Rating Group: American Conservative Union (ACU)
2016 Positions
How to Interpret these Evaluations
Vote Smart displays all known interest group ratings for each candidate and official, regardless of issue or bias.
Keep in mind that ratings done by special interest groups often do not represent a non-partisan stance. In addition, some groups select votes that tend to favor members of one political party over another, rather than choosing votes based solely on issue concerns. Nevertheless, they can be invaluable in showing where an incumbent has stood on a series of votes in the past one or two years, especially when ratings by groups on all sides of an issue are compared. Website links, if available, and descriptions of the organizations offering performance evaluations are accessible by clicking on the name of the group.
With rare exceptions, Vote Smart displays interest group ratings as a 0-100 percentage. While many interest groups use percentages as ratings to begin with, please note that Vote Smart has translated some ratings to a percentage from a different rating system for consistency and ease in understanding. Please visit the group's website, email us at ratings@votesmart.org or call our Voter Information Hotline at 1-888-VOTESMART for more specific information.
results per page:
| State | Office | Name | Party | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KY | U.S. House - 6 | Andy Barr | Republican | 84% |
| KY | U.S. Senate - Sr | Mitch McConnell, Jr. | Republican | 69% |
| KY | U.S. Senate - Jr | Rand Paul | Republican | 85% |
| LA | U.S. House - 1 | Steve Scalise | Republican | 88% |
| LA | U.S. House - 3 | Clay Higgins | Republican | 4% |
| LA | U.S. Senate - Sr | Bill Cassidy | Republican | 69% |
| LA | U.S. Senate - Jr | John Kennedy | Republican | 0% |
| LA | Treasurer | John Fleming, Jr. | Republican | 96% |
| MA | U.S. House - 1 | Richard Neal | Democratic | 0% |
| MA | U.S. House - 2 | Jim McGovern | Democratic | 4% |
| MA | U.S. House - 5 | Katherine Clark | Democratic | 0% |
| MA | U.S. House - 6 | Seth Moulton | Democratic | 0% |
| MA | U.S. House - 8 | Stephen Lynch | Democratic | 4% |
| MA | U.S. House - 9 | Bill Keating | Democratic | 4% |
| MA | U.S. Senate - Sr | Elizabeth Warren | Democratic | 4% |
| MA | U.S. Senate - Jr | Ed Markey | Democratic | 4% |
| MD | U.S. House - 1 | Andy Harris | Republican | 100% |
| MD | U.S. House - 5 | Steny Hoyer | Democratic | 0% |
| MD | U.S. Senate - Sr | Chris Van Hollen, Jr. | Democratic | 0% |
| ME | U.S. House - 1 | Chellie Pingree | Democratic | 4% |
| ME | U.S. Senate - Sr | Susan Collins | Republican | 23% |
| ME | U.S. Senate - Jr | Angus King, Jr. | Independent | 8% |
| MI | U.S. House - 2 | John Moolenaar | Republican | 88% |
| MI | U.S. House - 4 | Bill Huizenga | Republican | 84% |
| MI | U.S. House - 5 | Tim Walberg | Republican | 88% |
| MI | U.S. Senate - Sr | Gary Peters | Democratic | 4% |
| MN | U.S. House - 4 | Betty McCollum | Democratic/Farmer/Labor | 0% |
| MN | U.S. House - 6 | Tom Emmer | Republican | 76% |
| MN | U.S. Senate - Sr | Amy Klobuchar | Democratic | 4% |
| MN | Attorney General | Keith Ellison | Democratic/Farmer/Labor | 0% |
| MN | Governor | Tim Walz | Democratic/Farmer/Labor | 0% |
| MO | U.S. House - 2 | Ann Wagner | Republican | 88% |
| MO | U.S. House - 5 | Emanuel Cleaver II | Democratic | 0% |
| MO | U.S. House - 6 | Sam Graves | Republican | 74% |
| MO | U.S. House - 8 | Jason Smith | Republican | 96% |
| MS | U.S. House - 1 | Trent Kelly | Republican | 92% |
| MS | U.S. House - 2 | Bennie Thompson | Democratic | 0% |
| MS | U.S. Senate - Sr | Roger Wicker | Republican | 72% |
| MT | U.S. House - 1 | Ryan Zinke | Republican | 68% |
| MT | U.S. Senate - Sr | Steve Daines | Republican | 92% |
| NA | U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs | Doug Collins | Republican | 92% |
| NA | U.S. Secretary of Transportation | Sean Duffy | Republican | 73% |
| NA | Director of National Intelligence | Tulsi Gabbard | 4% | |
| NA | Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | John Ratcliffe | Republican | 100% |
| NA | U.S. Secretary of State | Marco Rubio | Republican | 86% |
| NA | Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | Lee Zeldin | Republican | 60% |
| NC | U.S. House - 5 | Virginia Foxx | Republican | 96% |
| NC | U.S. House - 7 | David Rouzer | Republican | 96% |
| NC | U.S. House - 9 | Richard Hudson, Jr. | Republican | 96% |
| NC | U.S. House - 12 | Alma Adams | Democratic | 0% |
| NC | U.S. Senate - Sr | Thom Tillis | Republican | 69% |
| ND | U.S. Senate - Sr | John Hoeven | Republican | 69% |
| ND | U.S. Senate - Jr | Kevin Cramer | Republican | 84% |
| NE | U.S. House - 3 | Adrian Smith | Republican | 88% |
| NE | U.S. Senate - Sr | Deb Fischer | Republican | 88% |
| NH | U.S. Senate - Sr | Jeanne Shaheen | Democratic | 4% |
| NH | Governor | Kelly Ayotte | Republican | 46% |
| NJ | U.S. House - 1 | Donald Norcross | Democratic | 4% |
| NJ | U.S. House - 4 | Chris Smith | Republican | 48% |
| NJ | U.S. House - 6 | Frank Pallone, Jr. | Democratic | 0% |
| NJ | U.S. House - 12 | Bonnie Watson Coleman | Democratic | 4% |
| NJ | U.S. Senate - Sr | Cory Booker | Democratic | 4% |
| NJ | Mayor - At-Large | Albio Sires | Democratic | 4% |
| NM | U.S. Senate - Sr | Martin Heinrich | Democratic | 4% |
| NM | U.S. Senate - Jr | Ben Luján, Jr. | Democratic | 0% |
| NM | Governor | Michelle Lujan Grisham | Democratic | 0% |
| NV | U.S. House - 1 | Dina Titus | Democratic | 0% |
| NV | U.S. House - 2 | Mark Amodei | Republican | 76% |
| NY | U.S. House - 5 | Gregory Meeks | Democratic | 0% |
| NY | U.S. House - 6 | Grace Meng | Democratic | 0% |
| NY | U.S. House - 7 | Nydia Velázquez | Democratic | 0% |
| NY | U.S. House - 8 | Hakeem Jeffries | Democratic | 4% |
| NY | U.S. House - 9 | Yvette Clarke | Democratic | 0% |
| NY | U.S. House - 12 | Jerry Nadler | Democratic | 0% |
| NY | U.S. House - 20 | Paul Tonko | Democratic | 8% |
| NY | U.S. House - 21 | Elise Stefanik | Republican | 40% |
| NY | U.S. Senate - Sr | Chuck Schumer | Democratic | 4% |
| NY | U.S. Senate - Jr | Kirsten Gillibrand | Democratic | 4% |
| OH | U.S. House - 3 | Joyce Beatty | Democratic | 0% |
| OH | U.S. House - 4 | Jim Jordan | Republican | 100% |
| OH | U.S. House - 5 | Bob Latta | Republican | 92% |
| OH | U.S. House - 9 | Marcy Kaptur | Democratic | 0% |
| OH | U.S. House - 10 | Mike Turner | Republican | 57% |
| OH | U.S. House - 14 | Dave Joyce | Republican | 50% |
| OK | U.S. House - 3 | Frank Lucas | Republican | 84% |
| OK | U.S. House - 4 | Tom Cole | Republican | 72% |
| OK | U.S. Senate - Sr | James Lankford | Republican | 92% |
| OK | U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security | Markwayne Mullin | Republican | 92% |
| OR | U.S. House - 1 | Suzanne Bonamici | Democratic | 4% |
| OR | U.S. Senate - Sr | Ron Wyden | Democratic | 4% |
| OR | U.S. Senate - Jr | Jeff Merkley | Democratic | 0% |
| PA | U.S. House - 2 | Brendan Boyle | Democratic | 8% |
| PA | U.S. House - 10 | Scott Perry | Republican | 96% |
| PA | U.S. House - 15 | GT Thompson, Jr. | Republican | 84% |
| PA | U.S. House - 16 | Mike Kelly, Jr. | Republican | 72% |
| RI | U.S. Senate - Sr | Jack Reed | Democratic | 8% |
| RI | U.S. Senate - Jr | Sheldon Whitehouse | Democratic | 4% |
| SC | U.S. House - 2 | Joe Wilson, Sr. | Republican | 92% |
| SC | U.S. House - 6 | Jim Clyburn | Democratic | 0% |
| SC | U.S. Senate - Jr | Tim Scott | Republican | 92% |
| State | Office | Name | Party | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KY | U.S. House - 6 | Andy Barr | R | 84% |
| KY | U.S. Senate - Sr | Mitch McConnell, Jr. | R | 69% |
| KY | U.S. Senate - Jr | Rand Paul | R | 85% |
| LA | U.S. House - 1 | Steve Scalise | R | 88% |
| LA | U.S. House - 3 | Clay Higgins | R | 4% |
| LA | U.S. Senate - Sr | Bill Cassidy | R | 69% |
| LA | U.S. Senate - Jr | John Kennedy | R | 0% |
| LA | Treasurer | John Fleming, Jr. | R | 96% |
| MA | U.S. House - 1 | Richard Neal | D | 0% |
| MA | U.S. House - 2 | Jim McGovern | D | 4% |
| MA | U.S. House - 5 | Katherine Clark | D | 0% |
| MA | U.S. House - 6 | Seth Moulton | D | 0% |
| MA | U.S. House - 8 | Stephen Lynch | D | 4% |
| MA | U.S. House - 9 | Bill Keating | D | 4% |
| MA | U.S. Senate - Sr | Elizabeth Warren | D | 4% |
| MA | U.S. Senate - Jr | Ed Markey | D | 4% |
| MD | U.S. House - 1 | Andy Harris | R | 100% |
| MD | U.S. House - 5 | Steny Hoyer | D | 0% |
| MD | U.S. Senate - Sr | Chris Van Hollen, Jr. | D | 0% |
| ME | U.S. House - 1 | Chellie Pingree | D | 4% |
| ME | U.S. Senate - Sr | Susan Collins | R | 23% |
| ME | U.S. Senate - Jr | Angus King, Jr. | I | 8% |
| MI | U.S. House - 2 | John Moolenaar | R | 88% |
| MI | U.S. House - 4 | Bill Huizenga | R | 84% |
| MI | U.S. House - 5 | Tim Walberg | R | 88% |
| MI | U.S. Senate - Sr | Gary Peters | D | 4% |
| MN | U.S. House - 4 | Betty McCollum | DFL | 0% |
| MN | U.S. House - 6 | Tom Emmer | R | 76% |
| MN | U.S. Senate - Sr | Amy Klobuchar | D | 4% |
| MN | Attorney General | Keith Ellison | DFL | 0% |
| MN | Governor | Tim Walz | DFL | 0% |
| MO | U.S. House - 2 | Ann Wagner | R | 88% |
| MO | U.S. House - 5 | Emanuel Cleaver II | D | 0% |
| MO | U.S. House - 6 | Sam Graves | R | 74% |
| MO | U.S. House - 8 | Jason Smith | R | 96% |
| MS | U.S. House - 1 | Trent Kelly | R | 92% |
| MS | U.S. House - 2 | Bennie Thompson | D | 0% |
| MS | U.S. Senate - Sr | Roger Wicker | R | 72% |
| MT | U.S. House - 1 | Ryan Zinke | R | 68% |
| MT | U.S. Senate - Sr | Steve Daines | R | 92% |
| NA | U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs | Doug Collins | R | 92% |
| NA | U.S. Secretary of Transportation | Sean Duffy | R | 73% |
| NA | Director of National Intelligence | Tulsi Gabbard | 4% | |
| NA | Director of the Central Intelligence Agency | John Ratcliffe | R | 100% |
| NA | U.S. Secretary of State | Marco Rubio | R | 86% |
| NA | Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | Lee Zeldin | R | 60% |
| NC | U.S. House - 5 | Virginia Foxx | R | 96% |
| NC | U.S. House - 7 | David Rouzer | R | 96% |
| NC | U.S. House - 9 | Richard Hudson, Jr. | R | 96% |
| NC | U.S. House - 12 | Alma Adams | D | 0% |
| NC | U.S. Senate - Sr | Thom Tillis | R | 69% |
| ND | U.S. Senate - Sr | John Hoeven | R | 69% |
| ND | U.S. Senate - Jr | Kevin Cramer | R | 84% |
| NE | U.S. House - 3 | Adrian Smith | R | 88% |
| NE | U.S. Senate - Sr | Deb Fischer | R | 88% |
| NH | U.S. Senate - Sr | Jeanne Shaheen | D | 4% |
| NH | Governor | Kelly Ayotte | R | 46% |
| NJ | U.S. House - 1 | Donald Norcross | D | 4% |
| NJ | U.S. House - 4 | Chris Smith | R | 48% |
| NJ | U.S. House - 6 | Frank Pallone, Jr. | D | 0% |
| NJ | U.S. House - 12 | Bonnie Watson Coleman | D | 4% |
| NJ | U.S. Senate - Sr | Cory Booker | D | 4% |
| NJ | Mayor - At-Large | Albio Sires | D | 4% |
| NM | U.S. Senate - Sr | Martin Heinrich | D | 4% |
| NM | U.S. Senate - Jr | Ben Luján, Jr. | D | 0% |
| NM | Governor | Michelle Lujan Grisham | D | 0% |
| NV | U.S. House - 1 | Dina Titus | D | 0% |
| NV | U.S. House - 2 | Mark Amodei | R | 76% |
| NY | U.S. House - 5 | Gregory Meeks | D | 0% |
| NY | U.S. House - 6 | Grace Meng | D | 0% |
| NY | U.S. House - 7 | Nydia Velázquez | D | 0% |
| NY | U.S. House - 8 | Hakeem Jeffries | D | 4% |
| NY | U.S. House - 9 | Yvette Clarke | D | 0% |
| NY | U.S. House - 12 | Jerry Nadler | D | 0% |
| NY | U.S. House - 20 | Paul Tonko | D | 8% |
| NY | U.S. House - 21 | Elise Stefanik | R | 40% |
| NY | U.S. Senate - Sr | Chuck Schumer | D | 4% |
| NY | U.S. Senate - Jr | Kirsten Gillibrand | D | 4% |
| OH | U.S. House - 3 | Joyce Beatty | D | 0% |
| OH | U.S. House - 4 | Jim Jordan | R | 100% |
| OH | U.S. House - 5 | Bob Latta | R | 92% |
| OH | U.S. House - 9 | Marcy Kaptur | D | 0% |
| OH | U.S. House - 10 | Mike Turner | R | 57% |
| OH | U.S. House - 14 | Dave Joyce | R | 50% |
| OK | U.S. House - 3 | Frank Lucas | R | 84% |
| OK | U.S. House - 4 | Tom Cole | R | 72% |
| OK | U.S. Senate - Sr | James Lankford | R | 92% |
| OK | U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security | Markwayne Mullin | R | 92% |
| OR | U.S. House - 1 | Suzanne Bonamici | D | 4% |
| OR | U.S. Senate - Sr | Ron Wyden | D | 4% |
| OR | U.S. Senate - Jr | Jeff Merkley | D | 0% |
| PA | U.S. House - 2 | Brendan Boyle | D | 8% |
| PA | U.S. House - 10 | Scott Perry | R | 96% |
| PA | U.S. House - 15 | GT Thompson, Jr. | R | 84% |
| PA | U.S. House - 16 | Mike Kelly, Jr. | R | 72% |
| RI | U.S. Senate - Sr | Jack Reed | D | 8% |
| RI | U.S. Senate - Jr | Sheldon Whitehouse | D | 4% |
| SC | U.S. House - 2 | Joe Wilson, Sr. | R | 92% |
| SC | U.S. House - 6 | Jim Clyburn | D | 0% |
| SC | U.S. Senate - Jr | Tim Scott | R | 92% |