J. Matt Baker
I · U.S. House, VA-2 · Tier 2
Tier 2, “Mainstream pro-Israel”
Retired Marine colonel and engineer running as a no-PAC-money independent. Asked in the Cardinal News 2026 voter guide whether he would support an arms embargo on Israel, he answered “No, absolutely not. An arms embargo of Israel isn't on the table, nor should it be. Such action is reserved for our enemies. Israel is not an enemy of the United States,” while noting that “Israel's government has launched one of its biggest pushes yet to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank, in addition to Israeli forces occupying 70% of Gaza” and that his campaign “will not take money from AIPAC, PAL PAC, or any PAC.” His site says “Israelis and Palestinians both deserve a lasting peace, one where children and innocents are safe and prosperity is possible.”
A 2, provisionally, on a thin record: one voter-guide answer, whose line on peace also appears on his campaign site. Asked by Cardinal News whether he would support an arms embargo on Israel, he answered “No, absolutely not … Such action is reserved for our enemies. Israel is not an enemy of the United States,” so nothing in his record points toward limiting weapons. What makes him a 2 rather than 1/2 is concern in his own words without Israel’s right to defend itself in the same breath: Israelis and Palestinians “both deserve a lasting peace, one where children and innocents are safe.” The same answer names Israel’s push “to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank” and its forces “occupying 70% of Gaza,” inside a both-sides frame with “plenty of blame to go around for the governments on both sides.” He refuses AIPAC money as part of a pledge to take no PAC money, PAL PAC included. Counter-case: a 2/3 if the settlement and occupation lines are read as criticism of Israel’s conduct rather than description.
Open the full card, with votes, money and every source, on elect26 →
elect26 places 2026 midterm candidates on a six-tier spectrum, from 1 (most pro-Israel) to 6 (most critical of Israel).