Sheldon Whitehouse
Senator for Rhode Island · Democrat
View:InteractiveSummary Compare with another member · All members from Rhode Island
Seats held: Senator for RI, 2007–now.
Rhode Island has about 1.1 million residents, represented by two senators.
Votes compared with what constituents said
- Cooperative Election Study: voted with 49 of 55 surveyed votes where Rhode Island's estimated majority was clear.
- Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape: on these votes, Rhode Island'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 (74.7% support, likely 69.2–80.3%) | With the majority |
| Renew post-9/11 surveillance programs that allow searching electronic data without a warrant (FISA reauthorization) | April 19, 2024 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (38.4% support, likely 32.3–44.5%) | Against the majority |
| Recognize same-sex and interracial marriages (Respect for Marriage Act) | November 29, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (81.5% support, likely 75.9–87.1%) | 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 (66.9% support, likely 58.4–75.4%) | 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 (65.2% support, likely 58.6–71.8%) | 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 (63.2% support, likely 56.6–69.9%) | 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 (86.5% support, likely 78.6–94.4%) | With the majority |
| Prohibit government restrictions on access to abortion services (second wording) | May 11, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (63.4% support, likely 54.8–72.1%) | 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 (66.5% support, likely 57.8–75.2%) | 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 (64.2% support, likely 57.6–70.7%) | With the majority |
| Appoint Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court | April 7, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (58.7% support, likely 51.5–66%) | 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 (82% support, likely 73.7–90.3%) | 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 (84.3% support, likely 78.7–89.9%) | 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 (78.4% support, likely 71.4–85.4%) | 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 (63.1% support, likely 55.7–70.4%) | 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 (61.3% support, likely 54–68.7%) | 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 (59.8% support, likely 53.1–66.6%) | 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 (59.9% support, likely 52.4–67.4%) | With the majority |
| Impeach and convict President Trump (January 2021) | February 13, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (59% support, likely 46.4–71.6%) | Too close to call |
| CARES Act ($2 trillion in coronavirus relief, March 2020) | March 25, 2020 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (93.6% support, likely 89.4–97.8%) | 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 (46.7% support, likely 38.3–55.2%) | 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 (47.3% support, likely 38.8–55.8%) | Too close to call |
| Build a wall on the southern border | March 14, 2019 · official record | Yea (against the proposal) | Most oppose (39.7% support, likely 35.7–43.7%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court | October 6, 2018 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (46.6% support, likely 39.6–53.6%) | Too close to call |
| Confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court | October 6, 2018 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (50.1% support, likely 41.6–58.5%) | Too close to call |
| Appoint Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court | October 6, 2018 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (44.8% support, likely 36.1–53.4%) | Too close to call |
| Repeal only the Affordable Care Act's requirement that everyone have health insurance | December 20, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (44.5% support, likely 37.1–51.9%) | 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 (57.1% support, likely 49.4–64.7%) | 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 (72.8% support, likely 65.8–79.8%) | 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 (72.1% support, likely 65.1–79%) | 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 (79.3% support, likely 71.6–87%) | With the majority |
| Repeal the entire Affordable Care Act | July 26, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (39.3% support, likely 31.1–47.6%) | With the majority |
| Repeal the Affordable Care Act | July 26, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (45.2% support, likely 36.9–53.5%) | 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 (72.1% support, likely 64.1–80.1%) | With the majority |
| Appoint Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court | April 7, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (48.1% support, likely 40.7–55.5%) | Too close to call |
| Confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court | April 7, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (50.6% support, likely 42.2–58.9%) | Too close to call |
| Confirm Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education | February 7, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (46% support, likely 37.6–54.3%) | 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 (78.4% support, likely 72.4–84.3%) | With the majority |
| Repeal the Affordable Care Act | December 3, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (51.3% support, likely 44.3–58.4%) | Too close to call |
| Highway and transportation funding (FAST Act) | December 3, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (83.5% support, likely 78–89%) | With the majority |
| Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement | June 24, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (58.9% support, likely 52.4–65.4%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement | June 24, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (61.1% support, likely 52.8–69.4%) | Related bill, not counted |
| USA Freedom Act (end bulk collection of phone records) | June 2, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (70.7% support, likely 62.6–78.9%) | With the majority |
| USA Freedom Act (end bulk collection of phone records) | June 2, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (67.6% support, likely 58.8–76.3%) | 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 (70.5% support, likely 64.2–76.7%) | With the majority |
| Approve the Keystone XL pipeline | January 29, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (57.5% support, likely 49.1–65.9%) | Too close to call |
| Raise the debt ceiling | February 12, 2014 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (49.8% support, likely 42.7–57%) | Too close to call |
| Agriculture bill (farm programs and food stamps, 2014 Farm Bill) | February 4, 2014 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (62.4% support, likely 55.4–69.3%) | Against 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 (42.3% support, likely 34.2–50.5%) | Too close to call |
| Renew the Violence Against Women Act | February 12, 2013 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (88.7% support, likely 81.7–95.7%) | With the majority |
| Renew the Violence Against Women Act | February 12, 2013 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (88.9% support, likely 81.1–96.6%) | 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 (58.7% support, likely 52–65.4%) | 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 (45.6% support, likely 38.5–52.7%) | Too close to call |
| Ryan budget plan (House budget resolution for 2013) | May 16, 2012 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (20.3% support, likely 14.4–26.3%) | With the majority |
| Approve the Keystone XL pipeline | March 8, 2012 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (69.9% support, likely 63.3–76.6%) | 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 (31.6% support, likely 25.2–38%) | With the majority |
| U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement | October 12, 2011 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (50.4% support, likely 43.6–57.1%) | 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 (68.4% support, likely 60.8–76.1%) | 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 (79.9% support, likely 74–85.8%) | With the majority |
| Confirm Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court | August 5, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (53.6% support, likely 46.4–60.9%) | 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 (76.3% support, likely 69.8–82.8%) | With the majority |
| Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) | December 24, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (54.6% support, likely 46.5–62.6%) | Too close to call |
| Affordable Care Act of 2010 | December 24, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (62.5% support, likely 55.2–69.7%) | With the majority |
| Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) | December 24, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (56.1% support, likely 48.4–63.7%) | Too close to call |
| Confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court | August 6, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (54.6% support, likely 46.4–62.9%) | 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 (55.4% support, likely 47.1–63.6%) | Too close to call |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (62.9% support, likely 55.1–70.6%) | With the majority |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (57.5% support, likely 50.3–64.6%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | January 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (77.8% support, likely 70.1–85.5%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | January 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (76.5% support, likely 68–85.1%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | January 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (75.9% support, likely 69.2–82.5%) | 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 (67.7% support, likely 59.7–75.7%) | With the majority |
| The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) | October 1, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (28.1% support, likely 19.4–36.8%) | Against the majority |
| The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) | October 1, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (29.3% support, likely 20.5–38.2%) | Against the majority |
| The $700 billion bank bailout (Emergency Economic Stabilization Act) | October 1, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (33.3% support, likely 25.4–41.3%) | 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 (58.4% support, likely 50–66.9%) | With the majority |
| Allow eavesdropping on overseas terrorist suspects without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) | July 9, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (70.9% support, likely 63.1–78.7%) | With the majority |
| Allow eavesdropping on overseas communications without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) | July 9, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (61% support, likely 53.2–68.8%) | With 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 (49% support, likely 41–56.9%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) | September 27, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (76.9% support, likely 69.8–83.9%) | 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 (69.8% support, likely 62.1–77.4%) | 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 (70.6% support, likely 63.8–77.4%) | 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 (68.8% support, likely 60.7–77%) | 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 (85.2% support, likely 79–91.5%) | With the majority |
Attendance
In the 119th Congress, Sheldon Whitehouse missed 36 of 915 Senate votes (3.9%). On votes where most of their party voted one way, they voted with their party 94.6% of the time.