Arlen Specter

Former senator for Pennsylvania · Democrat; served until January 3, 2011

View:InteractiveSummary Compare with another member · All members from Pennsylvania

Seats held: Senator for PA, 2005–2011 · Senator for PA, 1981–2005.

Pennsylvania has about 13.1 million residents, represented by two senators.

Votes compared with what constituents said

Cooperative Election Study: voted with 18 of 21 surveyed votes where Pennsylvania's estimated majority was clear.

Each survey is shown on its own, never combined. Votes marked related were on a bill close to what was asked, and aren't counted. How the estimates work.

Survey question	Vote	How they voted	What constituents said	Compared
End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) CES 2011	December 18, 2010 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (66.4% support, likely 62.8–70%)	With the majority
End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) CES 2012	December 18, 2010 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (71.1% support, likely 68.5–73.7%)	With the majority
Confirm Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court CES 2010	August 5, 2010 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (52.2% support, likely 49.4–54.9%)	Too close to call
Financial reform (Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) CES 2010	July 15, 2010 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (70.8% support, likely 68.3–73.3%)	With the majority
Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) CES 2011	December 24, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (53.1% support, likely 49.3–56.9%)	Too close to call
Affordable Care Act of 2010 CES 2012	December 24, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (60.7% support, likely 57.8–63.5%)	With the majority
Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) CES 2010	December 24, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (54.6% support, likely 51.8–57.4%)	With the majority
Confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court CES 2009	August 6, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (52.6% support, likely 48.6–56.7%)	Too close to call
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) CES 2009	February 13, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (52.9% support, likely 48.9–56.9%)	Too close to call
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) CES 2011	February 13, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (59.1% support, likely 55.4–62.9%)	With the majority
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) CES 2010	February 13, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (52.5% support, likely 49.8–55.2%)	Too close to call
Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) CES 2009	January 29, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (79% support, likely 75.7–82.3%)	With the majority
Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) CES 2011	January 29, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (76.2% support, likely 71.1–81.3%)	With the majority
Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) CES 2010	January 29, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (78% support, likely 75.7–80.3%)	With the majority
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (more time to sue over pay discrimination) CES 2009	January 22, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (66.2% support, likely 62.4–70%)	With the majority
The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) CES 2011	October 1, 2008 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most oppose (23.7% support, likely 18.5–28.8%)	Against the majority
The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) CES 2010	October 1, 2008 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most oppose (22.1% support, likely 16.9–27.3%)	Against the majority
The $700 billion bank bailout (Emergency Economic Stabilization Act) CES 2008	October 1, 2008 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most oppose (27.6% support, likely 24.9–30.3%)	Against the majority
Federal help for homeowners facing foreclosure (Housing and Economic Recovery Act) CES 2008	July 26, 2008 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (56.3% support, likely 53.3–59.2%)	With the majority
Allow eavesdropping on overseas terrorist suspects without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) CES 2011	July 9, 2008 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (72.8% support, likely 69.4–76.3%)	With the majority
Allow eavesdropping on overseas communications without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) CES 2008	July 9, 2008 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (67.7% support, likely 65.1–70.3%)	With the majority
Extend NAFTA-style free trade to Peru (U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement) CES 2008	December 4, 2007 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most oppose (45.7% support, likely 42.5–48.9%)	Related bill, not counted
Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) CES 2008	September 27, 2007 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (76.4% support, likely 74–78.8%)	With the majority
Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) CES 2011	April 11, 2007 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (65.9% support, likely 62.2–69.5%)	With the majority
Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) CES 2010	April 11, 2007 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (67.9% support, likely 65.4–70.5%)	With the majority
Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) CES 2008	April 11, 2007 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (67.7% support, likely 65–70.4%)	With the majority
Raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour (Fair Minimum Wage Act) CES 2008	February 1, 2007 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (82.4% support, likely 80.3–84.5%)	With the majority

Attendance

In the 111th Congress, Arlen Specter missed 31 of 696 Senate votes (4.5%). On votes where most of their party voted one way, they voted with their party 85.7% of the time.

Most recent votes

Vote	Date	Their vote
Mary Helen Murguia, of Arizona, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed	December 22, 2010	Yea
Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed in Prague on April 8, 2010, with Protocol On the Resolution of Ratification · Resolution of Ratification Agreed to	December 22, 2010	Yea
To provide that the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification of the New START Treaty is subject to an understanding regarding the non-use of covers by the Russian Federation that tend to interfere with Type One inspections and accurate warhead counting, is subject to the United States and the Russian Federation reaching an agreement regarding access and monitoring, and is subject to a certification that the Russian Federation has agreed that it will not deny telemetric exchanges on new ballistic missile systems it deploys during the duration of the Treaty. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 21, 2010	Nay
To require a certification that the President has negotiated a legally binding side agreement with the Russian Federation that the Russian Federation will not deploy a significant number of nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles during the duration of the New START Treaty. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 21, 2010	Nay
To provide an understanding that provisions adopted in the Bilateral Consultative Commission that affect substantive rights or obligations under the Treaty are those that create new rights or obligations for the United States and must therefore be submitted to the Senate for its advice and consent. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 21, 2010	Nay
To provide a condition regarding the return of stolen United States military equipment. On the Motion to Table · Motion to Table Agreed to	December 21, 2010	Yea
To amend the Treaty to provide for a clear definition of rail-mobile missiles. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 21, 2010	Nay
Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed in Prague on April 8, 2010, with Protocol On the Cloture Motion · Cloture Motion Agreed to	December 21, 2010	Yea
William Joseph Martinez, of Colorado, to be United States District Judge for the District of Colorado On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed	December 21, 2010	Yea
Benita Y. Pearson, of Ohio, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed	December 21, 2010	Yea
H.R. 3082: A bill making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. On the Motion · Motion Agreed to	December 21, 2010	Yea
H.R. 3082: A bill making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. On the Cloture Motion · Cloture Motion Agreed to	December 21, 2010	Yea
To amend the Treaty to require negotiations to address the disparity between tactical nuclear weapon stockpiles. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 20, 2010	Nay
To modify the deployed delivery vehicle limits of the Treaty. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 20, 2010	Nay
To increase the number of Type One and Type Two inspections allowed under the Treaty. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 20, 2010	Nay

Every vote, with filters, on the interactive page.

Figures as of November 10, 2026, from the official vote records and published survey data listed on the Sources page. The interactive page always shows the latest. Found an error? Tell us.