06:16 PM, Friday, July 03, 2009

CQ Vote Studies for the 110th Congress

Congressional Quarterly has analyzed the roll call voting patterns of members of Congress since 1953. The three principal studies involve:

  • The frequency with which lawmakers vote with the president when he clearly indicates his preferences (Presidential Support).
  • The frequency with which they vote with their party, on occasions when a majority of Republicans oppose a majority of Democrats (Party Unity).
  • And the frequency with which they show up and cast "yea" or "nay" votes (Voting Participation).

This searchable and sortable table shows the final 2008 Party Unity, Presidential Support and Voting Participation scores for individual lawmakers who served in the 110th Congress.

Several lawmakers did not participate in at least half of the votes in 2008, so their scores may not fairly represent their positions. They are: Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Barack Obama, D-Ill.; and Reps. Donna Edwards, D-Md.; Marcia L. Fudge, D-Ohio; Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; Bobby L. Rush, D-Ill.; and Albert R. Wynn, D-Md.

Footnotes:

Senate:

  • Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., resigned effective Nov. 16, 2008. The last vote for which Obama was eligible was vote 213.

House:

  • The Speaker votes only at her discretion.
  • Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., was sworn in April 10, 2008, to fill the seat vacated by the death of Democrat Tom Lantos on Feb. 11. The first vote for which Speier was eligible was vote 179. Lantos did not participate in any votes in 2008.
  • Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., was sworn in March 11, 2008. The first vote for which he was eligible was vote 116.
  • Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., was sworn in March 13, 2008, to fill the seat vacated by the death of Democrat Julia Carson on Dec. 15, 2007. The first vote for which he was eligible was vote 140.
  • Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., was sworn in May 7, 2008 to fill the seat vacated by Republican Bobby Jindal, who resigned Jan. 14 to become governor. The first vote for which Scalise was eligible was vote 268; Jindal was not eligible for any votes in 2008.
  • Rep. Don Cazayoux, D-La., was sworn in May 6, 2008, to fill the seat vacated by Republican Richard H. Baker, who resigned Feb. 2. The first vote for which Cazayoux was eligible was vote 247; the last vote for which Baker was eligible was vote 28. Baker did not participate in any presidential support or party unity votes in 2008.
  • Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md., was sworn in June 19, 2008, to replace Democrat Albert R. Wynn, who resigned effective May 31, 2008. The first vote for which Edwards was eligible was vote 427. The last vote for which Wynn was eligible was vote 366.
  • Rep. Travis W. Childers, D-Miss., was sworn in May 20, 2008. The first vote for which he was eligible was vote 332.
  • Rep. Marcia L. Fudge, D-Ohio, was sworn in Nov. 19, 2008, to replace Democrat Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who died Aug. 20, 2008. The first vote for which Fudge was eligible was vote 684. The last vote for which Tubbs Jones was eligible was vote 566.
  • Rep. Thomas M. Davis III, R-Va., resigned Nov. 24, 2008. The last vote for which he was eligible was 683.

More Interactive Analysis