ATLANTA, GA – Former U.S. Representative Cynthia McKinney has officially launched a campaign to return to Congress in the 2026 election cycle. Running as a member of the Green Party, McKinney is campaigning on an uncompromising platform that calls for a radical overhaul of American foreign policy and the removal of what she describes as a “Zionist” influence within the federal government.

McKinney, who served six terms as a Democrat representing Georgia before becoming the Green Party’s presidential nominee in 2008, has titled her new movement with the slogan “De-Zionize the Government.” Her platform alleges that a “powerful Zionist lobby” has infiltrated all levels of American governance, creating what she characterizes as a “dual-loyalty regime.”

The centerpiece of McKinney’s 2026 bid involves a total cessation of U.S. military aid to Israel and a shift toward the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. She has characterized the current U.S.-Israel alliance as a “hostage situation” and accused the federal government of using taxpayer dollars to fund “genocide” in the Gaza Strip.

McKinney’s rhetoric has already drawn controversy by sharing quotes from Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and suggesting that Israeli intelligence is linked to the Jeffrey Epstein files, a claim for which she has provided no evidence.

The former Congresswoman is running to fill a seat previously held by Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene. Notably, Greene also faced intense criticism during her tenure for comments perceived as antisemitic, including suggestions that Israel exerted undue control over U.S. foreign policy.

McKinney’s policy proposals include aggressive legal and diplomatic shifts, such as revoking the tax-exempt status of organizations she labels as foreign agents and supporting the Palestinian “right of return.” She also calls for the U.S. to stop providing diplomatic cover for Israeli officials facing scrutiny in international courts.

While McKinney has a long history of activism—including participating in maritime attempts to break the naval blockade of Gaza, her current platform represents one of the most strident anti-Israel positions in modern U.S. electoral politics. Her stance places her far to the left of the mainstream Democratic Party, which generally maintains that Israel is a vital strategic ally in the Middle East.

While legal experts have noted that McKinney’s proposals regarding tax exemptions would likely face insurmountable constitutional challenges, her entry into the 2026 cycle is expected to intensify the national debate over the boundaries of Middle East policy and the language used in political discourse.