Who pays for war? You do.

Union Leader | by William Maddocks

As New Hampshire’s primary season heats up, voters should pay close attention to where federal candidates get their campaign funding and where they stand on war and foreign policy.

For decades, political action committees and lobbyists aligned with the government of Israel have been major sources of money for both Democratic and Republican candidates. But public opinion is shifting rapidly. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 80 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents now view Israel negatively.

That growing concern was reflected in a recent Senate vote on legislation to block funding for Caterpillar D9 bulldozers used by Israel in Gaza and Lebanon. Such bulldozers were involved in the 2003 killing of American activist Rachel Corrie and may be implicated in other deadly incidents. The bill received an historic 40 votes from Senators ready to be honest about Israel’s conduct.

Public concern intensified further during the recent U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. A St. Anselm College survey found nearly 60 percent of all New Hampshire voters opposed the war. Yet despite changing public opinion, AIPAC and other pro-Israel lobbying groups continue pouring money into American elections. In New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District race, leading Democratic candidate Maura Sullivan has accepted large sums from pro-Israel PACs and donors. Republican candidate Melissa Bailey praised Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman for supporting U.S. military action against Iran, thanking him for choosing “what’s right for the USA” over what she called the Democratic Party’s “radical left-wing.”

In the U.S. Senate race, Congressman Chris Pappas has reportedly received more than $800,000 from AIPAC and affiliated groups in recent years. In the 2nd Congressional District, incumbent Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander has accepted more than $200,000 from pro-Israel donors and PACs.

In contrast, several candidates in both congressional districts are rejecting Israel PAC money and advocating diplomacy over continued military escalation.

Karishma Manzur, a PhD scientist, progressive, and peace activist in the Democratic Senate primary, supports banning corporate PAC donations, restoring Congressional oversight of military action, ending “blank checks” for war, and banning members of Congress from trading defense contractor stocks, while expanding support for veterans and military families.

Several Democratic candidates in the 1st Congressional District are also rejecting pro-Israel PAC funding while calling for an end to “endless war” policies.

Carleigh Beriont, a teacher, union organizer, mother, and local elected official, says she will “fight to make sure that no president — Democrat or Republican — can drag the United States into needless wars.”

Sarah Chadzynski, a teacher, nonprofit leader, and human rights advocate who has supported families in Gaza with medical aid and has family in Israel, argues that lasting peace requires bringing all the players to the table for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

Heath Howard, a second-term member of the New Hampshire House, says he will work to “cease our involvement in these endless imperial wars” while honoring commitments to human rights and the United Nations Charter.

Christian Urrutia, a lawyer and former military defense attorney in the Army National Guard, supports reducing “endless wars”, cutting costly weapons systems, and shifting U.S. foreign policy toward diplomacy and human rights rather than overreliance on force.

In the 2nd Congressional District race, Paige Beauchemin, a nurse, mother of three, and member of the New Hampshire House, calls for ending unnecessary wars, restricting weapons distribution, and holding the U.S. accountable for destabilizing other nations.

Voters should take the time to meet these candidates, ask difficult questions, and examine who funds their campaigns. The choices made in September will help determine whether Washington continues prioritizing war and foreign influence or invests more in diplomacy, local communities, and peaceful coexistence.

William Maddocks lives in Amherst.