Key Votes
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About the Selection and Descriptions of Key Votes
Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
- The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
- The vote should be clear for any person to understand
- The vote has received media attention
- The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
- Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
results per page:
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 24, 2025 | National | PN 12-36 | Nomination of John Phelan to be Secretary of the Navy | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (62 - 30) |
| March 19, 2025 | AK | SSCR 1 | Repeals Executive Order for the Establishment of Agricultural Department | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (14 - 6) |
| March 14, 2025 | National | PN 12-16 | Nomination of Stephen Feinberg to be Deputy Secretary of Defense | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 40) |
| March 14, 2025 | National | PN 12-16 | Nomination of Stephen Feinberg to be Deputy Secretary of Defense | Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 39) |
| March 14, 2025 | National | PN 12-25 | Nomination of Christopher Landau to be Deputy Secretary of State | Cloture Invoked - Senate (63 - 32) |
| March 14, 2025 | National | PN 12-36 | Nomination of John Phelan to be Secretary of the Navy | Cloture Invoked - Senate (64 - 33) |
| March 13, 2025 | National | PN 22-12 | Nomination of Jeffrey Kessler to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 45) |
| March 13, 2025 | National | PN 13-12 | Nomination of William Pulte to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| March 13, 2025 | NM | HJR 2 | Repeals the Governor's Ability to Pocket Veto | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (38 - 0) |
| March 13, 2025 | National | PN 22-12 | Nomination of Jeffrey Kessler to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security | Cloture Invoked - Senate (54 - 45) |
| March 13, 2025 | National | PN 13-12 | Nomination of William Pulte to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency | Cloture Invoked - Senate (57 - 41) |
| March 12, 2025 | National | PN 12-42 | Nomination of Keith Sonderling to be Deputy Secretary of Labor | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 46) |
| March 12, 2025 | National | PN 19 | Nomination of Stephen Miran to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 46) |
| March 12, 2025 | National | PN 12-42 | Nomination of Keith Sonderling to be Deputy Secretary of Labor | Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 45) |
| March 12, 2025 | National | PN 19 | Nomination of Stephen Miran to be Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers | Cloture Invoked - Senate |
| March 11, 2025 | National | PN 13-2 | Nomination of Steven Bradbury to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 46) |
| March 11, 2025 | National | PN 13-2 | Nomination of Steven Bradbury to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation | Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 46) |
| March 11, 2025 | National | PN 12-41 | Nomination of Abigail Slater to be an Assistant Attorney General | Cloture Invoked - Senate (77 - 19) |
| March 10, 2025 | National | PN 11-4 | Nomination of Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be Secretary of Labor | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (67 - 32) |
| March 6, 2025 | National | PN 12-14 | Nomination of Troy Edgar to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 43) |
| March 6, 2025 | National | PN 12-14 | Nomination of Troy Edgar to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security | Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 43) |
| March 6, 2025 | National | PN 11-4 | Nomination of Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be Secretary of Labor | Cloture Invoked - Senate (66 - 30) |
| March 5, 2025 | National | PN 12-5 | Nomination of Todd Blanche to be Deputy Attorney General | Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 46) |
| March 3, 2025 | National | PN 11-10 | Nomination of Linda McMahon to be Secretary of Education | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 45) |
| Feb. 27, 2025 | National | PN 11-10 | Nomination of Linda McMahon to be Secretary of Education | Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 47) |
| Feb. 26, 2025 | National | PN 11-17 | Nomination of Jamieson Greer to be U.S. Trade Representative | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 43) |
| Feb. 25, 2025 | National | PN 12-12 | Nomination of Daniel Driscoll to be Secretary of the Army | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (66 - 28) |
| Feb. 25, 2025 | National | PN 11-10 | Nomination of Linda McMahon to be Secretary of Education | Motion Agreed - Senate (51 - 47) |
| Feb. 24, 2025 | National | PN 12-12 | Nomination of Daniel Driscoll to be Secretary of the Army | Cloture Invoked - Senate (66 - 28) |
| Feb. 20, 2025 | National | PN 12-35 | Nomination of Kashyap Patel to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 49) |
| Feb. 20, 2025 | National | PN 12-35 | Nomination of Kashyap Patel to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations | Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 47) |
| Feb. 19, 2025 | National | PN 11-18 | Nomination of Kelly Loeffler to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 46) |
| Feb. 18, 2025 | National | PN 11-9 | Nomination of Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 45) |
| Feb. 18, 2025 | National | PN 12-35 | Nomination of Kashyap Patel to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations | Motion Agreed - Senate (48 - 45) |
| Feb. 13, 2025 | National | PN 11-8 | Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48) |
| Feb. 13, 2025 | National | PN 11-12 | Nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (72 - 28) |
| Feb. 13, 2025 | National | PN 11-18 | Nomination of Kelly Loeffler to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration | Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 43) |
| Feb. 13, 2025 | National | PN 11-9 | Nomination of Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce | Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 45) |
| Feb. 12, 2025 | National | PN 11-16 | Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (52 - 48) |
| Feb. 12, 2025 | National | PN 11-8 | Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services | Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 47) |
| Feb. 10, 2025 | National | PN 11-16 | Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence | Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46) |
| Feb. 6, 2025 | National | PN 11-22 | Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (53 - 47) |
| Feb. 6, 2025 | National | PN 11-12 | Nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture | Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46) |
| Feb. 6, 2025 | National | PN 11-18 | Nomination of Kelly Loeffler to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration | Motion Agreed - Senate (53 - 45) |
| Feb. 6, 2025 | National | PN 11-9 | Nomination of Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of Commerce | Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46) |
| Feb. 6, 2025 | National | PN 11-8 | Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services | Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 47) |
| Feb. 6, 2025 | National | PN 11-16 | Nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence | Motion Agreed - Senate (52 - 46) |
| Feb. 5, 2025 | National | PN 11-14 | Nomination of Eric Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 44) |
| Feb. 5, 2025 | National | PN 11-22 | Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget | Cloture Invoked - Senate (53 - 47) |
| Feb. 4, 2025 | National | PN 11-2 | Nomination of Pamela Bondi to be Attorney General | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (54 - 46) |
| Feb. 4, 2025 | National | PN 11-5 | Nomination of Douglas Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (77 - 23) |
| Feb. 4, 2025 | National | PN 11-14 | Nomination of Eric Turner to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | Cloture Invoked - Senate (55 - 45) |
| Feb. 3, 2025 | National | PN 11-2 | Nomination of Pamela Bondi to be Attorney General | Cloture Invoked - Senate (52 - 46) |
| Feb. 3, 2025 | National | PN 11-22 | Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget | Motion Agreed - Senate (51 - 46) |
| Jan. 30, 2025 | National | PN 11-3 | Nomination of Douglas Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (79 - 18) |
| Jan. 30, 2025 | National | PN 11-15 | Nomination of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 38) |
| Jan. 30, 2025 | National | PN 11-5 | Nomination of Douglas Collins to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs | Cloture Invoked - Senate (83 - 13) |
| Jan. 30, 2025 | National | PN 11-15 | Nomination of Christopher Wright to be Secretary of Energy | Cloture Invoked - Senate (62 - 35) |
| Jan. 29, 2025 | National | PN 11-23 | Nomination of Lee Zeldin to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (56 - 42) |
| Jan. 29, 2025 | National | PN 11-23 | Nomination of Lee Zeldin to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | Cloture Invoked - Senate (56 - 42) |
| Jan. 28, 2025 | National | PN 11-6 | Nomination of Sean Duffy to be Secretary of Transportation | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (77 - 22) |
| Jan. 27, 2025 | National | PN 11-1 | Nomination of Scott Bessent to be Secretary of the Treasury | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (68 - 29) |
| Jan. 27, 2025 | National | PN 11-6 | Nomination of Sean Duffy to be Secretary of Transportation | Cloture Invoked - Senate (97 - 0) |
| Jan. 25, 2025 | National | PN 11-11 | Nomination of Kristi Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (59 - 34) |
| Jan. 25, 2025 | National | PN 11-1 | Nomination of Scott Bessent to be Secretary of the Treasury | Cloture Invoked - Senate (67 - 23) |
| Jan. 24, 2025 | National | PN 11-7 | Nomination of Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (50 - 50) |
| Jan. 24, 2025 | National | PN 11-11 | Nomination of Kristi Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security | Cloture Invoked - Senate (61 - 39) |
| Jan. 23, 2025 | National | PN 11-19 | Nomination of John Ratcliffe to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (74 - 25) |
| Jan. 23, 2025 | National | PN 11-7 | Nomination of Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense | Cloture Invoked - Senate (51 - 49) |
| Jan. 23, 2025 | National | PN 11-19 | Nomination of John Ratcliffe to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | Cloture Invoked - Senate (72 - 26) |
| Jan. 21, 2025 | National | PN 11-19 | Nomination of John Ratcliffe to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | Motion Agreed - Senate (54 - 46) |
| Jan. 21, 2025 | National | PN 11-7 | Nomination of Peter Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense | Motion Agreed - Senate (53 - 47) |
| Jan. 20, 2025 | National | PN 11-13 | Nomination of Marco Rubio to be Secretary of State | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (99 - 0) |
| Nov. 13, 2024 | National | PN 923 | Nomination of David Huitema to be Director of the Office of Government Ethics | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (50 - 46) |
| Sept. 24, 2024 | National | PN 1342 | Nomination of Michael Sfraga of Alaska to be Ambassador at Large for Arctic Affairs | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (55 - 36) |
| June 3, 2024 | LA | SB 181 | Expands Governor Authority Over State Employees | Bill Tabled - Senate (27 - 9) |
| April 9, 2024 | LA | SB 181 | Expands Governor Authority Over State Employees | Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 11) |
| March 12, 2024 | WI | AJR 112 | Prohibits the Governor from Using Partial Veto to Create or Increase any Tax or Fee | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| Feb. 26, 2024 | UT | SB 240 | Specifies Daily Calendars for State Elected Officials are No Longer Considered Public Government Records | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 7) |
| Feb. 20, 2024 | WI | AB 476 | Repeals Governor Appointment Powers for Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Attorney General Vacancies | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (22 - 10) |
| Aug. 16, 2023 | NC | SB 512 | Repeals Governor Appointment Powers Over Various State Governing Boards | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (27 - 18) |
| July 25, 2023 | ME | LD 165 | Increases the Governor's salary | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (25 - 1) |
| March 22, 2023 | WI | SJR 21 | Authorizes a Special Election to Fill Secretary of State | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (20 - 11) |
| March 14, 2023 | TX | SB 2 | Classifies Illegal Voting as a Felony | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 12) |
| March 7, 2023 | IA | SF 514 | Restructures Iowa State Government Cabinet Positions | Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 15) |
| Nov. 15, 2022 | National | S J Res 63 | A joint resolution relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020. | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (62 - 36) |
| June 14, 2022 | NC | SB 256 | Limits Appointment Powers of Governor | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 18) |
| April 13, 2022 | KY | HB 248 | Limits the Governor's Power to Challenge the Constitutionality of Bills Passed by the General Assembly | Veto Override Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| April 4, 2022 | MS | HB 1426 | Increases Salaries of Certain Government Officials | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (46 - 3) |
| March 23, 2022 | KS | HCR 5014 | Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Provide Legislative Oversight to the Executive Branch | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 12) |
| March 10, 2022 | WY | HB 96 | Increases Governor's Salary | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 11) |
| March 8, 2022 | OK | SB 176 | Extends Leave Benefits for State Employees | (43 - 1) |
| Feb. 16, 2022 | AR | SB 2 | Appropriates Monies for Governor's Office | Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 1) |
| Feb. 15, 2022 | VA | SB 4 | Limits the Duration of Executive Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 11) |
| Feb. 14, 2022 | National | PN 1593 | Nomination of Robert Califf as Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Department of Health and Human Services | Cloture Invoked - Senate (49 - 45) |
| Feb. 2, 2022 | AZ | SB 1009 | Limits the Governor's Power to Declare a Public Health Emergency | Bill Passed - Senate (16 - 13) |
| Sept. 28, 2021 | CT | SR 76 | Authorizes Governor's Renewed Emergency Declaration | Bill Passed - Senate (18 - 15) |
| Sept. 1, 2021 | MI | HB 4061 | Prohibits Using the Public Threat Alert System for Executive Orders | Bill Passed - Senate (20 - 16) |
| July 20, 2021 | National | PN 126 | Nomination of Jennifer Abruzzo as General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board | Nomination Confirmed - Senate (51 - 50) |
| June 25, 2021 | PA | SB 255 | Appropriates Funds for Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7) |