John P. Sarbanes
Former representative for Maryland's 3rd district · Democrat; served until January 3, 2025
View:InteractiveSummary Compare with another member · All members from Maryland
Seats held: Representative for MD-3, 2007–2025.
MD-3 has about 778,000 residents.
Votes compared with what constituents said
- Cooperative Election Study: voted with 58 of 67 surveyed votes where the district's estimated majority was clear.
- Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape: voted with 11 of 11 surveyed votes where the district's estimated majority was clear.
| Survey question | Vote | How they voted | What constituents said | Compared |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renew post-9/11 surveillance programs that allow searching electronic data without a warrant (FISA reauthorization) | April 12, 2024 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (35.3% support, likely 27.3–43.4%) | Against the majority |
| Ban TikTok unless China sells it to a U.S. company | March 13, 2024 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (54.9% support, likely 46.7–63.2%) | Too close to call |
| Deny asylum to immigrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally (Secure the Border Act) | May 11, 2023 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (55.9% support, likely 47.6–64.1%) | Too close to call |
| Clean-energy tax credits, lower ACA premiums and Medicare drug price negotiation (Inflation Reduction Act) | August 12, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (74.2% support, likely 66.8–81.6%) | With the majority |
| Limit gun magazines to 10 bullets | July 29, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (75% support, likely 70.8–79.1%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Ban assault rifles (Assault Weapons Ban of 2022) | July 29, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (77.2% support, likely 73.4–81.1%) | With the majority |
| $52 billion for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and research (CHIPS and Science Act) | July 28, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (66.3% support, likely 58.6–74%) | With the majority |
| Spend $2.2 trillion over ten years on prekindergarten, child care, college aid, housing and elder care (Build Back Better Act) | November 19, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (69.4% support, likely 61.8–76.9%) | With the majority |
| Spend $150 billion a year for 8 years on roads, bridges, transit, water systems and broadband (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) | November 5, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (81.9% support, likely 75–88.8%) | With the majority |
| Spend $150 billion a year for 8 years on roads, bridges, transit, water systems and broadband (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) | November 5, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (84.9% support, likely 77.2–92.7%) | With the majority |
| Prohibit government restrictions on access to abortion services (Women's Health Protection Act) | September 24, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (62.4% support, likely 54.6–70.2%) | With the majority |
| Require Justice Department approval of election-law changes in places with a history of discrimination (John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act) | August 24, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (80.4% support, likely 72.2–88.6%) | With the majority |
| Establish a commission to investigate the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol | May 19, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (69% support, likely 60.1–78%) | With the majority |
| Grant statehood and representation in Congress to Washington DC (Washington, D.C. Admission Act, 2021) | April 22, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (66.4% support, likely 53.8–79%) | With the majority |
| Require equal pay for women and men doing similar jobs (Paycheck Fairness Act) | April 15, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (92.9% support, likely 86.7–99.2%) | With the majority |
| Create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought here as children (American Dream and Promise Act, 2021) | March 18, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (84.1% support, likely 80.6–87.6%) | With the majority |
| Require background checks for all gun purchases (Bipartisan Background Checks Act, 2021) | March 11, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (93.9% support, likely 91.6–96.1%) | With the majority |
| Authorize up to $1.9 trillion in COVID relief (American Rescue Plan) | March 10, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (65.7% support, likely 58.1–73.4%) | With the majority |
| Authorize up to $1.9 trillion in COVID relief (American Rescue Plan) | March 10, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (72.8% support, likely 64.1–81.6%) | With the majority |
| Protect workers who strike and unions' organizing (PRO Act) | March 9, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (77.8% support, likely 69.4–86.3%) | With the majority |
| Increase accountability for police misconduct (George Floyd Justice in Policing Act) | March 3, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (84.8% support, likely 76.7–92.9%) | With the majority |
| Prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation (Equality Act) | February 25, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (78.4% support, likely 69.9–86.9%) | With the majority |
| Impeach and convict President Trump (January 2021) | January 13, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (64.9% support, likely 52.6–77.3%) | With the majority |
| Legalize marijuana (MORE Act) | December 4, 2020 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (70.6% support, likely 64.3–76.9%) | With the majority |
| Ban people from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States | July 22, 2020 · official record | Yea (against the proposal) | Most oppose (15.9% support, likely 10.4–21.4%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Grant statehood and representation in Congress to Washington DC (Washington, D.C. Admission Act) | June 26, 2020 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (66.4% support, likely 53.8–79%) | With the majority |
| Ban police officers from using chokeholds | June 25, 2020 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (76.8% support, likely 67.2–86.4%) | Related bill, not counted |
| HEROES Act ($3 trillion more in coronavirus relief, May 2020) | May 15, 2020 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (78.8% support, likely 71.3–86.4%) | With the majority |
| Allow people to work in unionized workplaces without paying union dues | February 6, 2020 · official record | Yea (against the proposal) | Most support (59.9% support, likely 52.8–66.9%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Impeach President Trump (December 2019) | December 18, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (60.2% support, likely 51.2–69.3%) | With the majority |
| Remove President Trump from office for obstruction of Congress | December 18, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (60.9% support, likely 52.9–69%) | With the majority |
| Remove President Trump from office for abuse of power | December 18, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (63.1% support, likely 55.1–71.1%) | With the majority |
| Raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour (Raise the Wage Act) | July 18, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (78.9% support, likely 73.2–84.6%) | With the majority |
| Raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour (Raise the Wage Act) | July 18, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (72% support, likely 64.2–79.8%) | With the majority |
| Raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour (Raise the Wage Act) | July 18, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (68% support, likely 58.4–77.7%) | With the majority |
| Create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought here as children (American Dream and Promise Act) | June 4, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (84.1% support, likely 80.6–87.6%) | With the majority |
| Give permanent resident status to immigrants brought to the U.S. as children (American Dream and Promise Act) | June 4, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (79.4% support, likely 72.1–86.7%) | With the majority |
| Give permanent resident status to immigrants brought to the U.S. as children (American Dream and Promise Act) | June 4, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (77.7% support, likely 68.6–86.9%) | With the majority |
| Prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (Equality Act) | May 17, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (80.2% support, likely 73–87.4%) | With the majority |
| Prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (Equality Act) | May 17, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (76.2% support, likely 67.1–85.4%) | With the majority |
| Cap carbon emissions to combat climate change | May 2, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (84.4% support, likely 80.7–88.1%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Allow transgender people to serve in the military | March 28, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (75.9% support, likely 69.6–82.1%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Require equal pay for women and men doing similar jobs (Paycheck Fairness Act) | March 27, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (88.3% support, likely 81.7–94.8%) | With the majority |
| Require equal pay for women and men doing similar jobs (Paycheck Fairness Act) | March 27, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (90.7% support, likely 83.2–98.2%) | With the majority |
| Require background checks for all gun purchases (Bipartisan Background Checks Act) | February 27, 2019 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (93.9% support, likely 91.6–96.1%) | With the majority |
| Build a wall on the southern border | February 26, 2019 · official record | Yea (against the proposal) | Most oppose (31.9% support, likely 27.7–36.1%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Repeal only the Affordable Care Act's requirement that everyone have health insurance | December 20, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (33.5% support, likely 25.8–41.2%) | Related bill, not counted |
| The 2017 tax bill (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) | December 20, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (46.7% support, likely 38.7–54.6%) | Too close to call |
| Impose sanctions on countries and firms doing business with North Korea | July 25, 2017 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (75.4% support, likely 68.1–82.7%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Require the President to get Congress's approval to ease sanctions on Russia | July 25, 2017 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (79.1% support, likely 72.1–86%) | With the majority |
| Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea) | July 25, 2017 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (86.9% support, likely 78.9–94.9%) | With the majority |
| No Sanctuary for Criminals Act (withhold grants from cities that limit cooperation with immigration enforcement) | June 29, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (53.6% support, likely 43.6–63.6%) | Too close to call |
| Kate's Law (longer prison terms for people who re-enter the U.S. illegally after deportation) | June 29, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (86.5% support, likely 78.4–94.6%) | Against the majority |
| Financial CHOICE Act (roll back the Dodd-Frank financial rules) | June 8, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (40.2% support, likely 30.4–49.9%) | With the majority |
| Partly repeal the Affordable Care Act (American Health Care Act) | May 4, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (36.3% support, likely 28.6–44.1%) | With the majority |
| American Health Care Act (partly repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act) | May 4, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (45.1% support, likely 35.2–54.9%) | Too close to call |
| Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 (government funding through September 2017) | May 3, 2017 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (76.7% support, likely 67.6–85.7%) | With the majority |
| Repeal the Affordable Care Act | January 6, 2016 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (50.1% support, likely 42.7–57.5%) | Too close to call |
| Highway and transportation funding (FAST Act) | December 3, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (86.4% support, likely 80.5–92.2%) | With the majority |
| Education reform (Every Student Succeeds Act, replacing No Child Left Behind) | December 2, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (84.2% support, likely 78.3–90.2%) | With the majority |
| Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement | June 18, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (59.8% support, likely 52.5–67%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement | June 18, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (63.6% support, likely 53.4–73.7%) | Related bill, not counted |
| USA Freedom Act (end bulk collection of phone records) | May 13, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (77.3% support, likely 67.3–87.2%) | With the majority |
| USA Freedom Act (end bulk collection of phone records) | May 13, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (56.8% support, likely 45.2–68.4%) | Too close to call |
| Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (change how Medicare pays doctors) | March 26, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (64.4% support, likely 57.2–71.7%) | With the majority |
| Approve the Keystone XL pipeline | February 11, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (51.5% support, likely 41.1–61.9%) | Too close to call |
| Repeal the Affordable Care Act | February 3, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (51.5% support, likely 41.1–61.8%) | Too close to call |
| Ryan budget plan (House budget resolution) | April 10, 2014 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (23.7% support, likely 16.4–30.9%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Raise the debt ceiling | February 11, 2014 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (55.5% support, likely 47.5–63.5%) | Too close to call |
| Agriculture bill (farm programs and food stamps, 2014 Farm Bill) | January 29, 2014 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (67.6% support, likely 59.9–75.3%) | Against the majority |
| Student Success Act (return control of K-12 school standards to states) | July 19, 2013 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (45.3% support, likely 35.5–55.2%) | Too close to call |
| Ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy (Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act) | June 18, 2013 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (60.5% support, likely 50.8–70.3%) | Against the majority |
| Repeal the Affordable Care Act | May 16, 2013 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (49.6% support, likely 39.6–59.5%) | Too close to call |
| Renew the Violence Against Women Act | February 28, 2013 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (87.3% support, likely 79.1–95.6%) | With the majority |
| Renew the Violence Against Women Act | February 28, 2013 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (95.2% support, likely 89–100%) | With the majority |
| Tax Hike Prevention Act (extend the Bush-era income tax cuts for all incomes) | August 1, 2012 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (19.2% support, likely 12.4–26%) | With the majority |
| Repeal the Affordable Care Act | July 11, 2012 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (31% support, likely 23.6–38.5%) | With the majority |
| Ryan budget plan (House budget resolution for 2013) | March 29, 2012 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (18.1% support, likely 11.2–24.9%) | With the majority |
| Simpson-Bowles budget plan | March 28, 2012 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (52% support, likely 44.2–59.8%) | Too close to call |
| U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement | October 12, 2011 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (54.7% support, likely 46.9–62.4%) | Too close to call |
| End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) | December 15, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (73.1% support, likely 64–82.3%) | With the majority |
| End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) | December 15, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (77.7% support, likely 70.8–84.7%) | With the majority |
| Financial reform (Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) | June 30, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (77.9% support, likely 70.5–85.3%) | With the majority |
| Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) | May 27, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (67.7% support, likely 59.8–75.6%) | With the majority |
| Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) | March 21, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (56.2% support, likely 46.5–66%) | Too close to call |
| Affordable Care Act of 2010 | March 21, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (72.9% support, likely 64.9–81%) | With the majority |
| Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) | March 21, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (57.1% support, likely 47.8–66.5%) | Too close to call |
| Health care reform (House bill, November 2009) | November 7, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (56% support, likely 45.2–66.8%) | Too close to call |
| American Clean Energy and Security Act (cap and trade) | June 26, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (68.7% support, likely 58.2–79.2%) | With the majority |
| American Clean Energy and Security Act (cap and trade) | June 26, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (65.1% support, likely 53.6–76.7%) | With the majority |
| American Clean Energy and Security Act (cap and trade) | June 26, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (65.6% support, likely 57.5–73.7%) | With the majority |
| Expand federal hate-crimes law to cover sexual orientation and gender identity | April 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (68.4% support, likely 58.8–78.1%) | With the majority |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (58.7% support, likely 47.4–70%) | Too close to call |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (55.5% support, likely 45.8–65.3%) | Too close to call |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (56.9% support, likely 48.1–65.8%) | Too close to call |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | February 4, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (81.8% support, likely 73–90.6%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | February 4, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (75.6% support, likely 64.9–86.3%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | February 4, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (78.2% support, likely 70.7–85.6%) | With the majority |
| Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (more time to sue over pay discrimination) | January 27, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (72.2% support, likely 62.7–81.7%) | With the majority |
| The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) | October 3, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (29.3% support, likely 17.4–41.2%) | Against the majority |
| The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) | October 3, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (30.7% support, likely 19–42.5%) | Against the majority |
| The $700 billion bank bailout (Emergency Economic Stabilization Act) | October 3, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (37.9% support, likely 29.6–46.3%) | Against the majority |
| Federal help for homeowners facing foreclosure (Housing and Economic Recovery Act) | July 23, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (58.3% support, likely 49.1–67.4%) | Too close to call |
| Allow eavesdropping on overseas terrorist suspects without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) | June 20, 2008 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (67.6% support, likely 58–77.2%) | Against the majority |
| Allow eavesdropping on overseas communications without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) | June 20, 2008 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (65% support, likely 56.4–73.5%) | Against the majority |
| Extend NAFTA-style free trade to Peru (U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement) | November 8, 2007 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (54.2% support, likely 45.3–63.1%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) | September 25, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (79.7% support, likely 72.4–87.1%) | With the majority |
| Withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq within 180 days (Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act) | July 12, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (68.2% support, likely 59–77.4%) | With the majority |
| Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) | June 7, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (67.4% support, likely 57.9–76.9%) | With the majority |
| Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) | June 7, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (70.5% support, likely 62.7–78.3%) | With the majority |
| Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) | June 7, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (74.9% support, likely 67.1–82.7%) | With the majority |
| Raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour (Fair Minimum Wage Act) | January 10, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (84.6% support, likely 77.8–91.3%) | With the majority |
Attendance
In the 118th Congress, John P. Sarbanes missed 39 of 1,241 House votes (3.1%). On votes where most of their party voted one way, they voted with their party 98.3% of the time.