Jon Tester
Former senator for Montana · Democrat; served until January 3, 2025
View:InteractiveSummary Compare with another member · All members from Montana
Seats held: Senator for MT, 2007–2025.
Montana has about 1.1 million residents, represented by two senators.
Votes compared with what constituents said
- Cooperative Election Study: voted with 45 of 53 surveyed votes where Montana's estimated majority was clear.
- Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape: on these votes, Montana's estimated opinion was too close to call.
| Survey question | Vote | How they voted | What constituents said | Compared |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibit government restrictions on access to contraceptives (Right to Contraception Act) | June 5, 2024 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (75.5% support, likely 69.9–81.1%) | With the majority |
| Renew post-9/11 surveillance programs that allow searching electronic data without a warrant (FISA reauthorization) | April 19, 2024 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (29.6% support, likely 23.7–35.4%) | With the majority |
| Recognize same-sex and interracial marriages (Respect for Marriage Act) | November 29, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (62% support, likely 54.8–69.2%) | With the majority |
| Require all federal agencies to recognize same-sex marriages (Respect for Marriage Act) | November 29, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (61% support, likely 53.5–68.5%) | With the majority |
| Clean-energy tax credits, lower ACA premiums and Medicare drug price negotiation (Inflation Reduction Act) | August 7, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (61.3% support, likely 54.5–68.2%) | With the majority |
| $52 billion for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and research (CHIPS and Science Act) | July 27, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (63.7% support, likely 57–70.4%) | With the majority |
| Increase spending on mental health and school safety, and tighten gun background checks for buyers under 21 (Bipartisan Safer Communities Act) | June 23, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (79.2% support, likely 71.9–86.6%) | With the majority |
| Prohibit government restrictions on access to abortion services (second wording) | May 11, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (60.9% support, likely 53.4–68.4%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Prohibit government restrictions on access to abortion services (Women's Health Protection Act) | May 11, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (66% support, likely 58.6–73.4%) | With the majority |
| Prohibit government restrictions on access to abortion services (Women's Health Protection Act) | May 11, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (59.6% support, likely 52.8–66.4%) | With the majority |
| Appoint Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court | April 7, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (47.7% support, likely 40.2–55.2%) | Too close to call |
| Spend $150 billion a year for 8 years on roads, bridges, transit, water systems and broadband (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) | August 10, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (78.9% support, likely 71.8–85.9%) | With the majority |
| Spend $150 billion a year for 8 years on roads, bridges, transit, water systems and broadband (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) | August 10, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (84.9% support, likely 79.4–90.5%) | With the majority |
| Spend $150 billion a year for 8 years on roads, bridges, transit, water systems and broadband (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) | August 10, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (78.7% support, likely 71.9–85.6%) | With the majority |
| Increase federal spending on high-tech research and development (U.S. Innovation and Competition Act) | June 8, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (52.8% support, likely 45.3–60.3%) | Too close to call |
| Establish a commission to investigate the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol | May 28, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (51.8% support, likely 44.3–59.3%) | Too close to call |
| Authorize up to $1.9 trillion in COVID relief (American Rescue Plan) | March 6, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (52.9% support, likely 45.9–59.8%) | Too close to call |
| Authorize up to $1.9 trillion in COVID relief (American Rescue Plan) | March 6, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (50.2% support, likely 42.6–57.7%) | Too close to call |
| Impeach and convict President Trump (January 2021) | February 13, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (54.8% support, likely 42.5–67%) | Too close to call |
| CARES Act ($2 trillion in coronavirus relief, March 2020) | March 25, 2020 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (81.8% support, likely 75.6–87.9%) | With the majority |
| Remove President Trump from office for obstruction of Congress | February 5, 2020 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (38.4% support, likely 30.6–46.1%) | Against the majority |
| Remove President Trump from office for abuse of power | February 5, 2020 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (39.3% support, likely 31.5–47.1%) | Against the majority |
| Build a wall on the southern border | March 14, 2019 · official record | Yea (against the proposal) | Too close to call (51.1% support, likely 47.2–55.1%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court | October 6, 2018 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (55.1% support, likely 48.5–61.8%) | Too close to call |
| Confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court | October 6, 2018 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (48.1% support, likely 40.5–55.7%) | Too close to call |
| Appoint Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court | October 6, 2018 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (57.4% support, likely 50.1–64.7%) | Against the majority |
| Repeal only the Affordable Care Act's requirement that everyone have health insurance | December 20, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (42.7% support, likely 36.2–49.2%) | Related bill, not counted |
| The 2017 tax bill (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) | December 20, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (62.5% support, likely 55.9–69.1%) | Against the majority |
| Impose sanctions on countries and firms doing business with North Korea | July 27, 2017 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (78.5% support, likely 72.9–84.2%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Require the President to get Congress's approval to ease sanctions on Russia | July 27, 2017 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (64.1% support, likely 57.6–70.6%) | With the majority |
| Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea) | July 27, 2017 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (73.2% support, likely 64.6–81.8%) | With the majority |
| Repeal the entire Affordable Care Act | July 26, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (48.8% support, likely 41.5–56%) | Too close to call |
| Repeal the Affordable Care Act | July 26, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (51% support, likely 42.5–59.4%) | Too close to call |
| Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 (government funding through September 2017) | May 4, 2017 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (66.5% support, likely 58–75%) | With the majority |
| Appoint Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court | April 7, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (56% support, likely 49.5–62.5%) | Too close to call |
| Confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court | April 7, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (56.3% support, likely 47.9–64.7%) | Too close to call |
| Confirm Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education | February 7, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (44.7% support, likely 36.3–53.1%) | Too close to call |
| Education reform (Every Student Succeeds Act, replacing No Child Left Behind) | December 9, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (82.2% support, likely 76.6–87.9%) | With the majority |
| Repeal the Affordable Care Act | December 3, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (63% support, likely 56.1–70%) | Against the majority |
| Highway and transportation funding (FAST Act) | December 3, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (77.5% support, likely 71.2–83.8%) | With the majority |
| Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement | June 24, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (50.1% support, likely 43.4–56.9%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement | June 24, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (56.6% support, likely 48.2–64.9%) | Related bill, not counted |
| USA Freedom Act (end bulk collection of phone records) | June 2, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (75.4% support, likely 68–82.9%) | With the majority |
| USA Freedom Act (end bulk collection of phone records) | June 2, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (66.6% support, likely 57.7–75.4%) | With the majority |
| Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (change how Medicare pays doctors) | April 14, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (68.5% support, likely 62.1–75%) | With the majority |
| Approve the Keystone XL pipeline | January 29, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (59.3% support, likely 51.1–67.6%) | With the majority |
| Raise the debt ceiling | February 12, 2014 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (39.4% support, likely 32.5–46.3%) | Against the majority |
| Agriculture bill (farm programs and food stamps, 2014 Farm Bill) | February 4, 2014 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (58.7% support, likely 52–65.4%) | With the majority |
| Let states collect sales tax on online purchases from out-of-state sellers (Marketplace Fairness Act) | May 6, 2013 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (38.7% support, likely 30.6–46.9%) | With the majority |
| Renew the Violence Against Women Act | February 12, 2013 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (90.5% support, likely 83.7–97.2%) | With the majority |
| Renew the Violence Against Women Act | February 12, 2013 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (94.2% support, likely 88.6–99.9%) | With the majority |
| Middle Class Tax Cut Act (extend the Bush-era income tax cuts for incomes under $250,000) | July 25, 2012 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (60.6% support, likely 54.1–67.1%) | With the majority |
| Middle Class Tax Cut Act (extend the Bush-era income tax cuts for incomes under $250,000) | July 25, 2012 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (49.5% support, likely 42.4–56.6%) | Too close to call |
| Ryan budget plan (House budget resolution for 2013) | May 16, 2012 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (17.9% support, likely 12.4–23.5%) | With the majority |
| Approve the Keystone XL pipeline | March 8, 2012 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (81% support, likely 75.4–86.6%) | With the majority |
| Let employers and insurers refuse to cover birth control for religious or moral reasons (Blunt amendment) | March 1, 2012 · official record | Yea (against the proposal) | Most oppose (35.5% support, likely 29.2–41.9%) | With the majority |
| U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement | October 12, 2011 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (54.3% support, likely 47.8–60.8%) | Too close to call |
| End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) | December 18, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (62.5% support, likely 54.3–70.8%) | With the majority |
| End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) | December 18, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (68.8% support, likely 62.1–75.5%) | With the majority |
| Confirm Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court | August 5, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (46.9% support, likely 38.7–55.1%) | Too close to call |
| Financial reform (Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) | July 15, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (69.1% support, likely 61.1–77.2%) | With the majority |
| Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) | December 24, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (48.9% support, likely 40.5–57.3%) | Too close to call |
| Affordable Care Act of 2010 | December 24, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (52.1% support, likely 44.8–59.3%) | Too close to call |
| Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) | December 24, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (47.7% support, likely 38.8–56.6%) | Too close to call |
| Confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court | August 6, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (49.3% support, likely 41–57.6%) | 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 (45.6% support, likely 37.3–53.8%) | 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 (57% support, likely 48.7–65.3%) | 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 (50.6% support, likely 42.4–58.8%) | Too close to call |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | January 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (71.1% support, likely 62.7–79.5%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | January 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (75.5% support, likely 66.7–84.3%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | January 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (72.4% support, likely 64.4–80.4%) | With the majority |
| Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (more time to sue over pay discrimination) | January 22, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (60.4% support, likely 52–68.7%) | With the majority |
| The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) | October 1, 2008 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (28.4% support, likely 19.4–37.3%) | With the majority |
| The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) | October 1, 2008 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (27.1% support, likely 17.8–36.3%) | With the majority |
| The $700 billion bank bailout (Emergency Economic Stabilization Act) | October 1, 2008 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (25.6% support, likely 19.2–31.9%) | With the majority |
| Federal help for homeowners facing foreclosure (Housing and Economic Recovery Act) | July 26, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (47% support, likely 39.8–54.2%) | Too close to call |
| Allow eavesdropping on overseas terrorist suspects without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) | July 9, 2008 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (70.5% support, likely 62.3–78.7%) | Against the majority |
| Allow eavesdropping on overseas communications without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) | July 9, 2008 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (66.5% support, likely 60.1–73%) | Against the majority |
| Extend NAFTA-style free trade to Peru (U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement) | December 4, 2007 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (47.7% support, likely 40.7–54.8%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) | September 27, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (69.2% support, likely 62.5–75.9%) | With the majority |
| Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) | April 11, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (64.6% support, likely 56.4–72.9%) | With the majority |
| Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) | April 11, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (64.9% support, likely 56.8–73.1%) | With the majority |
| Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) | April 11, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (62.4% support, likely 55.3–69.6%) | With the majority |
| Raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour (Fair Minimum Wage Act) | February 1, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (75.9% support, likely 69.8–82.1%) | With the majority |
Attendance
In the 118th Congress, Jon Tester missed 24 of 691 Senate votes (3.5%). On votes where most of their party voted one way, they voted with their party 94.6% of the time.