Edward Kennedy

Former senator for Massachusetts · Democrat; served until August 25, 2009

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

Seats held: Senator for MA, 1962–2009.

Massachusetts has about 7.2 million residents, represented by two senators.

Votes compared with what constituents said

Cooperative Election Study: voted with 5 of 5 surveyed votes where Massachusetts'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
Confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court CES 2009	August 6, 2009 · official record	Did not vote	Most support (56.5% support, likely 50.8–62.2%)	Didn't vote
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) CES 2009	February 13, 2009 · official record	Did not vote	Most support (59.9% support, likely 54.3–65.5%)	Didn't vote
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) CES 2011	February 13, 2009 · official record	Did not vote	Most support (61.5% support, likely 55.8–67.2%)	Didn't vote
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) CES 2010	February 13, 2009 · official record	Did not vote	Most support (56.3% support, likely 51.9–60.6%)	Didn't vote
Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) CES 2009	January 29, 2009 · official record	Did not vote	Most support (77.3% support, likely 72.3–82.3%)	Didn't vote
Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) CES 2011	January 29, 2009 · official record	Did not vote	Most support (74% support, likely 66.9–81.1%)	Didn't vote
Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) CES 2010	January 29, 2009 · official record	Did not vote	Most support (74.6% support, likely 70.7–78.5%)	Didn't vote
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (more time to sue over pay discrimination) CES 2009	January 22, 2009 · official record	Did not vote	Most support (65.8% support, likely 60.3–71.3%)	Didn't vote
The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) CES 2011	October 1, 2008 · official record	Did not vote	Most oppose (32.8% support, likely 25.2–40.5%)	Didn't vote
The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) CES 2010	October 1, 2008 · official record	Did not vote	Most oppose (30.6% support, likely 22.8–38.3%)	Didn't vote
The $700 billion bank bailout (Emergency Economic Stabilization Act) CES 2008	October 1, 2008 · official record	Did not vote	Most oppose (35.9% support, likely 30.9–40.9%)	Didn't vote
Federal help for homeowners facing foreclosure (Housing and Economic Recovery Act) CES 2008	July 26, 2008 · official record	Did not vote	Most support (57.7% support, likely 52.8–62.7%)	Didn't vote
Allow eavesdropping on overseas terrorist suspects without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) CES 2011	July 9, 2008 · official record	Did not vote	Most support (74.5% support, likely 69.3–79.8%)	Didn't vote
Allow eavesdropping on overseas communications without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) CES 2008	July 9, 2008 · official record	Did not vote	Most support (61.2% support, likely 56.6–65.8%)	Didn't vote
Extend NAFTA-style free trade to Peru (U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement) CES 2008	December 4, 2007 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (52.3% support, likely 47.1–57.6%)	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 (76.9% support, likely 72.8–81%)	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 (72.7% support, likely 67.4–78%)	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 (72.5% support, likely 68.5–76.4%)	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 (73.2% support, likely 68.9–77.4%)	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 (85.6% support, likely 82.4–88.9%)	With the majority

Attendance

In the 111th Congress, Edward Kennedy missed 261 of 270 Senate votes (96.7%). On votes where most of their party voted one way, they voted with their party 100% of the time.

Most recent votes

Vote	Date	Their vote
H.R. 3435: A bill making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program. On Passage of the Bill · Bill Passed	August 6, 2009	Did not vote
H.R. 3435: A bill making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Program. On the Motion · Motion Agreed to	August 6, 2009	Did not vote
H.R. 3435: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an income tax credit for certain home purchases, and to transfer to the Treasury unobligated funds made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in the amount of the reduction in revenue resulting from such credit. On the Motion · Motion Rejected	August 6, 2009	Did not vote
H.R. 3435: To provide for a date certain for termination of the Troubled Asset Relief Program. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	August 6, 2009	Did not vote
H.R. 3435: To provide assistance to charities and families in need. On the Motion · Motion Rejected	August 6, 2009	Did not vote
H.R. 3435: To protect the generations of tomorrow from paying for new cars today. On the Motion · Motion Rejected	August 6, 2009	Did not vote
H.R. 3435: In the nature of a substitute. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	August 6, 2009	Did not vote
H.R. 3435: To limit the provision of vouchers to individuals with adjusted gross incomes of less than $50,000 or joint filers with adjusted gross incomes of less than $75,000. On the Motion to Table · Motion to Table Agreed to	August 6, 2009	Did not vote
Sonia Sotomayor, of New York, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed	August 6, 2009	Did not vote
H.R. 2997: A bill making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. On Passage of the Bill · Bill Passed	August 4, 2009	Did not vote
H.R. 2997: To modify the amount made available for the Farm Service Agency. On the Motion · Motion Agreed to	August 4, 2009	Did not vote
H.R. 2997: A bill making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. On the Motion · Motion Rejected	August 4, 2009	Did not vote
H.R. 2997: To support the proposal of the President to eliminate funding in the bill for digital conversion efforts of the Department of Agriculture that are duplicative of existing Federal efforts. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	August 4, 2009	Did not vote
H.R. 2997: To strike a provision relating to certain watershed and flood prevention operations. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	August 4, 2009	Did not vote
H.R. 2997: To strike a setaside for certain grants authorized under the Rural Electrification Act. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	August 3, 2009	Did not vote

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.