Tom Harkin

Former senator for Iowa · Democrat; served until January 3, 2015

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

Seats held: Senator for IA, 1985–2015 · Representative for IA-5, 1975–1985.

Iowa has about 3.2 million residents, represented by two senators.

Votes compared with what constituents said

Cooperative Election Study: voted with 20 of 27 surveyed votes where Iowa'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
Raise the debt ceiling CES 2014	February 12, 2014 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most oppose (42.1% support, likely 37.1–47.1%)	Against the majority
Agriculture bill (farm programs and food stamps, 2014 Farm Bill) CES 2014	February 4, 2014 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (61.1% support, likely 56.1–66.1%)	With the majority
Let states collect sales tax on online purchases from out-of-state sellers (Marketplace Fairness Act) CES 2013	May 6, 2013 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (44.9% support, likely 38.2–51.5%)	Too close to call
Renew the Violence Against Women Act CES 2013	February 12, 2013 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (92.6% support, likely 88.5–96.8%)	With the majority
Renew the Violence Against Women Act CES 2015	February 12, 2013 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (93.5% support, likely 89.5–97.4%)	With the majority
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 (61.5% support, likely 56.8–66.2%)	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 (49.5% support, likely 44.4–54.5%)	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 (19.1% support, likely 15.2–23%)	With the majority
Approve the Keystone XL pipeline CES 2012	March 8, 2012 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Most support (77.4% support, likely 73.3–81.6%)	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 (37% support, likely 32.4–41.6%)	With the majority
U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement CES 2012	October 12, 2011 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Too close to call (52.2% support, likely 47.4–57%)	Too close to call
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 (63.6% support, likely 57.2–70%)	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 (71.9% support, likely 67.5–76.4%)	With the majority
Confirm Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court CES 2010	August 5, 2010 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (47% support, likely 41.9–52.1%)	Too close to call
Financial reform (Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) CES 2010	July 15, 2010 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (71.4% support, likely 66.7–76.1%)	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 50.3–63.4%)	With the majority
Affordable Care Act of 2010 CES 2012	December 24, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (59.5% support, likely 54.6–64.4%)	With the majority
Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) CES 2010	December 24, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (47.6% support, likely 42.4–52.8%)	Too close to call
Confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court CES 2009	August 6, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (48.9% support, likely 42.1–55.7%)	Too close to call
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) CES 2009	February 13, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (47% support, likely 40.2–53.9%)	Too close to call
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) CES 2011	February 13, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (54.3% support, likely 47.7–60.8%)	Too close to call
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) CES 2010	February 13, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Too close to call (46.5% support, likely 41.5–51.6%)	Too close to call
Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) CES 2009	January 29, 2009 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most support (75.8% support, likely 69.5–82.1%)	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 (75.8% support, likely 68.2–83.5%)	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 (73.7% support, likely 69.1–78.3%)	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 (63.4% support, likely 56.7–70.1%)	With the majority
The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) CES 2011	October 1, 2008 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most oppose (26.5% support, likely 19–34.1%)	Against the majority
The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) CES 2010	October 1, 2008 · official record	Yea (for the proposal)	Most oppose (25% support, likely 17.3–32.7%)	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 (24.3% support, likely 19.6–29%)	Against the majority
Federal help for homeowners facing foreclosure (Housing and Economic Recovery Act) CES 2008	July 26, 2008 · official record	Did not vote	Too close to call (45.6% support, likely 40.3–51%)	Didn't vote
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 (74.3% support, likely 68.3–80.2%)	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 (68.5% support, likely 63.6–73.4%)	Against the majority
Extend NAFTA-style free trade to Peru (U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement) CES 2008	December 4, 2007 · official record	Nay (against the proposal)	Too close to call (46.9% support, likely 41.2–52.6%)	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 (71.8% support, likely 67.2–76.4%)	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 (69.6% support, likely 63.4–75.7%)	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 (59.8% support, likely 54.7–64.8%)	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 (62% support, likely 56.8–67.2%)	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 (81.8% support, likely 77.8–85.7%)	With the majority

Attendance

In the 113th Congress, Tom Harkin missed 29 of 657 Senate votes (4.4%). On votes where most of their party voted one way, they voted with their party 98.7% of the time.

Most recent votes

Vote	Date	Their vote
Stephen R. Bough, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed	December 16, 2014	Yea
Stephen R. Bough, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri On the Cloture Motion · Cloture Motion Agreed to	December 16, 2014	Yea
H.R. 5771: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions and make technical corrections, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the tax treatment of ABLE accounts established under State programs for the care of family members with disabilities, and for other purposes. On Passage of the Bill · Bill Passed	December 16, 2014	Yea
Colette Dodson Honorable, of Arkansas, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2017 On the Cloture Motion · Cloture Motion Agreed to	December 16, 2014	Yea
Antony Blinken, of New York, to be Deputy Secretary of State On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed	December 16, 2014	Yea
Antony Blinken, of New York, to be Deputy Secretary of State On the Cloture Motion · Cloture Motion Agreed to	December 16, 2014	Yea
Sarah R. Saldana, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed	December 16, 2014	Yea
Sarah R. Saldana, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security On the Cloture Motion · Cloture Motion Agreed to	December 16, 2014	Yea
Frank A. Rose, of Massachusetts, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Verification and Compliance) On the Cloture Motion · Cloture Motion Agreed to	December 15, 2014	Yea
Daniel J. Santos, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board for a term expiring October 18, 2017 On the Cloture Motion · Cloture Motion Agreed to	December 15, 2014	Yea
Vivek Hallegere Murthy, of Massachusetts, to be Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service, subject to qualifications therefor as provided by law and regulations, and to be Surgeon General of the Public Health Service for a term of four years On the Nomination · Nomination Confirmed	December 15, 2014	Yea
Vivek Hallegere Murthy, of Massachusetts, to be Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service, subject to qualifications therefor as provided by law and regulations, and to be Surgeon General of the Public Health Service for a term of four years On the Cloture Motion · Cloture Motion Agreed to	December 15, 2014	Yea
H.R. 83: To require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team of technical, policy, and financial experts to address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and the Freely Associated States through the development of energy action plans aimed at promoting access to affordable, reliable energy, including increasing use of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for other purposes. On the Motion · Motion Agreed to	December 13, 2014	Nay
H.R. 83: To require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team of technical, policy, and financial experts to address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and the Freely Associated States through the development of energy action plans aimed at promoting access to affordable, reliable energy, including increasing use of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for other purposes. On the Point of Order · Point of Order Not Well Taken	December 13, 2014	Nay
H.R. 83: To require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team of technical, policy, and financial experts to address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and the Freely Associated States through the development of energy action plans aimed at promoting access to affordable, reliable energy, including increasing use of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for other purposes. On the Cloture Motion · Cloture Motion Agreed to	December 13, 2014	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.