Jewish Voter Guide
Jack Reed
U.S. Senate · RI · Democrat
Summary
Jack Reed was born in 1949 and is currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Rhode Island. Senator Reed’s seat is up for election in 2026.
Reed was first elected in the U.S. Senate in 1996 and was reelected in 2002, 2008, and 2014. He previously represented Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 until 1997. Jack Reed has served in the 82nd Airborne Division. He continued serving in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1991, when he retired with the rank of Major.
Senator Reed is currently the Ranking Member on the Armed Services Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Committee; the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; and the Select Committee on Intelligence.
Below is Senator Reed’s voting record and public positions on issues important to the Jewish community.
Senator Reed supported the Iran nuclear deal. He opposed UN Security Council Resolution 2334 that claimed that Israel’s settlements have no legal validity. Senator Reed has cosponsored a resolution that opposes the discriminatory Boycott Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and the delegitimization of Israel.
In 2019, he voted against the Strengthening America’s Middle East Security Act which, among other things, strengthens Israel’s security and allows a state or local government to adopt measures to divest its assets from entities that boycott Israel.
Senator Reed is a cosponsor of Senate Resolution 234 – introduced in Congress on June 5th, 2019 – which reaffirms the commitment of the U.S. to the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and argues that Israeli annexation of territory in the West Bank would undermine peace and Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state.
Positions
Per-issue alignment with the American Jewish Congress’s positions. Every claim links to its source. No aggregate score or grade.
U.S.–Israel Relationship
Two-state solution
AlignedSupports the Two State Solution
Opposed UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and supported the two-state solutionUN Security Council Resolution 2334
OpposedOpposed UN Security Council Resolution 2334
Opposed UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and supported the two-state solutionStrengthening America's Middle East Security Act (2019)
OpposedVoted Against the Strengthening America's Middle East Security Act of 2019
Voted Against the Strengthening America’s Middle East Security Act of 2019Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA)
AlignedSupported the Iran Deal
Supported the Iran nuclear dealU.S. embassy in Jerusalem
OpposedDid Not Support the US Embassy Move to Jerusalem
Did not support the move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem
BDS & Anti-Israel Sentiment
Anti-BDS measures
AlignedOpposes BDS
Cosponsored Senate Resolution 120 that opposes the global BDS movement
Sources
- Supported the Iran nuclear deal https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/reed-and-whitehouse-announce-support-for-iran-nuclear-agreement
- Voted Against the Strengthening America’s Middle East Security Act of 2019 https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=1&vote=00016
- Did not support the move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem https://twitter.com/senjackreed/status/938494593540263936?lang=en
- Opposed UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and supported the two-state solution https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-resolution/6/cosponsors
- Cosponsored Senate Resolution 120 that opposes the global BDS movement https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-resolution/120
- Cosponsored Senate Resolution 234 https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-resolution/234/cosponsors
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.