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Standout moment in California race

Connie Chan, the California 11th District candidate backed by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, called for a full arms embargo on Israel during a televised debate. Chan, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said that if elected to Congress she would put her stance on the war in Gaza into practice from day one.

In the debate, held days before mail ballots were sent to California voters, Chan described what is happening in Gaza as genocide. While arguing that humanitarian aid should be prioritized, the candidate also said she would not support funding Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system.

Two Democrats compete for Pelosi’s seat

Chan faces another Democrat, Scott Wiener, in the race to replace Pelosi, who is not seeking re-election. California state senator Wiener has also described Israel’s assault on Gaza as genocide and said he opposes funding the Israeli military or providing bombs and offensive weapons.

  • Chan wants a full arms embargo on the Israeli government and priority for humanitarian aid.
  • Wiener opposes funding the Israeli military and supplying offensive weapons.

Nancy Pelosi long supported Israel during her time in Congress, criticized boycott and sanctions efforts against the country, and voted in favor of military aid. Chan’s position therefore marks a clear break from the line Pelosi has followed for years.

Debate over Israel support intensifies in Congress

Voters will cast ballots in the November midterm elections for 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats. As Democrats and Republicans compete for control of Congress, U.S. support for Israel has become one of the main points of contention.

Most Senate Democrats recently backed an unsuccessful effort that would have asked the U.S. State Department to report on Israel’s human rights practices. The proposal also referred to nine U.S. citizens killed in the occupied West Bank.

New sanctions push in the House

This week, some House members introduced the Stop the Settlements Act, a bill that would impose sanctions on individuals and organizations involved in establishing or expanding illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. The California race is one example of how the wider Washington debate is shaping election campaigns.

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