John Ensign

Former senator for Nevada · Republican; served until May 3, 2011

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

Seats held: Senator for NV, 2001–2011 · Representative for NV-1, 1995–1999.

Nevada has about 3.3 million residents, represented by two senators.

Votes compared with what constituents said

Cooperative Election Study: voted with 5 of 18 surveyed votes where Nevada'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 (60.7% support, likely 53.7–67.7%)	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 (68.5% support, likely 63.4–73.7%)	With the majority
Confirm Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court CES 2010	August 5, 2010 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Too close to call (49.6% support, likely 44.5–54.8%)	Too close to call
Financial reform (Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) CES 2010	July 15, 2010 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (70.8% support, likely 66–75.7%)	Against the majority
Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) CES 2011	December 24, 2009 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Too close to call (49.1% support, likely 42.1–56.1%)	Too close to call
Affordable Care Act of 2010 CES 2012	December 24, 2009 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (60.5% support, likely 55–65.9%)	Against the majority
Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) CES 2010	December 24, 2009 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Too close to call (51.8% support, likely 46.5–57%)	Too close to call
Confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court CES 2009	August 6, 2009 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Too close to call (50.5% support, likely 43.7–57.3%)	Too close to call
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) CES 2009	February 13, 2009 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Too close to call (45.7% support, likely 39–52.5%)	Too close to call
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) CES 2011	February 13, 2009 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Too close to call (55% support, likely 48.1–62%)	Too close to call
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) CES 2010	February 13, 2009 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Too close to call (51% support, likely 45.8–56.1%)	Too close to call
Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) CES 2009	January 29, 2009 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (73.4% support, likely 67–79.9%)	Against the majority
Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) CES 2011	January 29, 2009 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (73.2% support, likely 64.9–81.6%)	Against the majority
Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) CES 2010	January 29, 2009 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (71.8% support, likely 67–76.6%)	Against the majority
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (more time to sue over pay discrimination) CES 2009	January 22, 2009 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (63.9% support, likely 57.3–70.6%)	Against the majority
The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) CES 2011	October 1, 2008 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most oppose (28.2% support, likely 20.2–36.2%)	Against the majority
The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) CES 2010	October 1, 2008 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most oppose (25.4% support, likely 17.5–33.3%)	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 (23.9% support, likely 19.2–28.6%)	Against the majority
Federal help for homeowners facing foreclosure (Housing and Economic Recovery Act) CES 2008	July 26, 2008 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Too close to call (49.4% support, likely 44–54.8%)	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 (73.1% support, likely 66.5–79.6%)	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 (68.8% support, likely 64–73.7%)	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 (46.5% support, likely 41–52.1%)	Related bill, not counted
Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) CES 2008	September 27, 2007 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (68.3% support, likely 63.3–73.2%)	Against the majority
Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) CES 2011	April 11, 2007 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (65.7% support, likely 58.9–72.5%)	Against the majority
Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) CES 2010	April 11, 2007 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (68.1% support, likely 63.3–73%)	Against the majority
Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) CES 2008	April 11, 2007 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (64.7% support, likely 59.5–69.8%)	Against 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 (80.1% support, likely 75.8–84.3%)	With the majority

Attendance

In the 112th Congress, John Ensign missed 6 of 63 Senate votes (9.5%). On votes where most of their party voted one way, they voted with their party 86% of the time.

Most recent votes

Vote	Date	Their vote
S.Res. 159: A resolution honoring the members of the military and intelligence community who carried out the mission that killed Osama bin Laden, and for other purposes. On the Resolution · Resolution Agreed to	May 3, 2011	Did not vote
Kevin Hunter Sharp, of Tennessee, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed	May 2, 2011	Did not vote
H.R. 1473: A bill making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes. On Passage of the Bill · Bill Passed	April 14, 2011	Nay
H.Con.Res. 36: A concurrent resolution directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 1473. On the Concurrent Resolution · Concurrent Resolution Rejected	April 14, 2011	Yea
H.Con.Res. 35: A concurrent resolution directing the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a correction in the enrollment of H.R. 1473. On the Concurrent Resolution · Concurrent Resolution Rejected	April 14, 2011	Yea
John A. Kronstadt, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed	April 12, 2011	Yea
S. 493: To save at least $5 billion by consolidating some duplicative and overlapping government programs. On the Amendment · Amendment Agreed to	April 6, 2011	Yea
S. 493: To provide for the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to submit recommended rescissions in accordance with the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 for Government programs and agencies with duplicative and overlapping missions. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	April 6, 2011	Nay
S. 493: To save at least $20 million annually by ending federal unemployment payments to jobless millionaires and billionaires. On the Amendment · Amendment Agreed to	April 6, 2011	Yea
S. 493: To prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from promulgating any regulation concerning, taking action relating to, or taking into consideration the emission of a greenhouse gas to address climate change. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	April 6, 2011	Yea
S. 493: To suspend, until the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, any Environmental Protection Agency action under the Clean Air Act with respect to carbon dioxide or methane pursuant to certain proceedings, other than with respect to motor vehicle emissions. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	April 6, 2011	Nay
S. 493: To suspend, for 2 years, any Environmental Protection Agency enforcement of greenhouse gas regulations, to exempt American agriculture from greenhouse gas regulations, and to increase the number of companies eligible to participate in the successful Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit Program. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	April 6, 2011	Nay
S. 493: To prohibit the regulation of greenhouse gases from certain sources. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	April 6, 2011	Nay
S. 493: A bill to reauthorize and improve the SBIR and STTR programs, and for other purposes. On the Motion to Table · Motion to Table Agreed to	April 5, 2011	Nay
H.R. 4: A bill to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements for payments of $600 or more to corporations, and for other purposes. On Passage of the Bill · Bill Passed	April 5, 2011	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.