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

Clarence William (Bill) Nelson

Senator from Florida
SENATEDEMOCRAT1979–2019ID N000032
Compare
LegislationHEADLINE
78%with Dems
of 5,594 votes
Nominations
89%with Dems
of 543 · confirmations only
All contested
79%with Dems
of 6,137 · both combined
Steepest move
+13 pts
1983 → 1985
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 ↓1979198519911997200320092015
2017–18115th Congress
Sat as a Democrat
89.9%with Democrats
legislation only
Votes for this Congress are open below
Steepest move: 1983 → 1985, +13 pts — while still a Democrat.
Sat as a DemocratSat as a RepublicanVotes available below

Votes

DateBillVoteTypeCastSided with
Dec 21, 2018H.R. 695To amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish a voluntary national criminal history background check system and criminal history review program for certain individuals who, related to their employment, have access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes.LEGISLATIONNAYDEM MAJORITY
Dec 19, 2018H.R. 695To amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish a voluntary national criminal history background check system and criminal history review program for certain individuals who, related to their employment, have access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities, and for other purposes.LEGISLATIONYEABOTH · NOT SCORED
Dec 19, 2018noneJoseph Maguire, of Florida, to be Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National IntelligenceNOMINATIONYEABOTH · NOT SCORED
Full textJoseph Maguire, of Florida, to be Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National IntelligenceParty majoritiesDemocrats Yea · Republicans YeaCounts toward scoreNo — both party majorities voted Yea.
Where this lands
YEAVoted with both majorities — not scored
Dec 18, 2018S. 756A bill to reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international action to reduce marine debris, and for other purposes.LEGISLATIONYEABOTH · NOT SCORED
Dec 18, 2018S. 756To require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to notify each victim of the offense for which the prisoner is imprisoned the date on which the prisoner will be released.LEGISLATIONNAYDEM MAJORITY
Dec 18, 2018S. 756To require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to notify each victim of the offense for which the prisoner is imprisoned the date on which the prisoner will be released.LEGISLATIONNAYDEM MAJORITY
Dec 18, 2018S. 756To require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to notify each victim of the offense for which the prisoner is imprisoned the date on which the prisoner will be released.LEGISLATIONNAYDEM MAJORITY
Dec 17, 2018S. 756A bill to reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Act to promote international action to reduce marine debris, and for other purposes.LEGISLATIONYEABOTH · NOT SCORED
Dec 13, 2018S.J.Res. 54A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress.LEGISLATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
9 most recent roll calls shown · 336 contested votes scored in the 115th CongressAll votes this Congress →

By policy area

career · legislation
Economics and Public Finance82.5% · 1,681 votes
Armed Forces and National Security60.1% · 521 votes
Congress82.6% · 322 votes
Taxation87.5% · 304 votes
Government Operations and Politics71.4% · 283 votes
International Affairs60.4% · 275 votes
Health90.4% · 251 votes
Agriculture and Food72.9% · 170 votes
Energy85.5% · 166 votes
Foreign Trade and International Finance63.4% · 161 votes
Transportation and Public Works78.8% · 160 votes
Finance and Financial Sector82% · 139 votes
Labor and Employment76% · 129 votes
Education75.8% · 124 votes
Immigration73.8% · 122 votes
Crime and Law Enforcement71.7% · 99 votes
Science, Technology, Communications87.4% · 95 votes
Public Lands and Natural Resources98.6% · 74 votes
Housing and Community Development76.7% · 73 votes
Environmental Protection81.7% · 60 votes
Law76.8% · 56 votes
Emergency Management89.1% · 55 votes
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues85.7% · 42 votes
Social Welfare77.5% · 40 votes
Water Resources Development77.5% · 40 votes
Commerce78.4% · 37 votes
Native Americans90.5% · 21 votes
Families91.7% · 12 votes
Too few contested votes to score
Commemorations— · 8 votes
Arts, Culture, Religion— · 6 votes
Private Legislation— · 5 votes
Social Sciences and History— · 4 votes
Sports and Recreation— · 3 votes

They also voted in 1 area where the parties never split, so there is nothing to score — never on a contested question: Animals.

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

Service record

15 Congresses
96th · 1979107th · 2001115th · 2017
Democrat · House · FL96th–101st
Democrat · Senate · FL107th–115th
Term datesexact
Members · Florida
CN

Clarence William (Bill) Nelson

Senator from Florida
SENATED1979–201915 CONGRESSES
Compare
LegislationHEADLINE
78.2%with Democrats
of 5,594 votes · 21.8% with Republicans
Nominations89%of 543 votes
All contested79%of 6,137 · combined
Steepest move+13 pts1983→85, as a Democrat

Career arc

10050019792017
2017–18 · 115th · Democrat89.9%

Legislation leads. Tap a point to read that Congress.

Votes

Democratic majorityYea
Republican majorityYea
Counts toward scoreNo
Open roll call
Latest 6 shown · 336 contested votes scored in the 115th

By policy area

career
Economics and Public Finance82.5% · 1,681
Armed Forces and National Security60.1% · 521
Congress82.6% · 322
Taxation87.5% · 304
Government Operations and Politics71.4% · 283
International Affairs60.4% · 275
Health90.4% · 251
Agriculture and Food72.9% · 170
Energy85.5% · 166
Foreign Trade and International Finance63.4% · 161
Transportation and Public Works78.8% · 160
Finance and Financial Sector82% · 139
Labor and Employment76% · 129
Education75.8% · 124
Immigration73.8% · 122
Crime and Law Enforcement71.7% · 99
Science, Technology, Communications87.4% · 95
Public Lands and Natural Resources98.6% · 74
Housing and Community Development76.7% · 73
Environmental Protection81.7% · 60
Law76.8% · 56
Emergency Management89.1% · 55
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues85.7% · 42
Social Welfare77.5% · 40
Water Resources Development77.5% · 40
Commerce78.4% · 37
Native Americans90.5% · 21
Families91.7% · 12
Commemorations— · 8
Arts, Culture, Religion— · 6
Private Legislation— · 5
Social Sciences and History— · 4
Sports and Recreation— · 3

Also voted in 1 area where the parties never split — never on a contested question: Animals.

Service record

96th · 1979115th · 2017
Democrat96th–101st
Democrat107th–115th

Party switchers

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