
Jewish Voter Guide
Richard Blumenthal
U.S. Senate · CT · Democrat
Summary
Richard Blumenthal, who is Jewish, was born in 1946 and is currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Connecticut. Senator Blumenthal was reelected in 2022.
Blumenthal was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 and was reelected in 2016. Previously, he served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut from 1977 to 1981 and as the Attorney General of Connecticut from 1991 until 2011. He also served in the Connecticut legislature, first in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1985 to 1987, and later in the Connecticut Senate from 1987 until 1991.
Senator Blumenthal is currently serving on the Armed Services Committee; the Judiciary Committee; the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; and the Veterans’ Affairs committee.
Below is Senator Blumenthal’s voting record and public positions on issues important to the Jewish community.
Senator Blumenthal supported the Iran nuclear deal. He is a supporter of the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and supported the move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.
Sen. Blumenthal cosponsored the Taylor Force Act, which states that no American governmental funds shall be given to a Palestinian entity that financially rewards terrorists or their families. He criticized the UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which claimed that Israel’s settlements have no legal validity.
He cosponsored the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act, a legislation that supported full funding of security assistance to Israel as outlined in the 2016 U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding. In 2019, he voted for the Strengthening America’s Middle East Security Act which, among other things, strengthened Israel’s security and allowed a state or local government to adopt measures to divest its assets from entities that boycott Israel.
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
Supports the two-state solutionUN Security Council Resolution 2334
OpposedOpposed UN Security Council Resolution 2334
Opposed UN Security Council Resolution 2334Strengthening America's Middle East Security Act (2019)
AlignedVoted For the Strengthening America's Middle East Security Act of 2019
Voted For the Strengthening America’s Middle East Security Act of 2019U.S.-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act (2018)
AlignedSupported the United States Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018
Cosponsored the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA)
AlignedSupported the Iran Deal
Supported the Iran nuclear dealU.S. embassy in Jerusalem
AlignedSupported the U.S. Embassy Move to Jerusalem
Supported the move of the U.S. embassy to JerusalemTaylor Force Act
AlignedSupported the Taylor Force Act
Supported the Taylor Force Act
BDS & Anti-Israel Sentiment
Anti-BDS measures
AlignedOpposes BDS
Cosponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott ActIsrael Anti-Boycott Act
AlignedSupported the Israel Anti Boycott Act
Cosponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott ActCombating BDS Act of 2017
AlignedSupported the Combating BDS Act of 2017
Cosponsored the Combating BDS Act of 2017
Sources
- Supported the Iran nuclear deal https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-announces-support-for-iran-nuclear-agreement?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
- Supported the move of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-statement-on-reported-trump-recognition-of-jerusalem-as-israels-capital
- Voted For 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
- Supports the two-state solution https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-colleagues-introduce-senate-resolution-condemning-anti-israel-efforts-at-united-nations
- Opposed UN Security Council Resolution 2334 https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-resolution/6/cosponsors
- Cosponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/720/cosponsors
- Supported the Taylor Force Act https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1697/cosponsors
- Cosponsored the Combating BDS Act of 2017 https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/170/cosponsors
- Cosponsored the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018 https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2497/cosponsors
- Cosponsored Senate Resolution 120 that opposes the global BDS movement https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-resolution/120
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.
