Jewish Voter Guide
Pramila Jayapal
U.S. House · WA · Democrat · District 7
Summary
A member of Congress from Seattle since 2017 who chaired the Congressional Progressive Caucus from 2019 to 2025 and is running for reelection in 2026, Jayapal cosponsored the Block the Bombs Act and a resolution to recognize Israel's Gaza campaign as genocide. She once called Israel a racist state, a remark she walked back and apologized for.
The record
Positions come from public votes, statements and on-the-record interviews. Every claim links to its source. No aggregate score or grade.
The racist state comment
In July 2023, responding to protesters at the Netroots Nation conference, Jayapal, then chair of the Progressive Caucus, said she had been fighting to make clear that Israel is a racist state. The comment drew a rare rebuke from House Democratic leaders, who said Israel is not a racist state, and a letter of condemnation signed by more than 40 Democrats. Within a day she issued a clarification and apology, saying she did not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist.
Legislation and votes on Israel
Jayapal was a lead cosponsor of the Block the Bombs Act, the arms embargo bill led by Representative Delia Ramirez, and she cosponsored the November 2025 resolution to have Congress recognize Israel's Gaza campaign as genocide. She has voted against military aid packages for Israel and accused Israel of violating international humanitarian law. She has voted to reaffirm support for a two-state solution and rebuked the first Trump administration for declaring West Bank settlements lawful.
Antisemitism measures and her statements
Jayapal voted against H.Res. 894 in December 2023, the resolution stating that anti Zionism is antisemitism.
Sources
- The racist state comment — JTA, her walk-back and the Netanyahu-government clarification: https://www.jta.org/2023/07/17/united-states/rep-pramila-jayapal-walks-back-criticism-of-israel-as-a-racist-state
- The racist state comment — CNN, the leadership rebuke, her two-state reaffirmation, and her acknowledgment of Jewish trauma and antisemitism: https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/16/politics/pramila-jayapal-israel-netroots-nation/index.html
- The racist state comment — NBC News, the 412 to 9 resolution affirming Israel is not a racist state, which she voted for: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-pass-resolution-backing-israel-jayapal-racist-state-rcna94897
- The racist state comment — Fox News, the Republican censure resolution and her statement on the vote https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republicans-censure-japayal-israel-racist-state.amp
- Legislation and votes on Israel — Ramirez House office, the Block the Bombs Act introduction led by Ramirez, Jacobs, Jayapal, and Pocan: https://ramirez.house.gov/media/press-releases/ramirez-jacobs-jayapal-pocan-18-members-congress-introduce-legislation
- Legislation and votes on Israel — Anadolu Agency, the H.Res. 876 cosponsor list including Jayapal: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/rashida-tlaib-20-other-us-lawmakers-introduce-resolution-calling-for-recognition-of-gaza-genocide/3744308
- Legislation and votes on Israel — Jayapal House office, her present vote on H.Res. 771 and her statement that she sponsored it to condemn the attack: https://jayapal.house.gov/2023/10/25/jayapal-statement-on-israel-resolution-vote
- Antisemitism measures and statements — No vote on H.Res. 894 and her explanation about conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4343861-these-14-house-lawmakers-voted-no-not-present-or-aye-on-a-resolution-condemning-antisemitism/
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.