Patrick J. Leahy
Former senator for Vermont · Democrat; served until January 3, 2023
View:InteractiveSummary Compare with another member · All members from Vermont
Seats held: Senator for VT, 1975–2023.
Vermont has about 645,000 residents, represented by two senators.
Votes compared with what constituents said
- Cooperative Election Study: voted with 47 of 54 surveyed votes where Vermont's estimated majority was clear.
- Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape: on these votes, Vermont's estimated opinion was too close to call.
| Survey question | Vote | How they voted | What constituents said | Compared |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recognize same-sex and interracial marriages (Respect for Marriage Act) | November 29, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (78.3% support, likely 70.8–85.8%) | 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 (63.9% support, likely 55.6–72.2%) | 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 (69.6% support, likely 62.4–76.8%) | With the majority |
| $52 billion for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and research (CHIPS and Science Act) | July 27, 2022 · official record | Did not vote | Most support (59% support, likely 51.4–66.7%) | Didn't vote |
| 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 (85.4% support, likely 77.8–93.1%) | With the majority |
| Prohibit government restrictions on access to abortion services (second wording) | May 11, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (64.8% support, likely 56.6–73%) | 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 (66.8% support, likely 58.4–75.1%) | 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 (61.3% support, likely 53.8–68.8%) | With the majority |
| Appoint Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court | April 7, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (57.7% support, likely 49.3–66.1%) | 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 (83% support, likely 75.4–90.7%) | 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 (87% support, likely 81–93%) | 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 (83.5% support, likely 76.6–90.3%) | 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) | Most support (68.6% support, likely 61–76.1%) | With the majority |
| Establish a commission to investigate the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol | May 28, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (63.4% support, likely 55.6–71.2%) | With the majority |
| Authorize up to $1.9 trillion in COVID relief (American Rescue Plan) | March 6, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (58.5% support, likely 50.9–66.1%) | With the majority |
| Authorize up to $1.9 trillion in COVID relief (American Rescue Plan) | March 6, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (63.5% support, likely 55.6–71.3%) | With the majority |
| Impeach and convict President Trump (January 2021) | February 13, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (59.6% support, likely 46.6–72.7%) | Too close to call |
| CARES Act ($2 trillion in coronavirus relief, March 2020) | March 25, 2020 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (90.1% support, likely 84.7–95.5%) | With the majority |
| Remove President Trump from office for obstruction of Congress | February 5, 2020 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (52.6% support, likely 43.6–61.6%) | Too close to call |
| Remove President Trump from office for abuse of power | February 5, 2020 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (52.9% support, likely 43.9–61.9%) | Too close to call |
| Build a wall on the southern border | March 14, 2019 · official record | Yea (against the proposal) | Most oppose (38.1% support, likely 33.2–43.1%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court | October 6, 2018 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (46.1% support, likely 38.8–53.4%) | Too close to call |
| Confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court | October 6, 2018 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (39.9% support, likely 31.6–48.2%) | With the majority |
| Appoint Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court | October 6, 2018 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (41.4% support, likely 33–49.9%) | With 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 (37.2% support, likely 30–44.4%) | 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 (56.2% support, likely 48.5–63.9%) | Too close to call |
| Impose sanctions on countries and firms doing business with North Korea | July 27, 2017 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (67.2% support, likely 59.8–74.5%) | 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 (74.5% support, likely 67.8–81.2%) | 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 (77.2% support, likely 69–85.3%) | With the majority |
| Repeal the entire Affordable Care Act | July 26, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (40.2% support, likely 32–48.5%) | With the majority |
| Repeal the Affordable Care Act | July 26, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (45.1% support, likely 36.7–53.6%) | 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 (69.3% support, likely 60.9–77.7%) | With the majority |
| Appoint Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court | April 7, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (50% support, likely 42.7–57.4%) | Too close to call |
| Confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court | April 7, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (49% support, likely 40.6–57.5%) | Too close to call |
| Confirm Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education | February 7, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (41.1% support, likely 32.7–49.4%) | With the majority |
| Education reform (Every Student Succeeds Act, replacing No Child Left Behind) | December 9, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (76.9% support, likely 70.3–83.5%) | With the majority |
| Repeal the Affordable Care Act | December 3, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (52.3% support, likely 44.6–60%) | Too close to call |
| Highway and transportation funding (FAST Act) | December 3, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (87.7% support, likely 82.3–93%) | With the majority |
| Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement | June 24, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (51.3% support, likely 44.2–58.4%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement | June 24, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (57.6% support, likely 49.1–66.2%) | Related bill, not counted |
| USA Freedom Act (end bulk collection of phone records) | June 2, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (74.5% support, likely 66.3–82.8%) | With the majority |
| USA Freedom Act (end bulk collection of phone records) | June 2, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (64.3% support, likely 55.3–73.3%) | 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 (68.6% support, likely 61.7–75.5%) | With the majority |
| Approve the Keystone XL pipeline | January 29, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (58.6% support, likely 50.1–67.2%) | Against the majority |
| Raise the debt ceiling | February 12, 2014 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (45.8% support, likely 38.8–52.9%) | Too close to call |
| Agriculture bill (farm programs and food stamps, 2014 Farm Bill) | February 4, 2014 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (61.2% support, likely 54.3–68.2%) | With the majority |
| Let states collect sales tax on online purchases from out-of-state sellers (Marketplace Fairness Act) | May 6, 2013 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (46.3% support, likely 37.9–54.7%) | Too close to call |
| Renew the Violence Against Women Act | February 12, 2013 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (86.7% support, likely 78.9–94.5%) | With the majority |
| Renew the Violence Against Women Act | February 12, 2013 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (93.9% support, likely 87.7–100%) | 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 (64% support, likely 56.5–71.5%) | 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 (44.6% support, likely 37.5–51.7%) | Too close to call |
| Ryan budget plan (House budget resolution for 2013) | May 16, 2012 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (18.5% support, likely 11.7–25.4%) | With the majority |
| Approve the Keystone XL pipeline | March 8, 2012 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (68.7% support, likely 60.9–76.6%) | Against 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 (36.3% support, likely 28.7–43.8%) | With the majority |
| U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement | October 12, 2011 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (54.2% support, likely 46.5–61.8%) | 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 (66.7% support, likely 58.7–74.7%) | 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 (74.3% support, likely 66.6–82%) | With the majority |
| Confirm Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court | August 5, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (53.7% support, likely 45.7–61.6%) | 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 (73.3% support, likely 65.6–80.9%) | With the majority |
| Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) | December 24, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (55.2% support, likely 46.9–63.5%) | Too close to call |
| Affordable Care Act of 2010 | December 24, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (66.4% support, likely 57.9–74.9%) | With the majority |
| Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) | December 24, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (56.9% support, likely 48.2–65.6%) | Too close to call |
| Confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court | August 6, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (53.2% support, likely 44.6–61.8%) | 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 (52.7% support, likely 44.1–61.3%) | Too close to call |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (62.1% support, likely 54.1–70.2%) | With the majority |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (53.7% support, likely 45.7–61.8%) | Too close to call |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | January 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (77.7% support, likely 69.5–85.9%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | January 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (77.9% support, likely 69.5–86.4%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | January 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (79.1% support, likely 71.9–86.3%) | 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 (68.2% support, likely 59.9–76.4%) | With the majority |
| The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) | October 1, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (27.7% support, likely 18.7–36.6%) | Against the majority |
| The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) | October 1, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (26.1% support, likely 17.2–35%) | Against the majority |
| The $700 billion bank bailout (Emergency Economic Stabilization Act) | October 1, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (24.6% support, likely 17.7–31.4%) | Against the majority |
| Federal help for homeowners facing foreclosure (Housing and Economic Recovery Act) | July 26, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (57.7% support, likely 50–65.4%) | With the majority |
| Allow eavesdropping on overseas terrorist suspects without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) | July 9, 2008 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (69.2% support, likely 61–77.5%) | 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 (59.9% support, likely 52.7–67%) | 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 (44.6% support, likely 37.2–52%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) | September 27, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (75.2% support, likely 68.7–81.7%) | 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 (64.8% support, likely 56.7–73%) | 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 (66.9% support, likely 59–74.8%) | 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 (68.2% support, likely 60.9–75.4%) | 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 (84.5% support, likely 78.9–90.1%) | With the majority |
Attendance
In the 117th Congress, Patrick J. Leahy missed 63 of 949 Senate votes (6.6%). On votes where most of their party voted one way, they voted with their party 99.5% of the time.