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Data through Sep 17, 2026Compare members
The Vote Ledger
TH

Thomas Richard (Tom) Harkin

Senator from Iowa
SENATEDEMOCRAT1975–2015ID H000206
Compare
LegislationHEADLINE
91%with Dems
of 7,479 votes
Nominations
100%with Dems
of 391 · confirmations only
All contested
91%with Dems
of 7,870 · both combined
Steepest move
+14 pts
1989 → 1991
still a Democrat

Career arc

Legislation leads. Each point is one Congress: how often they sided with the Democratic majority on contested bills, resolutions and amendments.

100%75%50%25%0%sides with Democrats ↑sides with Republicans ↓1975198119871993199920052011
2013–14113th Congress
Sat as a Democrat
97.9%with Democrats
legislation only
Votes for this Congress are open below
Steepest move: 1989 → 1991, +14 pts — while still a Democrat.
Sat as a DemocratSat as a RepublicanVotes available below

Votes

DateBillVoteTypeCastSided with
Dec 16, 2014noneStephen R. Bough, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of MissouriNOMINATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Dec 16, 2014noneStephen R. Bough, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of MissouriNOMINATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Dec 16, 2014H.R. 5771To 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.LEGISLATIONYEABOTH · NOT SCORED
Full textTo 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.Party majoritiesDemocrats Yea · Republicans YeaCounts toward scoreNo — both party majorities voted Yea.
Where this lands
YEAVoted with both majorities — not scored
Dec 16, 2014noneColette Dodson Honorable, of Arkansas, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2017NOMINATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Dec 16, 2014noneAntony Blinken, of New York, to be Deputy Secretary of StateNOMINATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Dec 16, 2014noneAntony Blinken, of New York, to be Deputy Secretary of StateNOMINATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Dec 16, 2014noneSarah R. Saldana, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland SecurityNOMINATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Dec 16, 2014noneSarah R. Saldana, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Homeland SecurityNOMINATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Dec 15, 2014noneFrank A. Rose, of Massachusetts, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Verification and Compliance)NOMINATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
9 most recent roll calls shown · 430 contested votes scored in the 113th CongressAll votes this Congress →

By policy area

career · legislation
Economics and Public Finance90.3% · 2,274 votes
Armed Forces and National Security95.2% · 602 votes
Government Operations and Politics87.6% · 502 votes
Taxation95.9% · 435 votes
International Affairs88% · 384 votes
Congress81.1% · 338 votes
Health96.4% · 274 votes
Agriculture and Food92.7% · 234 votes
Transportation and Public Works89.2% · 212 votes
Labor and Employment93.3% · 195 votes
Finance and Financial Sector92.2% · 192 votes
Foreign Trade and International Finance80.7% · 192 votes
Energy85.3% · 190 votes
Education93.3% · 180 votes
Crime and Law Enforcement93.6% · 171 votes
Immigration92.6% · 135 votes
Environmental Protection89.9% · 89 votes
Science, Technology, Communications90.9% · 88 votes
Public Lands and Natural Resources93.8% · 80 votes
Social Welfare85% · 80 votes
Commerce97.4% · 78 votes
Law95.7% · 69 votes
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues93.5% · 46 votes
Emergency Management95.6% · 45 votes
Housing and Community Development91.1% · 45 votes
Water Resources Development88.2% · 34 votes
Native Americans100% · 15 votes
Families92.9% · 14 votes
Industrial relations92.9% · 14 votes
Too few contested votes to score
Independent regulatory commissions— · 9 votes
Lobbying— · 9 votes
Commemorations— · 8 votes
Depletion allowances— · 7 votes
Electronic surveillance— · 7 votes
Black lung— · 6 votes
Mines and mineral resources— · 6 votes
Mortgages— · 6 votes
Vietnamese Conflict— · 6 votes
Arts, Culture, Religion— · 5 votes
Home repair and improvement— · 5 votes
Private Legislation— · 5 votes
Constitutional amendments— · 4 votes
Government securities— · 4 votes
Income tax— · 4 votes
Municipal finance— · 4 votes
Political participation— · 4 votes
Social Sciences and History— · 4 votes
Congressional-Presidential relations— · 3 votes
Embargo— · 3 votes
Financial disclosure— · 3 votes
Indian claims— · 3 votes
International economic relations— · 3 votes
Postal rates and revenues— · 3 votes
Public works— · 3 votes
Revenue sharing— · 3 votes
Conferences— · 2 votes
Contested elections— · 2 votes
Credit— · 2 votes
Executive reorganization— · 2 votes
Life insurance— · 2 votes
Museums— · 2 votes
Power resources— · 2 votes
Sports and Recreation— · 2 votes
Youth— · 2 votes
Animals— · 1 vote
Aquaculture— · 1 vote
Barber and beauty shops— · 1 vote
Chemicals— · 1 vote
Congressional oversight— · 1 vote
Day care— · 1 vote
Disabled— · 1 vote
Domestic relations— · 1 vote
Droughts— · 1 vote
Earthquakes— · 1 vote
Government corporations— · 1 vote
Heating— · 1 vote
Impeachments— · 1 vote
Import restrictions— · 1 vote
Intergovernmental relations— · 1 vote
Lakes— · 1 vote
Monuments and memorials— · 1 vote
Motor vehicles— · 1 vote
Noise— · 1 vote
Political representation— · 1 vote
Postal service— · 1 vote
Printing— · 1 vote
Reclamation of land— · 1 vote
Refugees— · 1 vote
Rehabilitation— · 1 vote
Right to counsel— · 1 vote
Rivers— · 1 vote
Territories (U.S.)— · 1 vote

They also voted in 65 areas where the parties never split, so there is nothing to score — never on a contested question: Age and employment, Agriculture in foreign trade, Auditing, Aviation insurance, Awards, medals, prizes, Broadcasting, Cemeteries and funerals, Checks, Child abuse, Citizenship, Clergy, Climate, Clothing industry, Commodity control, Conservation of natural resources, Contempt of legislative bodies, Corporations, Cultural centers, Customs administration, Dairy industry, District of Columbia, Emigration, Federal advisory bodies, Federal-state relations, Fire fighters, Fishes, Gambling, Gold, Government life insurance, Government property, Government publications, Human rights, Insect control, Interest, Intergovernmental fiscal relations, International agencies, Leases, Libraries, Lotteries, Marine mammal protection, Marine resources conservation, Municipal budgets, Municipal home rule, Municipal politics and government, Narcotics, National emblems, Nuclear facilities, Nuclear weapons, Photovoltaic power systems, Political prisoners, Prices, Public records, Real estate business, Real property, Recall of officials, Recreation areas, Referendum, Rural conditions, Salaries, Solar energy, Strategic materials, Terrorism, Tobacco, Water conservation, Witnesses.

Blue is the share of votes siding with the Democratic majority; the tick marks 50%.

Service record

20 Congresses
94th · 197599th · 1985113th · 2013
Democrat · House · IA94th–98th
Democrat · Senate · IA99th–113th
Term datesexact
Members · Iowa
TH

Thomas Richard (Tom) Harkin

Senator from Iowa
SENATED1975–201520 CONGRESSES
Compare
LegislationHEADLINE
90.6%with Democrats
of 7,479 votes · 9.4% with Republicans
Nominations100%of 391 votes
All contested91%of 7,870 · combined
Steepest move+14 pts1989→91, as a Democrat

Career arc

10050019752013
2013–14 · 113th · Democrat97.9%

Legislation leads. Tap a point to read that Congress.

Votes

Democratic majorityYea
Republican majorityYea
Counts toward scoreNo
Open roll call
Latest 6 shown · 430 contested votes scored in the 113th

By policy area

career
Economics and Public Finance90.3% · 2,274
Armed Forces and National Security95.2% · 602
Government Operations and Politics87.6% · 502
Taxation95.9% · 435
International Affairs88% · 384
Congress81.1% · 338
Health96.4% · 274
Agriculture and Food92.7% · 234
Transportation and Public Works89.2% · 212
Labor and Employment93.3% · 195
Finance and Financial Sector92.2% · 192
Foreign Trade and International Finance80.7% · 192
Energy85.3% · 190
Education93.3% · 180
Crime and Law Enforcement93.6% · 171
Immigration92.6% · 135
Environmental Protection89.9% · 89
Science, Technology, Communications90.9% · 88
Public Lands and Natural Resources93.8% · 80
Social Welfare85% · 80
Commerce97.4% · 78
Law95.7% · 69
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues93.5% · 46
Emergency Management95.6% · 45
Housing and Community Development91.1% · 45
Water Resources Development88.2% · 34
Native Americans100% · 15
Families92.9% · 14
Industrial relations92.9% · 14
Independent regulatory commissions— · 9
Lobbying— · 9
Commemorations— · 8
Depletion allowances— · 7
Electronic surveillance— · 7
Black lung— · 6
Mines and mineral resources— · 6
Mortgages— · 6
Vietnamese Conflict— · 6
Arts, Culture, Religion— · 5
Home repair and improvement— · 5
Private Legislation— · 5
Constitutional amendments— · 4
Government securities— · 4
Income tax— · 4
Municipal finance— · 4
Political participation— · 4
Social Sciences and History— · 4
Congressional-Presidential relations— · 3
Embargo— · 3
Financial disclosure— · 3
Indian claims— · 3
International economic relations— · 3
Postal rates and revenues— · 3
Public works— · 3
Revenue sharing— · 3
Conferences— · 2
Contested elections— · 2
Credit— · 2
Executive reorganization— · 2
Life insurance— · 2
Museums— · 2
Power resources— · 2
Sports and Recreation— · 2
Youth— · 2
Animals— · 1
Aquaculture— · 1
Barber and beauty shops— · 1
Chemicals— · 1
Congressional oversight— · 1
Day care— · 1
Disabled— · 1
Domestic relations— · 1
Droughts— · 1
Earthquakes— · 1
Government corporations— · 1
Heating— · 1
Impeachments— · 1
Import restrictions— · 1
Intergovernmental relations— · 1
Lakes— · 1
Monuments and memorials— · 1
Motor vehicles— · 1
Noise— · 1
Political representation— · 1
Postal service— · 1
Printing— · 1
Reclamation of land— · 1
Refugees— · 1
Rehabilitation— · 1
Right to counsel— · 1
Rivers— · 1
Territories (U.S.)— · 1

Also voted in 65 areas where the parties never split — never on a contested question: Age and employment, Agriculture in foreign trade, Auditing, Aviation insurance, Awards, medals, prizes, Broadcasting, Cemeteries and funerals, Checks, Child abuse, Citizenship, Clergy, Climate, Clothing industry, Commodity control, Conservation of natural resources, Contempt of legislative bodies, Corporations, Cultural centers, Customs administration, Dairy industry, District of Columbia, Emigration, Federal advisory bodies, Federal-state relations, Fire fighters, Fishes, Gambling, Gold, Government life insurance, Government property, Government publications, Human rights, Insect control, Interest, Intergovernmental fiscal relations, International agencies, Leases, Libraries, Lotteries, Marine mammal protection, Marine resources conservation, Municipal budgets, Municipal home rule, Municipal politics and government, Narcotics, National emblems, Nuclear facilities, Nuclear weapons, Photovoltaic power systems, Political prisoners, Prices, Public records, Real estate business, Real property, Recall of officials, Recreation areas, Referendum, Rural conditions, Salaries, Solar energy, Strategic materials, Terrorism, Tobacco, Water conservation, Witnesses.

Service record

94th · 1975113th · 2013
Democrat94th–98th
Democrat99th–113th

Party switchers

John Alexander LoganD→R · IL · 40thWesley Wade WatkinsD→R · OK · 105thBen Nighthorse CampbellD→R · CO · 104th
AD320 × 50 · Anchor