Jewish Voter Guide
Andy Barr
U.S. Senate · KY · Republican
Summary
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr is the Republican nominee for Kentucky's open 2026 U.S. Senate seat and will face Democratic nominee Charles Booker.
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, the Republican nominee for Kentucky's open U.S. Senate seat, has a congressional record of supporting U.S. security assistance to Israel and backing Israel's response to Hamas. He voted for the 2024 Israel security supplemental and the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which included provisions supporting Israel's missile- defense programs and battlefield intelligence. Barr has also supported military action intended to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, condemned Hamas's October 7 attack, and urged sanctions against a Palestinian organization that he and another lawmaker described as linked to Hamas.
Barr's domestic record includes measures aimed at combating antisemitism, addressing antisemitism on college campuses, and strengthening the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program. He voted twice for House legislation imposing sanctions connected to International Criminal Court actions against Israeli officials, and has met with Kentucky Jewish leaders.
The record
Positions come from public votes, statements and on-the-record interviews. Every claim links to its source. No aggregate score or grade.
Support for a Strong U.S.-Israel Alliance
Barr voted for H.R. 8034, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, which passed the House in April 2024. The bill provided emergency security assistance for Israel, including funding for missile-defense systems and replenishment of U.S. defense articles transferred to Israel.
Barr also voted for the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act. His office highlighted provisions continuing U.S.-Israel battlefield-intelligence cooperation, fully funding joint missile-defense programs, and reversing restrictions on certain missile deliveries; the legislation became law in December 2024.
Preventing a Nuclear Iran
In March 2026, Barr voted against H. Con. Res. 38, which would have directed the President to remove U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities in Iran. Defending the
administration's military action, Barr said Iran could never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and argued that President Trump was acting on that commitment.
Condemning and Combating Terrorism
In November 2025, Barr and Rep. Jefferson Shreve urged the Treasury Department to designate the Palestinian Conference for Palestinians Abroad under Executive Order 13224 and impose targeted sanctions. They cited documents that they said tied the organization to Hamas.
Source
Response to Hamas's October 7 Attack
In an October 12, 2023 statement, Barr said Israel was fully justified in pursuing Hamas terrorists in Gaza and that the United States and other countries should support Israel as it sought to defeat those responsible for the attack. He also blamed Hamas and its Iranian backers and called for previously unfrozen Iranian funds to be clawed back. accountable Barr voted for H. Res. 771, which passed the House 412-10 in October 2023. The resolution condemned Hamas's attack, reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself, and reiterated U.S. support for Israel's security.
Fighting Antisemitism
In June 2019, Barr offered three amendments to an appropriations package intended to prevent federal funds from supporting organizations or individuals engaged in discrimination against Jewish people. Barr described the amendments as a response to growing antisemitism, but the House Rules Committee rejected all three amendments and they did not receive floor votes.
Barr voted for H.R. 6090, the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023, which passed the House in May 2024. The bill would require the Department of Education to take the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism into consideration when reviewing certain Title VI discrimination cases involving Jewish students.
Protecting Jewish Students on Campus
Barr voted for H. Res. 798 in November 2023. The resolution condemned support for Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education
and condemned the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff; it passed the House 396-23.
In March 2025, Barr said antisemitism had no place in America, 'especially on our college campuses,' and supported the administration's funding penalties over campus antisemitism concerns.
Protecting Jewish Institutions and Communities
Barr voted for H.R. 6825, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act, which passed the House in May 2022. The bill sought to expand and improve the federal program that funds security measures for nonprofit organizations at high risk of terrorist or extremist attack; relevant provisions were later enacted as part of the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act. The program serves at-risk nonprofits broadly rather than Jewish institutions specifically.
Defending Israel in International Organizations
Barr voted in 2024 and again in 2025 for House legislation seeking sanctions against International Criminal Court officials and other foreign persons involved in certain ICC actions against protected U.S. or allied persons. H.R. 8282 followed the ICC prosecutor's applications for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and H.R. 23 followed the court's issuance of warrants; both measures passed the House.
Engagement with the Jewish Community
In March 2025, Barr welcomed Rabbi Shlomo Litvin to his Washington office. Barr said they discussed the U.S.-Israel alliance and rising antisemitism at home and abroad, and said he would continue to stand with Israel and 'our Jewish friends across the Commonwealth.'
A note on methodology. This guide is published as an educational reference. The American Jewish Congress does not endorse candidates and does not publish aggregate scores. If you spot a position that needs an update or a better source, please reach the office.