John Elleson
R · U.S. House, IL-9 · Tier 2/3
Tier 2/3, between “Mainstream pro-Israel” and “Pro-Israel, critical”
Arlington Heights pastor and GOP nominee whose statements have moved in both directions. In February 2026 he told the Evanston RoundTable “I support Israel, I support Palestine. I stand with aiding Israel with the weaponry they need to protect themselves”; in June, after saying he didn't “like them carpet bombing” in Lebanon, he emailed Evanston Now that he was “slowly changing my thinking on Israel” and “maybe we need to restrict our offensive weapon sales or gifts”; at the September 24 forum he called himself “no apologist for Israel” but a “strong Israel supporter” and backed the Iran war. In October 2026 he attacked Biss for going “to Michigan to stump for Socialist Abdul El-Sayed who said Israel is an enemy of the USA” (Evanston Now).
A 2/3, on conflicting statements. His settled position is support for arming Israel for self-defense and the Iran war, and in September he called himself a “strong Israel supporter,” though “no apologist for Israel” — a pull toward 2. Against that, in June he criticized Israel's “carpet bombing” in Lebanon and floated restricting offensive weapon sales, and wrote of Israel that “maybe they shouldn’t have special treatment”, which is more daylight than most Republicans show. The offensive-weapons line was a tentative “maybe” in an email, later overtaken by his forum remarks, so it does not reach 3; wavering counts against it. Counter-case: a flat 2 if the June email is treated as superseded.
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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).