Mitch McConnell

U.S. Senator · KY

Republican

Want to know how closely Mitch matches your views?

Where Mitch stands

Positions inferred from the public record. Each one shows our confidence level — and when the evidence isn't there, we say so.

What should the federal government's overall approach to taxes and spending be?
Clear record
Lower taxes modestly and trim some federal programs
Lower taxes, smaller governmentHigher taxes, expanded programs
Voted yes on the 2025 reconciliation tax-cut bill (H.R. 1); cosponsored the Death Tax Repeal Act while funding appropriations.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 12 votes · 9 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · Apr 2026 — A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2026 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2035.
Voted Yes · Mar 2026 — Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026.
Voted No · Mar 2026 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Internal Revenue Service relating to "Beginning of Construction Requirements for Purposes of the Termination of Clean Electricity Production Credits and Clean Electricity Investment Credits for Applicable Wind and Solar Facilities".
Did not vote · Feb 2026 — Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the D.C. Income and Franchise Tax Conformity and Revision Temporary Amendment Act of 2025.
Did not vote · Feb 2026 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Internal Revenue Service relating to "Interim Guidance Simplifying Application of the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax to Partnerships".
+7 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026
Sponsored — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income capital gains from the sale of certain farmland property which are reinvested in individual retirement plans.
Cosponsored — Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act
Cosponsored — Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025
Cosponsored — Death Tax Repeal Act of 2023
+4 more
How should Social Security and Medicare be changed, if at all?
No clear evidence
We don't have clear evidence on this issue.
What should the federal government's role be in setting wages and protecting workers?
Clear record
Reduce federal labor regulation; let states and markets set wages and conditions
Less federal labor regulationStronger federal worker protections
Cosponsored the Employee Rights Act and NLRB joint-employer rule disapprovals; voted no on the Paycheck Fairness Act, favoring less federal labor regulation.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 7 votes · 8 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · Jul 2025 — An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Voted Yes · Apr 2024 — Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to "Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status".
Voted Yes · Jul 2023 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
Voted No · Dec 2022 — Providing for a correction in the enrollment of H.J. Res. 100.
Voted Yes · Dec 2022 — To provide for a resolution with respect to the unresolved disputes between certain railroads represented by the National Carriers' Conference Committee of the National Railway Labor Conference and certain of their employees.
+2 more
Cosponsorships
Cosponsored — Working Families Flexibility Act of 2021
Cosponsored — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Adverse Effect Wage Rate Methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants in Non-Range Occupations in the United States".
Cosponsored — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to a "Standard for Determining Joint Employer Status".
Cosponsored — Employee Rights Act
Cosponsored — National Labor Relations Board Reform Act
+3 more
How should the federal government structure healthcare coverage and costs?
Some evidence
Reform the ACA to lower costs and reduce regulation; preserve private insurance
Market-based, private insuranceSingle-payer government insurance
Voted for the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act expanding HSAs and against extending ACA premium tax credits in the Lower Health Care Costs Act.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 6 votes · 4 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted No · Jan 2026 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services relating to "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Marketplace Integrity and Affordability".
Voted Yes · Dec 2025 — Health Care Freedom for Patients Act of 2025
Voted No · Dec 2025 — Lower Health Care Costs Act
Voted Yes · Nov 2025 — Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026
Voted No · Oct 2025 — Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026
+1 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — CAREER Act of 2023
Cosponsored — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services relating to "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting".
Cosponsored — Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
Cosponsored — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services relating to "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination".
How should the federal government address climate change and energy policy?
Clear record
Prioritize energy affordability and reliability; minimize climate-related restrictions on production
Prioritize energy production and affordabilityRapid transition off fossil fuels
Voted to open ANWR Coastal Plain and Buffalo coal leasing (2025); cosponsored CRAs disapproving EPA power-plant and vehicle greenhouse-gas emission standards.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 16 votes · 8 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted No · Jun 2026 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units: Final Repeal".
Voted No · Apr 2026 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Air Plan Disapproval; Colorado; Regional Haze Plan for the Second Implementation Period".
Voted Yes · Apr 2026 — Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to Public Land Order No. 7917 for Withdrawal of Federal Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN.
Voted No · Mar 2026 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Internal Revenue Service relating to "Beginning of Construction Requirements for Purposes of the Termination of Clean Electricity Production Credits and Clean Electricity Investment Credits for Applicable Wind and Solar Facilities".
Voted Yes · Jan 2026 — Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026
+11 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter".
Cosponsored — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Council on Environmental Quality relating to "National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations Revisions".
Cosponsored — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; and Repeal of the Affordable Clean Energy Rule".
Cosponsored — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to "The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors".
Cosponsored — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles".
+3 more
What should federal abortion policy be?
Clear record
Federal limit at 15 weeks with exceptions for life, health, rape, and incest
Federal restrictions on abortionFederal protection for abortion access
Cosponsored the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act; voted against the Women's Health Protection Act.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 10 votes · 9 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted No · Mar 2026 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to "Reproductive Health Services".
Voted Yes · Jan 2026 — Pregnant Students’ Rights Act
Voted Yes · Jul 2025 — An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Voted Yes · Jan 2025 — Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
Voted No · Sep 2024 — Right to IVF Act
+5 more
Cosponsorships
Cosponsored — Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
Cosponsored — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Ensuring Access to Equitable, Affordable, Client-Centered, Quality Family Planning Services".
Cosponsored — No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2021
Cosponsored — Abortion Providers Loan Elimination Act
Cosponsored — Allowing Greater Access to Safe and Effective Contraception Act
+4 more
What should federal firearms policy be?
Some evidence
Expand firearm rights nationally (concealed carry reciprocity, reduced federal restrictions)
Expand firearm rightsExpand firearm restrictions
Cosponsored the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act and ATF stabilizing-brace rule disapprovals, favoring expanded firearm rights.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 3 votes · 5 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · Jul 2025 — An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Voted Yes · Jun 2023 — Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives relating to "Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached 'Stabilizing Braces'".
Voted Yes · Jun 2022 — Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
Cosponsorships
Cosponsored — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives relating to "Definition of 'Engaged in the Business' as a Dealer in Firearms".
Cosponsored — Allowing for Recreational Resources for Outdoor Wellness Act
Cosponsored — Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2021
Cosponsored — Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2023
Cosponsored — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives relating to "Factoring Criteria for Firearms With Attached 'Stabilizing Braces'".
What should US immigration policy be?
Clear record
Reduce legal immigration levels; strict border enforcement
Reduced immigration, stricter enforcementExpanded immigration, humane policy
Voted yes on Laken Riley Act and Secure America Act (2025-26); cosponsored Secure the Border Act of 2023, which imposes asylum limits and border-wall construction.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 8 votes · 5 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted No · Jun 2026 — Secure America Act
Voted No · Apr 2026 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services relating to "Removal of the Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization Documents".
Voted Yes · Apr 2026 — A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2026 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2035.
Voted Yes · Mar 2026 — Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2025
Voted Yes · Jul 2025 — An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
+3 more
Cosponsorships
Cosponsored — Laken Riley Act
Cosponsored — Secure the Border Act of 2023
Cosponsored — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the proposed rule submitted by the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to the Unaccompanied Children Program Foundational Rule.
Cosponsored — Protect American Taxpayer Dollars from Illegal Immigration Act
Cosponsored — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Adverse Effect Wage Rate Methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants in Non-Range Occupations in the United States".
How should the federal government approach criminal justice and policing?
Clear record
Stronger sentencing, expanded law enforcement authority and funding
Stronger enforcement, expanded authorityDecarceration and federal reform
Voted yes on HALT Fentanyl Act and DC crime-code disapprovals (2025); cosponsored Back the Blue Act and Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 7 votes · 11 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · Jun 2026 — Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act
Voted Yes · Mar 2025 — HALT Fentanyl Act
Voted Yes · Apr 2024 — Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act
Voted Yes · May 2023 — Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022.
Voted Yes · Mar 2023 — Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022.
+2 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2025
Sponsored — Federal Prisons Accountability Act of 2023
Cosponsored — Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues Act
Cosponsored — Back the Blue Act of 2023
Cosponsored — Justice for 9/11 Act
+6 more
What should drive US foreign policy?
Clear record
Active leadership of democratic alliances against authoritarian powers
Cosponsored Sanctioning Russia Act, Finland/Sweden NATO accession, and Hong Kong condemnation resolutions; voted against Iran and Venezuela war-powers withdrawal resolutions.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 12 votes · 28 cosponsorships
Votes
Did not vote · Jun 2026 — A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.
Did not vote · Jun 2026 — Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.
Did not vote · Jun 2026 — A resolution requesting information on Honduras's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
Voted Yes · Jun 2026 — Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act
Voted Yes · Apr 2026 — A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Republic of Cuba that have not been authorized by Congress.
+7 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026
Cosponsored — A resolution acknowledging the fourth anniversary of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, reaffirming support for the people of Ukraine, and emphasizing the importance of robust United States security guarantees within a transatlantic commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty.
Cosponsored — BRAVE Burma Act
Cosponsored — No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act
Cosponsored — Never Yielding Europe’s Territory (NYET) Act of 2022
+23 more
How should the federal government approach democratic institutions and elections?
Clear record
Strengthen election integrity through voter ID, citizenship verification, and signature checks
Voted for the SAVE Act citizenship-verification bill and cosponsored the Citizen Ballot Protection Act; opposed the Freedom to Vote Act.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 10 votes · 6 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · Mar 2026 — Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2025
Voted No · Sep 2022 — DISCLOSE Act of 2022
Voted Yes · Jan 2022 — Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act
Voted No · Nov 2021 — John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021
Voted No · Oct 2021 — Freedom to Vote Act
+5 more
Cosponsorships
Cosponsored — A resolution to provide for related procedures concerning the article of impeachment against Donald John Trump, former President of the United States.
Cosponsored — Promoting Free and Fair Elections Act
Cosponsored — Political BIAS Emails Act of 2022
Cosponsored — Citizen Ballot Protection Act
Cosponsored — A joint resolution disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022.
+1 more

Where Mitch stands

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