Sherrod Brown
D · U.S. Senate, Ohio · Tier 2
Tier 2, “Mainstream pro-Israel”
Jewish Insider calls him “a pro-Israel progressive” (Aug 2025): he affirms Israel’s right to defend itself, voted military aid and No on the Sanders arms resolutions — but repeatedly pressed for humanitarian aid to Gaza’s civilians (“half of them children”), for Israel to restore water, electricity and communications and speed fuel deliveries, and for a ceasefire that delivers aid, with two-state support and deep concern over Netanyahu’s conduct of the war. OpenSecrets counts $1,220,343 in pro-Israel contributions to Brown over 1991–2024, a total that includes individual donors as well as PACs. He won the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary for Ohio’s special Senate election with 89.4% and faces Sen. Jon Husted (R) on Nov 3.
A flat Tier 2, resting on his pronounced concern for Palestinian civilians. He has a reliable pro-Israel record — affirms Israel’s right to defend itself, voted military aid, No on Sanders’s joint resolutions of disapproval to block arms sales to Israel, ~$1M+ pro-Israel career funding — with no leadership on the issue. What holds him at a flat 2 rather than 1/2 is extensive Gaza-civilian consideration: he repeatedly urged humanitarian aid for Gaza’s two million civilians, Israeli steps to let that aid in (a November 2023 letter to President Biden that he co-signed presses Israel to restore water, electricity and communications, speed fuel deliveries, open the Kerem Shalom crossing and protect aid workers), a ceasefire that delivers aid, and two states — while criticizing Netanyahu’s war conduct for “far too many” civilian deaths. He stops short of an arms-conditioning act, so he is not a 3.
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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).