November 9, 2026
The 2026 midterm elections marked a significant shift in Washington. The Democrats took the majority in both the House and Senate, with significant margins. The Democratic gains extended beyond Congress. Democrats flipped several Republican-held governorships, including in Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, and Texas, giving the party control of a majority of the nation's governorships for the first time in 16 years. Notably, Michigan’s Governor-elect Jocelyn Benson is an alumna of AJC's Project Interchange trip to Israel.
Polling and exit surveys show that voters were focused primarily on the economy, cost of living, government corruption, and the state of democracy, while foreign policy was rarely a deciding issue.
The incoming Congress includes lawmakers with a range of views on Israel, from strong supporters to critics of U.S. military assistance to those vocally anti-Israel. That said, with a majority of about 40 seats in the House and at least 5 seats in the Senate, smaller factions and individual senators will not be able to wield as much power as we have seen in recent Congresses.
Here’s what the results could mean for U.S.-Israel policy and what AJC will be watching.
Key Takeaways
- The new Democratic majority includes both strong supporters of Israel and vocal detractors: Moderate and pro-Israel Democrats will have a significant voice alongside a smaller but more vocal group of DSA-backed lawmakers pushing to change U.S. policy. Even moderate Democrats are likely to push for changes to current policy, whether through greater oversight of assistance or changes to U.S. policy in the West Bank.
- Support for Israel remains in both parties: Despite growing disagreements over military aid and Israeli government policy, many Democrats and Republicans continue to recognize the value of Israel to U.S. interests.
- The next Congress will help shape the relationship's future: Trump's announcement on ending military aid, the next U.S.-Israel partnership agreement, defense cooperation, Iran policy, and efforts to combat antisemitism will all be important issues.
How Did the 2026 Midterms Change Congress?
Democrats’ victories gave them control of both chambers of Congress, with larger-than-expected majorities. Those margins could have an important effect on the party’s approach to polarizing issues. A wider majority gives Democratic leaders more room to manage divisions within their caucus, making it harder for a small group of lawmakers with more extreme positions, like on Israel, to dictate the agenda, force votes on specific initiatives, or block other measures.
Democrats also gained more than two dozen seats previously held by Republicans, including in competitive and traditionally Republican districts. The result is a caucus that includes a more vocal progressive wing critical of Israel, but also a substantial bloc of moderate, pro-Israel Democrats who ran primarily on domestic issues.
What Does a Democratic Majority Mean for Israel?
The new Democratic majority will bring a wider range of views on Israel to Congress. Several newly elected lawmakers have called for ending or sharply restricting U.S. military aid to Israel, and some have even called for an end to any defense cooperation between the U.S. and Israel.
Greater scrutiny of Israel should not automatically be interpreted as a rejection of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Many mainstream Democrats distinguish long-term support for Israel's security and its continued existence as a Jewish and democratic state from support for every policy of a particular Israeli government. They view congressional oversight of U.S. military assistance, arms transfers, and settlement activity as part of Congress's responsibility.
Others, including many pro-Israel Democrats and Republicans, argue that placing additional conditions on or reducing assistance could undermine deterrence, weaken the alliance, and send the wrong signal to Iran and other regional adversaries. Those competing views will shape the debate over U.S. policy toward Israel in the next Congress.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become the next Speaker, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who will run to again serve as majority leader, have maintained support for Israel’s security despite growing criticism of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. Both opposed recent efforts to cut U.S. aid, though Jeffries has also called for changes to the U.S.-Israel relationship. The outcome of Israel’s recent elections will also impact the new Congress’ approach to the relationship.
From Strong Israel Supporters to Its Sharpest Critics: The New Members of Congress to Watch
Several newly elected lawmakers have called for ending U.S. military aid to Israel, and falsely accused the Israeli government of genocide and apartheid. But there were also important wins for Democrats with strong records of supporting Israel, as well as lawmakers who support Israel's security but want limits on certain weapons sales.
Here's a look at some of the new members and what they've said about Israel.
DSA Gains Ground as More Lawmakers Take Harder Lines on Israel
Incoming Senators Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan and Troy Jackson of Maine both campaigned against U.S. military assistance to Israel.
El-Sayed has called for ending U.S. military assistance to Israel, as well as other important regional partners, falsely accused Israel of genocide and apartheid, and said Israel is not a U.S. ally. In his victory speech, he said American tax dollars should go toward schools, health care, and infrastructure rather than what he called "apartheid, or genocide, or war."
Jackson has also called for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel and falsely accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, though he later apologized to Maine’s Jewish community, acknowledging that the word genocide “carries particular weight for many Jewish families given the Holocaust — the genocide of six million Jews.”
The House saw significant gains for the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Six candidates endorsed by the national organization or its local chapters won House seats:
- Claire Valdez — New York
- Darializa Avila Chevalier — New York
- Melat Kiros — Colorado
- Donavan McKinney — Michigan
- Chris Rabb — Pennsylvania
- Angela Gonzales-Torres — California
While their views on Israel are not monolithic, several have taken extreme positions beyond calling for an end to military assistance. Valdez has described Israel as an apartheid and genocidal state and supports the BDS movement. Chevalier has said that ending aid to Israel is not enough and has called for an arms embargo and supports a Palestinian right of return, which would erase Israel as a Jewish state. She has defended attending a pro-Palestinian rally on October 8, 2023, the day after Hamas's attack, and said in a 2026 interview that she would attend again. Kiros has questioned whether Israel should be considered a Jewish state, describing it as an “ethnocracy” rather than a democracy. Rabb, during his campaign, called Israel's military campaign in Gaza "genocide" and pledged to end U.S. aid to Israel.
The DSA's gains extended beyond Congress. Los Angeles elected Nithya Raman, a Democratic Socialist and city councilmember, as its next mayor, defeating incumbent Karen Bass. Her endorsement by DSA became controversial because some members believed her position on Israel and the BDS movement was not sufficiently critical, and the DSA narrowly rejected a measure to rescind their endorsement.
Pro-Israel Democrats Remain an Important Part of the Majority
There was also good news for supporters of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. The new Democratic majority will include a substantial group of moderate and traditional pro-Israel Democrats, alongside a smaller but more vocal group pushing for a major shift in U.S. policy toward Israel. While the six DSA-backed House victories will give the organization a larger presence in Congress, they represent only a small part of the incoming Democratic caucus.
Democrats with longstanding records of supporting Israel's security won races across the country, including in competitive districts previously held by Republicans. New York's Micah Lasher, who has made support for Israel and combating antisemitism priorities, and Virginia's Elaine Luria, a former Navy commander with a strong record on Israel, are among the incoming members who will bring those perspectives to Congress.
There will still be disagreements over military aid, arms sales, and Israeli government policies. But the election results show that support forIsrael’s security and a continued U.S. - Israel strategic relationship remains an important part of the Democratic coalition, and that the party's direction will be shaped by a much broader group of voices than its most vocal critics.
What Do the Midterm Elections Mean for U.S.-Israel Relations?
The midterms come as Washington and Jerusalem consider the future of their long-standing security arrangements. On Election Day, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would end roughly $3.8 billion in annual military assistance to Israel by the end of 2026, a move that would accelerate the end of the current aid agreement, which runs through 2028. In the meantime, discussions are underway to negotiate a successor memorandum of understanding.
The announcement adds urgency to questions the next Congress will face about military aid, the war with Iran, and America's broader role in the Middle East.
In the current Congress, support for military assistance to Israel has already become a point of tension. In 2026, more than 100 House Democrats supported a Republican-initiated amendment to eliminate $3.3 billion in annual U.S. security assistance to Israel, while more than three dozen Senate Democrats backed efforts to block proposed arms sales.
How Much Influence Will Congress Have Over U.S.-Israel Relations?
The White House may set the direction of U.S. foreign policy, but Congress has significant influence over the details. Lawmakers have a say in authorizing and appropriating military assistance and missile defense funding, sanctions on Iran, and joint U.S.-Israel defense programs.
The fate of the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will be an important issue to watch. Section 219 of the House-passed bill, which expands and streamlines U.S.-Israel cooperation on missile defense, counter-drone technology, and other emerging threats, became a major flashpoint. Critics including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Thomas Massie falsely claimed it would effectively "merge" the two militaries. However, the measure would formalize coordination on defense technology, not create a joint military or provide new military aid. The House passed its version 216-212, while the Senate included a parallel provision, Section 1217, but has yet to pass the full Senate. The two chambers now need to work out their differences in order to pass a final bill before the end of the year.
How Will Congress Respond to the Iran War?
The Iran War and its consequences will remain a major issue for the next Congress. Lawmakers are likely to debate the administration's decision to launch and conduct the military campaign without a formal declaration of war or specific congressional authorization, as well as its costs and broader implications for U.S. policy in the region. Tehran's continued efforts to threaten Israel, target U.S. forces, and destabilize the region will shape debates over sanctions, regional security, and any future agreement with Iran.
