Tom Cotton

Tom Cotton was born in 1977 and is currently serving as the junior United States Senator for Arkansas. Senator Cotton’s seat is up for election in 2026.

After a clerkship with the U.S. Court of Appeals and private law practice, Cotton left the law field because of the September 11th attacks and served nearly five years on active duty in the United States Army as an Infantry Officer. He served in Iraq with the 101st Airborne and in Afghanistan with a Provincial Reconstruction Team. Between the Army and the Senate, he served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives for Arkansas’ 4th Congressional District.

Senator Cotton currently serves in the Armed Services Committee; the Budget Committee; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee; the Select Committee on Intelligence; and the Joint Economic Committee.

Below is Senator Cotton’s voting record and public positions on issues important to the Jewish Community

Senator Cotton opposed the Iran nuclear deal and supported 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.

Senator Cotton has supported legislation, such as the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, that fight discriminatory boycotts of Israel. 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.

In July 2019, Senator Cotton cosponsored the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, which aims to provide for the consideration of a definition of anti-Semitism for the enforcement of Federal antidiscrimination laws concerning education programs or activities.