Andrew Gounardes
D · New York State Senate, District 26 · Tier 2/3
Tier 2/3, between “Mainstream pro-Israel” and “Pro-Israel, critical”
Mainstream posture: in July 2025 he co-signed Attorney General Letitia James’s statement that “a famine is unfolding in Gaza before the eyes of the world,” and after the Oct 2025 ceasefire and hostage deal he wrote that "All Palestinians and Israelis deserve safety, freedom and the opportunity to live fulfilling lives." He was among the local officials who backed Brad Lander over pro-Israel, AIPAC-backed Rep. Dan Goldman in the NY-10 primary (Lander won, Jun 2026). Notably, Lander is a self-described "liberal Zionist" who opposed the Park Slope Food Coop BDS vote — so backing him signals willingness to cross AIPAC, not a break with the Zionist frame. He uses no ‘genocide’ language, does not back BDS, and has stated no position on conditioning US arms.
A 2/3, on a thin record. As a state senator he has no vote on U.S. aid or arms. In July 2025 he co-signed Attorney General Letitia James’s statement on Gaza, which condemned Hamas’s October 7 attack, called for the hostages’ return and said “a famine is unfolding in Gaza before the eyes of the world” and “Children are not combatants and human life cannot be collateral.” After the October 2025 ceasefire he wrote on X that he was “relieved that desperately-needed aid is entering Gaza” and that “All Palestinians and Israelis deserve safety, freedom and the opportunity to live fulfilling lives.” He also backed Brad Lander over AIPAC-backed Rep. Dan Goldman in the June 2026 NY-10 primary, crossing AIPAC in that race, though Lander’s positions on the genocide and military aid are Lander’s, not his. He has not named the genocide, taken a position on U.S. military aid or cosponsored Not on Our Dime. Counter-case: a flat 2, since the famine statement was a broad coalition text and the endorsement adopts none of Lander’s positions.
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elect26 places 2026 midterm candidates on a six-tier spectrum, from 1 (most pro-Israel) to 6 (most critical of Israel).