Candidate Resource Center
Resources for political candidates committed to a responsible foreign policy
Polling on Peace Issues
Americans are tired of endless war and out of control Pentagon spending. Being pro-peace is a political advantage, not a liability.
Trump & Foreign Policy
Morning Consult Survey — July 2026
- 48% of registered voters disapprove of Trump’s performance on foreign policy, with 43% approcing and 8% unsure.
Quinnipiac Poll — June 2026
- 59% of voters disapprove of Donald Trump’s handling of foreign policy.
The Economist/YouGov Poll — June 2026
- 55% of voters disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling foreign policy. That includes 91% of Democrats and 58% of independents.
Harvard-Harris Poll — May 2026
- 59% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of foreign policy.
Fox News Poll — March 2026
- 62% of registered voters disapprove of how Trump is handling foreign policy.
AP-NORC Poll — February 2026
- 56% of American adults do not trust Donald Trump’s decisions about international military action. 59% do not trust him to make the right decisions about the use of nuclear weapons.
- 56% and 55%, respectively, express little to no trust when it comes to his handling of relationships with both US allies and adversaries.
Iran
Reuters/Ipsos Poll – June 2026
- 61% of registered voters disapprove of the way Trump is handling the situation with Iran, with only 28% approving.
- Considering both the costs and benefits to the U.S., 52% of registered voters think it has not been worth the U.S. taking military action in Iran, with only 24% thinking it is worth it and 22% unsure.
Quinnipiac Poll – June 2026
- 45% percent of voters say the U.S. is in a weaker position in the world as a result of its military action against Iran, 33% say the U.S. is in a stronger position in the world, and 20% say the U.S. position in the world has not changed.
- Asked how confident they are that President Trump’s deal with Iran will work, 59% of voters are not confident, while only 37% are confident.
- 61% of voters think it likely Iran will develop nuclear weapons, while 33% think not.
Fox News Poll – June 2026
- 64% of registered voters disapprove of Trump’s job performance on Iran, with only 35% approving.
HarrisX/Forbes Poll – June 2026
- 59% of registered voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of the conflict with Iran, with only 34% approving.
Economist/YouGov Poll — March 2026
- 52% of American adults disapprove of Trump’s handling of Iran, with only 39% approving.
- Among Democrats, the divide was 92% disapproval with a tiny 6% approving. Among Independents, 53% disapprove, while only 30% approve and 17% answering no opinion. Republicans drive the approval numbers, with 83% supporting Trump’s actions, and only 11% showing disapproval.
Reuters/Ipsos Poll— March 2026
- 43% of Americans disapprove of the February ’25 U.S. strikes on Iran, while only 27% approve and 29% said they didn’t know enough.
- About 50% surveyed — including one in four Republicans — believe President Donald Trump is too willing to use military force. That includes 87% of Democrats, 23% of Republicans, and 60% of Independents.
- 55% of Republicans said they approved of the strikes, but 42% said they would be less likely to support the Iran campaign if it led to US “troops in the Middle East being killed or injured.”
AP-NORC Poll— February 2026
- 56% of American adults do not trust Donald Trump’s decisions about international military action. 59% do not trust him to make the right decisions about the use of nuclear weapons.
- 56% and 55%, respectively, express little to no trust when it comes to his handling of relationships with both US allies and adversaries.
The Gaza War & Palestinian Rights
New York Times/Siena Poll — May 2026
- 75% of voters aligned with the Democratic Party oppose US military aid to Israel, up from 45% three years ago.
- 60% of Democratic voters said they were more sympathetic to the Palestinians than to Israel, while just 15% said they were more sympathetic to Israel
Pew Research Center Survey— April 2026
- 60% of U.S. adults have an unfavorable view of Israel, up from 53% last year.
- In both political parties, majorities of adults under the age of 50 now rate Israel and Netanyahu negatively (84% among Democrats under 50 and 57% among Republicans under 50).
Gallup Poll — February 2026
- Sympathies in the Middle East now lie more with the Palestinians than the Israelis, 41% versus 36%.
- Political independents by a 41%-30% split drive sympathy toward Palestinians
- There is a shifting view on the question among all generations.
- Among those aged 18-34, 53% sympathize more with the Palestinians, compared with 23% who sympathize more with the Israelis.
- Among those aged 35-54, 46% sympathize more with the Palestinians, compared with 28% who sympathize more with the Israelis.
- Even among adults aged 55 and older, 49% sympathize more with the Israelis (31% with the Palestinians), marking the first time since 2005 that group has dropped below half.
Reuters/Ipsos Poll — October 2025
- 59% of Americans — including 80% of Democrats and 41% of Republicans — think the U.S. should recognize Palestinian statehood. Only 33% were opposed, with the rest unsure.
- 60% of respondents said Israel’s response in Gaza was excessive, compared to 32% who disagreed.
AP/NORC Poll — September 2025
- 49% of the public regard Israel’s military action in Gaza as excessive. Among that is 71% of Democrats, 53% of Independents, and 24% of Republicans.
- 45% of U.S. adults now say it’s “extremely” or “very” important for the U.S. to provide humanitarian relief to Palestinians in Gaza.
Quinnipiac University Poll — August 2025
- 60% of voters oppose more US military aid to Israel for their efforts in the war with Hamas, while only 32% support it.
- Majorities of Democrats (75 – 18%) and independents (66 – 27%) oppose sending more military aid, while Republicans (56 – 37%) support it.
University of Maryland Critical Issues Poll — August 2025
- 41% percent of Americans, including 67% of Democrats and 14% of Republicans, believe that Israeli military actions in Gaza constitute either “genocide” (22%) or are “akin to genocide” (19%).
- Only 22% of respondents said that Israel’s war in Gaza constituted “justified actions under the right to self-defense.”
- That included only 7% of Democrats and 46% of Republicans.
Nuclear Weapons
YouGov Poll — January 2026
- An overwhelming majority of American voters, 91%, believe the US should negotiate a new agreement with Russia to either maintain current limits on nuclear weapons or further reduce both countries’ arsenals.
- 72% of registered voters believe that removing all nuclear limits on the US and Russian nuclear arsenals would make us less safe.
YouGov Poll — November 2025
- 65% of Americans are very or somewhat concerned about experiencing nuclear war — including 77% of Democrats, 61% of independents, and 58% of Republicans.
- 69% of adults believe nuclear weapons make the world a more dangerous place. That includes a majority of adults from all parties — 82% of Democrats, 69% of independents, and 57% of Republicans.
- 56% of Americans think countries with nuclear weapons should get rid of them, but only if all countries get rid of them.
- 49% of citizens approve of cutting the number of nuclear weapons the U.S. has, versus 42% who disapprove.
Peace Action’s Policy Briefings
Peace Action’s Policy Briefings are oriented towards current Members of Congress. They offer in-depth policy analysis and steps Members of Congress can take to shape U.S. policies in specific issue areas. Also included is a list of congressional action steps, which put all of our core asks for Members of Congress in one place.
Policy Briefing: Congress Must Stop the Iran War
May 2026 policy analysis on the urgent need to end the U.S. war with Iran. Includes: The Human and Economic Toll Is Staggering — and Growing; This War Is An Unprecedented Assault on Congressional War Powers; To Stop the War, Block the Bombs: Support Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval (JRDs); This War Is Overwhelmingly Unpopular Among the American Public; and What Congress Should Do.
Policy Briefing: Caribbean: End Illegal Airstrikes & Lift the Blockade
May 2026 policy analysis on the escalating military actions in the Caribbean. Includes: The Ongoing Strikes in the Caribbean Are Inhumane and Illegal; The Blockade on Cuba: Collective Punishment as an Instrument of Regime Change; and Congress Has the Authority and Obligation to Act.
Policy Briefing: Block the $72 Billion ICE/Border Patrol Bill
May 2026 policy analysis on the ICE/CBP funding bill. Includes: ICE Is Committing and Being Credibly Accused of Numerous Human Rights Violations; Trump’s Personal Paramilitary Forces Should Not Be Given Billions; $72 Billion Without Oversight, Accountability, or Democratic Input; and What Congress Should Do.
Policy Briefing: Reject the Pentagon Spending Surge
May 2026 policy analysis on the $1.5 trillion Pentagon funding request. Includes: The $1.5 Trillion Request Is the Largest Defense Buildup Since the Korean War; The Spending Steals from Human Needs — and the Pentagon Cannot Account for What It Already Has; and What Congress Can Do.
More Coming Soon
Archive
These Policy Briefings are not actively being circulated to Members of Congress, but can help in messaging on the issues.
Policy Briefing: Congress Must Stop the Iran War
April 2026 policy analysis on the urgent need to end the U.S. war with Iran. Includes: The Human and Economic Toll Is Staggering — and Growing; This War Is An Unprecedented Assault on Congressional War Powers; To Stop the War, Block the Bombs: Support Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval; This War Is Overwhelmingly Unpopular Among the American Public; and What Congress Should Do.
Policy Briefing: A U.S. War With Iran Would Be a Disaster
June 2025 policy analysis on the dangers of a U.S. war with Iran. Includes: Iran’s Capabilities to Wage War Should Not Be Underestimated; Diplomacy is the Best Way to Ensure Iran Does Not Get a Nuclear Bomb; Arms Transfers to Israel Escalate Tensions and Undermine Credibility in Negotiations; and Congress Must Assert Its Authority Over the Use of Military Force.
Policy Briefing: End the Brutal War in Gaza
June 2025 policy analysis prescribing actions needed around the war in Gaza and the region. Includes: Only a Permanent Ceasefire Can Help Secure Peace; Surge Humanitarian Aid to Gaza, Including Restoring UNRWA Funding; No Military Aid or Weapons to Israel as It Commits Gross Human Rights Violations; and Oppose Wider Military Escalation Across the Region.
Policy Briefing: Reduce the Nuclear Weapons Threat Before It’s Too Late
June 2025 policy analysis on reducing the threat of nuclear weapons. Includes: Spend On Human Needs, Not a New Nuclear Arms Race; New Nuclear Weapons Are Destabilizing and Dangerous; Adopting a No-First-Use Policy Would Keep Our Communities Safer; and Arms Control Agreements Make A More Peaceful, Secure World.
Policy Briefing: Negotiation Now: We Must Ramp Up Diplomacy to End
the War in Ukraine
June 2025 policy analysis on the ongoing war in Ukraine. Includes: High-Level Diplomacy Can Help De-Escalate and End the War; The U.S. Can Support Progressive, Nonviolent Ways for Ukraine to Heal from War; and The U.S. Should Engage Russia in Broad Nuclear and Security Dialogue.
Policy Briefing: End the Brutal War in Gaza
April 2025 policy analysis prescribing actions needed around the war in Gaza and the region. Includes: Only a Permanent Ceasefire Can Help Secure Peace; No Military Aid or Weapons to Israel as It Commits Gross Human Rights Violations; Surge Humanitarian Aid to Gaza, Including Restoring UNRWA Funding; and Congress Must Oppose Unconstitutional, Open-Ended U.S. Strikes In Yemen.
Policy Briefing: It’s Time to Put People Over the Pentagon
June 2023 policy analysis on prioritizing human needs over Pentagon bloat. Includes: Rein in Pentagon Spending to Address Real Security Threats; Americans Want Money in Human Needs, Not the Pentagon; Misuse and Gouging: Pentagon Spending Has Been Wasteful for Years; and Steps Members of Congress Can Take.
Policy Briefing: Reduce the Nuclear Weapons Threat Before It’s Too Late
June 2023 policy analysis on reducing the threat of nuclear weapons. Includes: Avoiding a New Nuclear Arms Race and Wasteful Nuclear Spending Allows Smarter Spending on Human Needs; New Nuclear Weapons Are Destabilizing and Dangerous; Adopting a No-First-Use Policy Would Keep Our Communities Safer; and Steps Members of Congress Can Take.
Policy Briefing: We Must Seize on Recent Diplomatic Openings to Finally
End the Tragic Yemen War
June 2023 policy analysis on the need to end U.S. support of the Saudi-led war on Yemen. Includes: Momentum Toward Peace is Growing; The Need for Humanitarian Aid in Yemen is Dire; The U.S. Should Assist in Funding Yemen’s Reconstruction; and Steps Members of Congress Can Take.
Policy Briefing: Support Human Rights for Palestinians
June 2023 policy analysis on supporting Palestinian human rights. Includes: Human Rights Concerns Must Become More Central in U.S.-Israel Policy; H.R.3103 Looks to Protect the Rights of Palestinian Children and Families; and Steps Members of Congress Can Take.
Policy Briefing: Congress Should Promote Diplomacy to End the Ukraine War
July 2022 policy analysis prescribing best action for Ukraine. Includes: End Bloodshed, Avert a Global Economic Crisis, & Prevent Nuclear Catastrophe; The U.S. Must Avoid and Prevent Escalation, Resist Expanding War Aims; and Steps Members of Congress Can Take.
Policy Briefing: U.S. Policy Will Determine The Future of Afghan Crisis
March 2022 policy analysis on the current crisis in Afghanistan and ways U.S. policy can impact it. Includes: Unfreezing Afghan Funds in a Safeguarded Way Would Buoy Their Economy and Steps Members of Congress Can Take.
Candidate FAQs
How can I get Peace Action’s endorsement?
Please let us know your views on critical foreign policy issues by filling out our 2026 Candidate Questionnaire. We appreciate your completion of the questionnaire. It is an important step in the process, though it does not guarantee endorsement.
Note: We only endorse candidates running for office on the federal level. While we appreciate all those who run for state and local elections, we only make endorsements for U.S. House of Representatives or U.S. Senate.
What is Peace Action?
Peace Action is the nation’s largest grassroots peace network with chapters and affiliates in states across the country. We organize our network to place pressure on Congress and the administration through write-in campaigns, internet actions, citizen lobbying and direct action. Through close relationships with allies in Congress, we play a key role in devising strategies to move forward peace legislation. As a leading member of various coalitions, we lend our expertise and large network to achieving common goals.
You can read more on our Who We Are page.
Who has Peace Action endorsed this election cycle?
You see our 2026 Candidate Endorsements page for this cycle.
How can Peace Action help my campaign?
We may be able to help in the following areas:
- Endorsement
- PAC contribution
- Online bundling
- In-kind donation of organizer
- Issue expertise and messaging advice
- In-kind donation of other services (phone banking tools, etc.)
- Local and/or national press release on endorsement
- Quotes for your press release and other communications
- Recruiting volunteers inside and/or outside of district or state
- Voter outreach phone banking
- Hosting events
- Other requests
