Zach Dembo
D · U.S. House, KY-6 · Tier 2/3
Tier 2/3, between “Mainstream pro-Israel” and “Pro-Israel, critical”
Asked by the Lexington Herald-Leader in May 2026 “Should the U.S. continue to support Israel’s military?”, he wrote: “I fully support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, but support for the Israeli people doesn’t mean blank checks for Netanyahu’s regime with no accountability. Like so many I was horrified by scenes of children starving, civilian casualties, and forced migrations. What’s happened in Gaza has to affect how we approach the current Israeli government.” He named American security interests, consistent values and congressional oversight of how taxpayer dollars are spent as his tests, and wrote that if the answer is no, “then we need to evaluate our position carefully.” In October 2025 he posted: “So grateful to watch these videos of hostages being reunited with their families in Israel. Praying for a larger and lasting peace.” A Navy JAG veteran, former federal prosecutor and policy adviser to Gov. Andy Beshear, he runs on a plank to “Stop Endless Wars in the Middle East” — about the Iran war, Venezuela, Ukraine and Taiwan — and in February 2026 condemned “Trump’s War of Choice Against Iran”.
A 2/3, on a thin record: one questionnaire answer. Asked by the Lexington Herald-Leader in May 2026 whether the U.S. should continue to support Israel’s military, he wrote that he was “horrified by scenes of children starving, civilian casualties, and forced migrations” and that “What’s happened in Gaza has to affect how we approach the current Israeli government.” He set tests for that support (American security interests, consistent values, congressional oversight of how taxpayer dollars are spent) and wrote that if the answer is no, “then we need to evaluate our position carefully.” That carries concern for Gaza’s civilians, in his own words, into the question of military support; but the test is hedged and commits him to no condition or cut on weapons, which keeps him short of 3. His Middle East plank and Iran-war release never address Israel’s conduct. Counter-case: a flat 2, since the same answer opens “I fully support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself,” and its “blank checks” line is aimed at Netanyahu’s government rather than at weapons for Israel.
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).