John F. Kerry

Former senator for Massachusetts · Democrat; served until February 1, 2013

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

Seats held: Senator for MA, 1985–2013.

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

Votes compared with what constituents said

Cooperative Election Study: voted with 25 of 31 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
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 (65.7% support, likely 62.3–69.1%)	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 (48.8% support, likely 45.1–52.5%)	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 (17.7% support, likely 14.9–20.5%)	With the majority
Approve the Keystone XL pipeline CES 2012	March 8, 2012 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (71.9% support, likely 68.5–75.3%)	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 (29.8% support, likely 26.5–33.1%)	With the majority
U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement CES 2012	October 12, 2011 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (56.8% support, likely 53.3–60.3%)	With the majority
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 (71.6% support, likely 66.2–76.9%)	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 (81.3% support, likely 78.5–84.2%)	With the majority
Confirm Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court CES 2010	August 5, 2010 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (55.1% support, likely 50.8–59.5%)	With the majority
Financial reform (Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) CES 2010	July 15, 2010 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (76.3% support, likely 72.5–80.1%)	With the majority
Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) CES 2011	December 24, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (56.9% support, likely 51.1–62.7%)	With the majority
Affordable Care Act of 2010 CES 2012	December 24, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (70.5% support, likely 67.2–73.8%)	With the majority
Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) CES 2010	December 24, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (57.1% support, likely 52.7–61.5%)	With the majority
Confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court CES 2009	August 6, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (56.5% support, likely 50.8–62.2%)	With the majority
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) CES 2009	February 13, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (59.9% support, likely 54.3–65.5%)	With the majority
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) CES 2011	February 13, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (61.5% support, likely 55.8–67.2%)	With the majority
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) CES 2010	February 13, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (56.3% support, likely 51.9–60.6%)	With the majority
Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) CES 2009	January 29, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (77.3% support, likely 72.3–82.3%)	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 (74% support, likely 66.9–81.1%)	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 (74.6% support, likely 70.7–78.5%)	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 (65.8% support, likely 60.3–71.3%)	With the majority
The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) CES 2011	October 1, 2008 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most oppose (32.8% support, likely 25.2–40.5%)	Against the majority
The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) CES 2010	October 1, 2008 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most oppose (30.6% support, likely 22.8–38.3%)	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 (35.9% support, likely 30.9–40.9%)	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 (57.7% support, likely 52.8–62.7%)	With the majority
Allow eavesdropping on overseas terrorist suspects without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) CES 2011	July 9, 2008 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (74.5% support, likely 69.3–79.8%)	Against the majority
Allow eavesdropping on overseas communications without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) CES 2008	July 9, 2008 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (61.2% support, likely 56.6–65.8%)	Against 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 (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 113th Congress, John F. Kerry missed 6 of 11 Senate votes (54.5%). 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. 325: A bill to ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes. On Passage of the Bill · Bill Passed	January 31, 2013	Did not vote
H.R. 325: A bill to ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes. On the Motion to Table · Motion to Table Agreed to	January 31, 2013	Did not vote
H.R. 325: To prohibit the sale, lease, transfer, retransfer, or delivery of F-16 aircraft, M1 tanks, or certain other defense articles or services to the Government of Egypt. On the Motion to Table · Motion to Table Agreed to	January 31, 2013	Did not vote
H.R. 325: To protect Social Security benefits and military pay and require that the United States Government prioritize all obligations on the debt held by the public in the event that the debt limit is reached. On the Motion to Table · Motion to Table Agreed to	January 31, 2013	Did not vote
H.R. 325: To amend title 31, United States Code, to provide for automatic continuing resolutions. On the Motion to Table · Motion to Table Agreed to	January 31, 2013	Did not vote
H.R. 325: To require that any debt limit increase be balanced by equal spending cuts over the next decade. On the Motion to Table · Motion to Table Agreed to	January 31, 2013	Did not vote
John Forbes Kerry, of Massachusetts, to be Secretary of State On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed	January 29, 2013	Present
H.R. 152: A bill making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes. On Passage of the Bill · Bill Passed	January 28, 2013	Yea
H.R. 152: To offset the cost of the bill with rescissions and discretionary cap reductions. On the Amendment · Amendment Rejected	January 28, 2013	Nay
S.Res. 16: A resolution amending the Standing Rules of the Senate. On the Resolution · Resolution Agreed to	January 24, 2013	Yea
S.Res. 15: A resolution to improve procedures for the consideration of legislation and nominations in the Senate. On the Resolution · Resolution Agreed to	January 24, 2013	Yea
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	Did not vote
William Joseph Baer, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney General On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed	December 30, 2012	Did not vote
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

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.