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U.S. Senate
Chris Coons

Jewish Voter Guide

Chris Coons

U.S. Senate · DE · Democrat

On the 2026 ballot

Summary

Senator Chris Coons is the Democratic nominee in Delaware’s 2026 U.S. Senate election and will face Republican nominee XXXX (primary on September 15)

Coons has a longstanding record of supporting the U.S.-Israel relationship and Israel's right to defend itself. On April 15, 2026, he voted against advancing two resolutions that would have blocked proposed military sales to Israel. He explicitly explained that, although he had voted to end President Trump's unauthorized war with Iran, he did not want to abandon Israel while Iran was attacking U.S. partners. He also said the votes were not an endorsement of the Netanyahu government.

Coons has condemned Hamas's October 7 attack, supported emergency assistance to Israel and efforts to release hostages, and backed federal legislation addressing campus antisemitism through Title VI enforcement. He has criticized International Criminal Court action against Israeli and Hamas officials when he believed the court created a false equivalence, and he has a documented record of Jewish-community engagement, including a 2025 keynote at the Jewish Theological Seminary. His 2026 Iran position focuses on congressional authorization, strategy, and avoiding an open-ended war; it should not be converted into a more detailed nuclear-policy position than he has stated.

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

  • On April 15, 2026, Coons voted against motions to discharge S.J. Res. 32 and S.J. Res. 138, which would have advanced resolutions blocking proposed sales of military bulldozers and 1,000-pound bomb bodies to Israel. Coons said that although he had voted to end the Iran war, he would not abandon Israel or Americans and partners under Iranian attack. He added that the votes did not amount to an endorsement of the Netanyahu government.

Sources

Preventing a Nuclear Iran

  • In 2026, Coons supported a war-powers resolution aimed at ending U.S. hostilities with Iran, arguing that the administration had not presented a clear legal basis, strategy, or end state. His statements recognized the danger posed by Iran and its attacks but focused on authorization and war strategy rather than laying out a new detailed nuclear agreement.

Source

Condemning and Combating Terrorism

  • Following October 7, Coons described Hamas as a terrorist organization, supported Israel's right to defend itself, and backed efforts to secure the release of hostages and provide Israel with emergency defense assistance.

Source

Response to Hamas's October 7 Attack

  • Coons described Hamas's October 7 assault as the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust and affirmed U.S. support for Israel's right to defend itself, while also emphasizing the protection of civilians and hostage release.

Source

Fighting Antisemitism

  • Coons has supported federal legislation addressing antisemitism and has spoken publicly about rising antisemitism and threats to Jewish communities.

Source

Protecting Jewish Students on Campus

  • Coons joined bipartisan legislation directing the Department of Education to consider the IHRA working definition of antisemitism when enforcing Title VI protections on college campuses.

Source

Standing Against Political Extremism

  • Coons has spoken against political violence and threats to democratic institutions, including in remarks to Jewish audiences.

Source

Defending Israel in International Organizations

  • Coons criticized International Criminal Court arrest warrants targeting Israeli and Hamas officials, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction over Israel and that its actions risked creating a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas.

  • Earlier in his Senate tenure, Coons helped lead a full-Senate letter urging the United Nations to address anti-Israel bias.

Sources

Engagement with the Jewish Community

  • In November 2025, Coons delivered a keynote address at the Jewish Theological Seminary on human dignity, democracy, antisemitism, and public life.

Source

Support for a Strong U.S.-Israel Alliance

Sources

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.

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