Sheldon Whitehouse

U.S. Senator · RI

Democrat

Want to know how closely Sheldon matches your views?

Where Sheldon 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?
Some evidence
Raise taxes on corporations and high earners to fund major new programs
Lower taxes, smaller governmentHigher taxes, expanded programs
Sponsored Paying a Fair Share Act and Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act, taxing incomes above $1 million to fund benefits.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 13 votes · 49 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · Aug 2026 — Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026
Voted No · Jul 2026 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
Voted No · 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 No · Mar 2026 — Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026.
Voted Yes · 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".
+8 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — Stop Subsidizing Giant Mergers Act
Sponsored — Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act
Sponsored — Clean Competition Act
Sponsored — First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act of 2025
Sponsored — Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act
+44 more
How should Social Security and Medicare be changed, if at all?
Clear record
Expand benefits and broaden eligibility
Reduce or restructure benefitsExpand benefits
Voted for Social Security Fairness Act (2024); cosponsored Social Security Expansion Act and sponsored Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 3 votes · 29 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted No · Nov 2025 — Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026
Voted No · Jul 2025 — An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Voted Yes · Dec 2024 — Social Security Fairness Act of 2023
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — A resolution urging the protection of Medicare from the devastating cuts caused by H.R. 1.
Sponsored — A bill to exempt Medicare from any sequestration under Statutory PAYGO that is caused by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Sponsored — Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act
Cosponsored — Work Without Worry Act
Cosponsored — Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act
+24 more
What should the federal government's role be in setting wages and protecting workers?
Some evidence
Significantly raise the minimum wage and strengthen union organizing rights
Less federal labor regulationStronger federal worker protections
Cosponsored Raise the Wage Act and the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 5 votes · 52 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted No · 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 Yes · 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.
Voted Yes · Jun 2021 — Paycheck Fairness Act
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — Curtailing Executive Overcompensation (CEO) Act
Cosponsored — Building Child Care for a Better Future Act
Cosponsored — Tax Fairness for Workers Act
Cosponsored — Child Care for Working Families Act
Cosponsored — Paycheck Fairness Act
+47 more
How should the federal government structure healthcare coverage and costs?
Some evidence
Transition to a single-payer (Medicare for All) system
Market-based, private insuranceSingle-payer government insurance
Cosponsored Medicare for All Act across multiple congresses; also cosponsored State Public Option Act and ACA premium-credit measures.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 6 votes · 47 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · 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 No · Dec 2025 — Health Care Freedom for Patients Act of 2025
Voted Yes · Dec 2025 — Lower Health Care Costs Act
Voted No · Nov 2025 — Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026
Voted Yes · Oct 2025 — Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026
+1 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — Prior Authorization Relief Act
Sponsored — Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act
Sponsored — Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act
Cosponsored — Health Care Affordability Act of 2024
Cosponsored — Living Donor Protection Act of 2025
+42 more
How should the federal government address climate change and energy policy?
Clear record
Rapid federal action to transition off fossil fuels
Prioritize energy production and affordabilityRapid transition off fossil fuels
Sponsored the Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax and cosponsored the Clean Energy for America Act and ZEVs Act; voted against expanding Arctic oil-and-gas drilling.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 16 votes · 54 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · 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 Yes · 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 No · 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 Yes · 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 "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units: Final Repeal".
Sponsored — Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act
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 "Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review: Extension of Deadlines in Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources".
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 "Air Plan Approval; Indiana; Regional Haze Plan for the Second Implementation Period".
Sponsored — A resolution recognizing that climate change-driven extreme weather events are increasing at the same time that the government is dismantling weather monitoring and alert systems.
+49 more
What should federal abortion policy be?
Clear record
Federal protection for abortion access throughout pregnancy
Federal restrictions on abortionFederal protection for abortion access
Cosponsored the Women's Health Protection Act and EACH Act and voted yes on its cloture, opposing governmental restrictions on abortion access.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 10 votes · 39 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · 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 No · Jan 2026 — Pregnant Students’ Rights Act
Voted No · Jul 2025 — An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Voted No · Jan 2025 — Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
Voted Yes · Sep 2024 — Right to IVF Act
+5 more
Cosponsorships
Cosponsored — Access to Family Building 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 Veterans Affairs relating to "Reproductive Health Services".
Cosponsored — Affordability is Access Act
Cosponsored — Protect IVF Act
Cosponsored — State Public Option Act
+34 more
What should federal firearms policy be?
Clear record
Restrict semi-automatic rifles and high-capacity magazines; broader background checks
Expand firearm rightsExpand firearm restrictions
Cosponsored Assault Weapons Ban and Background Check Expansion Act; voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (2022).
The record we reviewed on this issue — 3 votes · 45 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted No · Jul 2025 — An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
Voted No · 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 — Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act
Cosponsored — Extreme Risk Protection Order Act of 2021
Cosponsored — Age 21 Act
Cosponsored — Keep Americans Safe Act
Cosponsored — SHARE Act of 2025
+40 more
What should US immigration policy be?
Some evidence
Expand legal immigration; humane asylum and refugee policies
Reduced immigration, stricter enforcementExpanded immigration, humane policy
Cosponsored the GRACE Act raising refugee admissions, Citizenship for Essential Workers Act, and NO BAN Act expanding legal immigration and humane asylum protections.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 8 votes · 22 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · Jun 2026 — Secure America Act
Voted Yes · 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 No · 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 No · Mar 2026 — Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2025
Voted No · Jul 2025 — An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14.
+3 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — AMIGOS Act
Cosponsored — Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2023
Cosponsored — Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2021
Cosponsored — Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025
Cosponsored — Born in the USA Act
+17 more
How should the federal government approach criminal justice and policing?
Some evidence
End mandatory minimums, set federal policing standards, decriminalize drugs
Stronger enforcement, expanded authorityDecarceration and federal reform
Cosponsored the Smarter Sentencing Act and EQUAL Act reducing mandatory minimums, and sponsored the Bivens Act extending liability for constitutional violations.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 7 votes · 49 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted No · 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 No · May 2023 — Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022.
Voted No · Mar 2023 — Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022.
+2 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — Protect Law Enforcement Task Forces Act
Sponsored — Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Justice Grant Reauthorization Act
Sponsored — Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2024
Sponsored — Bivens Act of 2024
Sponsored — Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Juvenile Justice System Act of 2022
+44 more
What should drive US foreign policy?
Some evidence
Active leadership of democratic alliances against authoritarian powers
Sponsored the Asset Seizure for Ukraine Reconstruction Act and cosponsored the Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act, backing NATO allies and sanctions against Russia.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 13 votes · 57 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted Yes · Jul 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.
Voted No · Jul 2026 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027
Voted Yes · 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.
Voted Yes · 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 No · Jun 2026 — Fallen Servicemembers Religious Heritage Restoration Act
+8 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — REPO Implementation Act of 2025
Sponsored — Closing the De Minimis Loophole Act
Sponsored — Counter Kleptocracy Coordination Act of 2024
Sponsored — Asset Seizure for Ukraine Reconstruction Act
Sponsored — Foreign Extortion Prevention Act
+52 more
How should the federal government approach democratic institutions and elections?
Clear record
Pass federal voting access protections and ban partisan gerrymandering
Voted to advance the Freedom to Vote Act in 2021 and cosponsored it again in 2023; cosponsored Vote at Home Act.
The record we reviewed on this issue — 11 votes · 53 cosponsorships
Votes
Voted No · Aug 2026 — A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require voters to provide photo identification.
Voted No · Mar 2026 — Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2025
Voted Yes · Sep 2022 — DISCLOSE Act of 2022
Voted No · Jan 2022 — Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act
Voted Yes · Nov 2021 — John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021
+6 more
Cosponsorships
Sponsored — DISCLOSE Act of 2026
Sponsored — Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2025
Sponsored — A resolution condemning recent attacks on the free press by President Donald J. Trump and reaffirming the United States commitment to preserving and protecting freedom of the press as a cornerstone of democracy.
Sponsored — Get Foreign Money Out of U.S. Elections Act
Sponsored — Supreme Court Biennial Appointments and Term Limits Act of 2023
+48 more

Where Sheldon stands

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