The fewest bipartisan Democrats in the Senate

The 118th Congress probably won’t be remembered for bipartisanship or any landmark legislation. Since the GOP won back the House in the 2022 midterms, little has been accomplished. While some Democrats prioritize bipartisanship, others are much more averse to working with the other side. In some parts of the country, compromise with the Republican party is a tough sell.

Thanks to research from Lugar Center and McCourt School of Public Policyit is possible to track the most and least bipartisan members of Congress. This article will examine the Democrats least likely to cross the aisle.

Why this matters

In November, American voters will determine the presidency and who controls Congress. One party can win the trifecta of government, but one party is more likely to control the House and the other the Senate. If any meaningful legislation is to be passed by the 119th Congress, it will require cooperation and bipartisanship, so it is important to know who the potential makers and breakers are.

A note on leadership

The bipartisan index tracks neither the majority leader nor the Senate minority leader, so Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer are not included in the rankings because the party leadership operates quite differently than the average member. It also does not include senators with less than six months of service, so Ben Sasse, who resigned in January 2023, is not included, nor is Laphonza Bulter, the appointed replacement for the late Dianne Feinstein. Independents who caucus with Democrats are included here.

10 – Dianne Feinstein (California)

Taking office: 1992

Bipartisan ranking: 74

Dianne Feinstein represented California in the Senate from 1992 until she died in September 2023. She was re-elected five times, although there were already concerns about her advancement in 2018, when she ran again. at 84.

Her low bipartisanship ranking for 2023 is not due to partisan politics, she strongly believed in bipartisanship, but because she he missed so many votes. As he struggled with cognitive decline and poor health, he was absent from the Senate for several weeks. As pressure began to mount for her resignation, she he died at 90 years old. At the time of her death, she was the longest-serving female senator in American history.

9 – Peter Welch (Vermont)

Assumed office: 2023

Bipartisan ranking: 75

At 75, Vermont’s Peter Welch was the oldest person ever elected to the Senate in 2022. With Bernie Sanders’ key supportwon the primary with 87% of the vote and cruised to an easy victory in general elections. Like Sanders, Welch supports notable left-wing bills like the Green New Deal and Medicare-for-all. While both pieces of legislation vote well with votersDemocrats in particular, won’t find much bipartisan support.

8 – Jack Reed (Rhode Island)

Taking office: 1997

Bipartisan ranking: 78

Jack Reed was elected to represent Rhode Island in the Senate in 1996 in a landslide. His four re-elections were equally emphatic. As a New England Democrat, he is one of the most left-leaning senators in the country. Although he ranks low on bipartisanship and his bills rarely attract Republican co-sponsors, he enjoys a strong job approval rating in his home state.

7 – Ron Wyden (Oregon)

Taking office: 1996

Bipartisan ranking: 80

Ron Wyden narrowly won the special election in January 1996the first Democratic Senate victory in the Beaver State since 1962. Wyden widened his margin of victory considerably in his subsequent re-election campaigns in 1998, 2004, 2010, 2016 and 2022. While he scores lower than most for removing invoices from the commissionhe is doing much better working with the House. Since he’s further to the left than most other senators, it’s not terribly surprising that his bipartisan rating is low.

6 – Chris Murphy (Connecticut)

Taking over the mandate: 2013

Bipartisan ranking: 81

Chris Murphy defeated Linda McMahon in 2012 to reclaim the seat vacated by Joe Liberman with 55% of the vote. He won again in 2018 with a larger share of the vote. Although currently one of the least bipartisan senators, he has been more likely to cross the aisle in the past year. He helped negotiate, ultimately without success bipartisan border bill and indicated this the new approach will continue as he seeks a third term.

In 2024 he faces Matthew Corey, the same candidate comfortably defeated in 2018.

5 – Ed Markey (Massachusetts)

Taking over the mandate: 2013

Bipartisan ranking: 82

After 36 years old in the House of Representatives, Ed Markey ran for the Senate in the 2013 special election to see out John Kerry’s term. He easily won a full term in 2014, but faced a tough primary challenge from Joe Kennedy III in 2020, which he exceeded by a little. Markey is the leftmost Democrat in the Senate and the author of the Senate Green New Deal. That perspective helped him survive a primary challenge in a heavily Democratic state and make him one of the most popular senators in the country. Outside of New England, however, progressive policies struggle to gain much traction.

4 – Mazie Hirono (Hawaii)

Taking over the mandate: 2013

Bipartisan ranking: 86

Mazie Hirono was born in Japan and became a naturalized American citizen in 1959. After three terms in the House of Representatives and an unsuccessful run for governor, she won her first Senate race in 2012. She was easily re-elected in 2018. Hawaii has not a Republican senator has not been elected since 1970. Hirono is therefore one of the most liberal members of the Senate, and her support for abortion, arms controland universal medical assistance has little appeal on the Republican side of the aisle.

She has co-sponsored the fewest bipartisan bills among senior senators, and her bills and resolutions have received the fewest bipartisan co-sponsors in the 177th Congress. She faces a routine re-election campaign in November.

3 – John Fetterman (Pennsylvania)

Assumed office: 2021

Bipartisan ranking: 88

John Fetterman’s huge 6’8” frame and casual dress sense makes him one of the most recognizable figures in American politics. It gained a high profile The 2020 Senate racebeating TV personality Mehmet Oz despite a shocking debate performance. He ran on a progressive, populist platform, but has since distanced himself from the left. Its low bipartisan score is partly to blame a long absence early in his tenure while battling depression.

In the second half of his term, he may find that his all-out support for Israel, economic populism and pro-political statements will find bipartisan support in the future.

2 – Bernie Sanders (Vermont)

Taking office: 2007

Bipartisan ranking: 91

Bernie Sanders, an independent who is part of the Democratic caucus, rose to national prominence during two failed presidential bids in 2016 and 2020. He easily won the Senate election in 2006 with 65% of the vote and was re-elected with similar margins in 2012. and 2018. As self-described democratic socialist championing left-wing causes, it’s no wonder Sanders often struggles to find support for his agenda in the Senate. As critics noted, Bernie Sanders only sponsored three insignificant bills which actually became law.

He’s had a little better luck with the bills he has cosponsored over the years, but has the most roll call success AMENDMENTS. His principled positions, though rarely successful, made him one of the most popular senators in the country.

At 82, he will run for another term in November, a race he has all, but surely they will win.

1 – Patty Murray (Washington)

Assumed office:

Bipartisan ranking: 96

Patty Murray was elected to the US Senate in 1992 and won re-election five times. Most of her support comes from the western counties of the state. She leans over slightly more inclined to the left than most senators and has conventional Democratic views on abortion, gun control and health care. These positions are not usually attractive for Republican cooperation. However, her low bipartisan ranking has more to do with her Senate leadership responsibilities than overt partisanship. She is the longest-serving female senator in US history and current history president pro tempore of the United States Senate.

Conclusion

Most of the senators featured here represent predominantly liberal areas. New England and West Coast voters would take a dim view of their senators openly cooperating with Republicans. The fact that most of them have been in the Senate for several terms and enjoy high approval ratings is proof of this fact. Several bipartisan senators may decry ideological purity, but voters seem to agree. All senators up for re-election in November will retain their seats. With a divided legislature almost certain and the future of business up in the air, the 119th Congress is unlikely to be any more productive than the 118th.

The post Least Bipartisan Senate Democrats appeared first on 24/7 Wall St.