Ryan Kelly
I · U.S. House, NJ-3 · Tier 4
Tier 4, “Critical / conditions aid”
A former DHS civil-rights official and one-time Lake Como councilman running as an independent in NJ-3. His 2026 issues page says “I believe the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide,” supports “a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, an end to U.S. military aid that enables violations of international and humanitarian law,” and pressure “to end the occupation and protect Palestinian rights,” pledges “Conditioning any future military assistance on compliance with international and humanitarian law,” and defends BDS “as protected political expression.” In March 2026 he joined a South Jersey for Gaza vigil in Mount Laurel. Asked in iVoterGuide’s 2026 general-election questionnaire whether the U.S. relationship with Israel is important, Kelly answered: “The relationship between the United States and Israel is important, as are our relationships with other allies. U.S. foreign policy should be guided by constitutional accountability, diplomacy, human rights, civilian protection, and the national interest. I believe military assistance should be conditioned on compliance with international law and humanitarian standards while supporting diplomacy that reduces violence and protects civilians.”
A 4. He names the genocide in his own voice and pairs it with a concrete conditioning pledge — ending military aid that enables violations of international law and conditioning all future military assistance on compliance — along with economic and political pressure to end the occupation and opposition to anti-BDS laws. That goes beyond the word alone, but it is conditioning rather than an embargo: nothing in it denies Israel weapons outright, so it stops short of 5. Nothing questions Israel’s legitimacy — he says “Palestinians and Israelis both deserve to live in peace and security,” and on BDS he says he supports “the use of peaceful Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions as protected political expression” and opposes “laws that punish people merely for participating in BDS.” Counter-case: 3/4, since the pledge rests on his campaign issues page and questionnaire answers from a first-time congressional candidate.
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).