Jewish Voter Guide
Charles Booker
U.S. Senate · KY · Democrat
Summary
Charles Booker is the Democratic nominee for Kentucky's open 2026 U.S. Senate seat and will face Republican nominee Andy Barr.
Charles Booker is the Democratic nominee for Kentucky's open U.S. Senate seat. His public record on Israel has shifted in emphasis over time. In 2021, Booker strongly supported supplemental funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile-defense system, describing it as support for Israel's ability to defend itself and keep families safe. During the 2026 campaign, however, he said the United States should not fund what he described as the genocide of Palestinians and pledged not to accept contributions from AIPAC. Booker also opposes the Trump administration's war with Iran while treating prevention of an Iranian nuclear weapon as a legitimate objective; he has argued that a prior diplomatic agreement prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and that diplomacy, rather than unauthorized military action, should guide U.S. policy.
Booker's record on several of the other issues is comparatively limited. He condemned a December 2025 antisemitic attack against Jewish families celebrating Hanukkah.
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
In 2021, Booker expressed strong support for $1 billion in supplemental funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile-defense system and criticized Senator Rand Paul for blocking quick passage of the measure. Booker described the funding as support for Israel's ability to defend itself and keep families safe, while also emphasizing the importance of Israeli and Palestinian self-determination.
However, during a March 2026 Democratic Senate debate, Booker said the United States should not fund what he described as the genocide of Palestinians and pledged not to accept AIPAC contributions. His 2026 campaign statement similarly calls for leadership that refuses to fund genocides and an expanding military-industrial complex.
Preventing a Nuclear Iran
In a campaign statement dated January 28, 2026, Booker condemned President Trump's military action against Iran and urged Congress to halt the conflict. He argued that a prior diplomatic agreement had prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and blamed subsequent Iranian nuclear progress on Trump's withdrawal from that agreement, indicating a preference for diplomacy rather than military action to address the nuclear threat.
In a July 2026 interview, Booker said he would have voted for a binding war-powers resolution to end U.S. hostilities with Iran and described ending 'endless war' as a central priority.
Fighting Antisemitism
Following the December 2025 antisemitic attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Booker described the violence as a deliberate act of hatred against Jewish families celebrating their faith and condemned the hatred fueling such attacks.
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.