.

As they check the boxes for 2028 by publishing books, visiting crucial primary states, and booking podcast interviews, here’s where some potential presidential contenders stand on Israel.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York

This week, Ocasio-Cortez told members of the Democratic Socialists of America that she would oppose all aid for Israel, including for defense, as confirmed by her chief of staff.

“I believe the Israeli government is well able to fund the Iron Dome system, which has proven critical to keep innocent civilians safe from rocket attacks and bombardment,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement afterward.

“Consistent with my voting record to date, I will not support Congress sending more taxpayer dollars and military aid to a government that consistently ignores international law and U.S. law.”

The former vice president and Democrat presidential nominee had to deal with the issue of providing aid to Israel in 2024. Harris attempted to distance herself from then-President Joe Biden’s policies while avoiding pressure from the party’s left flank to support an embargo on arms shipments to Israel.

Should Harris once again seek the presidency, she would likely face further questions about the U.S.-Israeli relationship.

Asked in an October 2025 interview whether she believed Israel had committed genocide, she did not directly answer the question.

“Listen, it is a term of law that a court will decide,” Harris said of the “genocide” label.

“But I will tell you that when you look at the number of children that have been killed, the number of innocent civilians that have been killed, the refusal to give aid and support, we should all step back and ask this question and be honest about it, yeah.”

Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois

Pritzker, who is Jewish, has denounced the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, an organization that advocates American support for the state of Israel.

“It became an organization that was supporting [President] Donald Trump and people who follow Donald Trump,” Pritzker recently said. “AIPAC really is not an organization that I think today I would want any part of.”

Several Illinois Democrat candidates for the U.S. House criticized AIPAC by name in recent primaries.

Pritzker has also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing Trump of “simply following Netanyahu into” the conflict in Iran.

Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky

This week, Beshear, governor of the Bluegrass State since 2019, declined to label Israel’s military actions in Gaza “genocide” in an interview with Politico.

“That’s becoming one of those new litmus tests that we said we would never do as a party again,” Beshear told Politico of the genocide question. 

Dem @GovAndyBeshear is declining to call Israel’s actions in Gaza “genocide.”“That’s becoming one of those new litmus tests that we said we would never do as a party,” he told our @DashaBurns on #TheConversation.Listen to the full interview: https://t.co/iMrcJwsgGU pic.twitter.com/4dvaLhPrEo— POLITICO (@politico) March 27, 2026

Dem @GovAndyBeshear is declining to call Israel’s actions in Gaza “genocide.”“That’s becoming one of those new litmus tests that we said we would never do as a party,” he told our @DashaBurns on #TheConversation.Listen to the full interview: https://t.co/iMrcJwsgGU pic.twitter.com/4dvaLhPrEo

“It’s trying to throw out a word and, ‘Are you going to raise your hand or are you not going to?’”

Beshear attempted to draw a fine line on the issue, arguing Israel’s defense of itself after Oct. 7, “could have been done without a lot of the suffering.”

The governor also advocated for “a future with an ally in Israel,” adding, “we need decision-makers there that are not acting the way [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania

Shapiro, who is Jewish, has pushed for a similarly pro-Israel, anti-Netanyahu stance.

“For those who begin by suggesting Israel doesn’t have the right to exist as a Jewish state, I think that is a recipe for permanent war,” he said in a recent appearance on Pod Save America.

Nevertheless, he has defended those who criticize Israel.

“I fundamentally disagree with your viewpoint, but I don’t think you’re an antisemite,” Shapiro said on the “Higher Learning” podcast of those who accuse Israel of “apartheid.”

He added, “I think that you are learning and struggling and grappling with issues that are really, really tough, and you formed an opinion, one that I disagree with, that you seemingly hold very honestly.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California

In a recent interview with Politico, Newsom attempted to stake out a position as a pro-Israel candidate but with qualifications.

Asked if he is a Zionist, Newsom replied, “I revere the state of Israel. I’m proud to support the state of Israel.”

Asked whether he considers himself a Zionist, @GavinNewsom tells our @jmart he's "proud" to support Israel, but "deeply, deeply" opposes Netanyahu’s leadership.Newsom explains his Israel stance — and defends his "apartheid" comments?Full interview: https://t.co/sINA2hvbVF pic.twitter.com/NXVSFXVJot— POLITICO (@politico) March 24, 2026

Asked whether he considers himself a Zionist, @GavinNewsom tells our @jmart he's "proud" to support Israel, but "deeply, deeply" opposes Netanyahu’s leadership.Newsom explains his Israel stance — and defends his "apartheid" comments?Full interview: https://t.co/sINA2hvbVF pic.twitter.com/NXVSFXVJot

He qualified, “I deeply, deeply oppose Bibi Netanyahu’s leadership [and] his opposition to the two-state solution and deeply oppose how he is indulging the far right as it relates to what’s going on in the West Bank.”

In a February interview, Newsom said he has never accepted money from AIPAC and “never will.”

‘MAJOR COMBAT OPERATIONS’: Trump Announces Joint US-Israel Operation Against Iran

California’s Newsom Indicates Israel Is ‘Apartheid State’

Trump Claims Gold Star Families Told Him to ‘Finish the Job’ in Iran

Read the first chapter of The Woketopus right now for FREE

Today, even with President Trump’s victory, leftist elites have their tentacles in every aspect of our government.

The Daily Signal’s own Tyler O’Neil exposes this leftist cabal in his new book, The Woketopus: The Dark Money Cabal Manipulating the Federal Government.

In this book, O’Neil reveals how the Left’s NGO apparatus pursues its woke agenda, maneuvering like an octopus by circumventing Congress and entrenching its interests in the federal government.

You can read the first chapter of this new book for FREE in this eBook, The Woketopus: Chapter One using the secure link below.

The Tony Kinnett Cast

The Daily Signal Podcast

© 2025 The Daily Signal Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

We use cookies on our website. By using our website, you consent to cookies.  Learn More .  

© The Daily Signal