Herb Kohl

Former senator for Wisconsin · Democrat; served until January 3, 2013

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

Seats held: Senator for WI, 1989–2013.

Wisconsin has about 6 million residents, represented by two senators.

Votes compared with what constituents said

Cooperative Election Study: voted with 21 of 25 surveyed votes where Wisconsin'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
Middle Class Tax Cut Act (extend the Bush-era income tax cuts for incomes under $250,000) CES 2012	July 25, 2012 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (58.9% support, likely 55.1–62.6%)	With the majority
Middle Class Tax Cut Act (extend the Bush-era income tax cuts for incomes under $250,000) CES 2014	July 25, 2012 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (47.5% support, likely 43.7–51.3%)	Too close to call
Ryan budget plan (House budget resolution for 2013) CES 2012	May 16, 2012 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most oppose (20.7% support, likely 17.5–23.8%)	With the majority
Approve the Keystone XL pipeline CES 2012	March 8, 2012 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (74.7% support, likely 71.3–78.2%)	Against the majority
Let employers and insurers refuse to cover birth control for religious or moral reasons (Blunt amendment) CES 2012	March 1, 2012 · official record	Yea (against the proposal)	Most oppose (39.1% support, likely 35.5–42.8%)	With the majority
U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement CES 2012	October 12, 2011 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (50.3% support, likely 46.5–54.1%)	Too close to call
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 (67.6% support, likely 62.4–72.7%)	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 (74.2% support, likely 70.8–77.5%)	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 (50.8% support, likely 46.6–55%)	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 (73.9% support, likely 70.2–77.7%)	With the majority
Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) CES 2011	December 24, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (55.8% support, likely 50.4–61.3%)	With the majority
Affordable Care Act of 2010 CES 2012	December 24, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (60% support, likely 56.3–63.8%)	With the majority
Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) CES 2010	December 24, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (55.5% support, likely 51.3–59.7%)	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 (52.2% support, likely 46.8–57.5%)	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 (49.6% support, likely 44.3–54.9%)	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 (56.8% support, likely 51.4–62.2%)	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 (53.1% support, likely 48.9–57.2%)	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 (74.5% support, likely 69.7–79.3%)	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 (76.8% support, likely 70.1–83.6%)	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 (71.9% support, likely 68.1–75.7%)	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 (67% support, likely 62–72%)	With the majority
The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) CES 2011	October 1, 2008 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most oppose (31.9% support, likely 24.7–39.1%)	Against the majority
The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) CES 2010	October 1, 2008 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most oppose (23.4% support, likely 16.4–30.3%)	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 (26.8% support, likely 22.8–30.8%)	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)	Too close to call (50.1% support, likely 45.7–54.5%)	Too close to call
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 (79.3% support, likely 74.8–83.9%)	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 (64.1% support, likely 60.2–68.1%)	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)	Too close to call (48.6% support, likely 44–53.1%)	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 (71.8% support, likely 67.9–75.7%)	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 (66.2% support, likely 60.9–71.4%)	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 (67.6% support, likely 63.7–71.5%)	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 (64.9% support, likely 60.9–68.9%)	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 (79.8% support, likely 76.5–83.2%)	With the majority

Attendance

In the 112th Congress, Herb Kohl missed 17 of 486 Senate votes (3.5%). On votes where most of their party voted one way, they voted with their party 94.2% of the time.

Most recent votes

Vote	Date	Their vote
H.R. 8: An act entitled the "American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012". On Passage of the Bill · Bill Passed	January 1, 2013	Yea
Carol J. Galante, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed	December 30, 2012	Yea
William Joseph Baer, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney General On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed	December 30, 2012	Yea
H.R. 1: An act making appropriations for disaster relief for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes. On Passage of the Bill · Bill Passed	December 28, 2012	Yea
H.R. 1: In the nature of a substitute. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 28, 2012	Nay
H.R. 1: To extend certain supplemental agriculture disaster assistance programs. On the Motion · Motion Rejected	December 28, 2012	Yea
H.R. 1: To strike funding for the emergency forest restoration program. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 28, 2012	Nay
H.R. 1: To offset the cost of the bill and to put the spending on budget as regular spending and not emergency. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 28, 2012	Nay
H.R. 1: To provide for the nonapplication of the Davis-Bacon Act in the case of projects funded under this Act. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 28, 2012	Nay
H.R. 1: To require merit-based and competitive awards of disaster recovery contracts. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 28, 2012	Yea
H.R. 1: To ensure that Federal disaster assistance is available for the most severe disasters, and for other purposes. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 28, 2012	Yea
H.R. 1: To ensure funding for victims of Hurricane Sandy is not spent on tax cheats, deceased individuals, or fisheries outside of the affected area. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 28, 2012	Nay
H.R. 1: To clarify cost-sharing requirements for certain Corps of Engineers activities. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 28, 2012	Nay
H.R. 1: To provide additional funds for wildland fire management. On the Motion · Motion Rejected	December 28, 2012	Yea
H.R. 1: To provide for the approval of an agreement between the United States and the Republic of Palau in response to Super Typhoon Bopha. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	December 28, 2012	Yea

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.