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The Vote Ledger
JB

Joseph Robinette (Joe) Biden Jr.

Senator from Delaware
SENATEDEMOCRAT1973–2011ID B000444
Compare
LegislationHEADLINE
87%with Dems
of 6,445 votes
Nominations
93%with Dems
of 99 · confirmations only
All contested
87%with Dems
of 6,544 · both combined
Steepest move
+10 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 ↓1973197919851991199720032009
2009–10111th Congress
Sat as a Democrat
100%with Democrats
of 2 contested votes
Votes for this Congress are open below
Steepest move: 1989 → 1991, +10 pts — while still a Democrat.
Sat as a DemocratSat as a RepublicanVotes available below

Votes

DateBillVoteTypeCastSided with
Jan 15, 2009S.J.Res. 5A joint resolution relating to the disapproval of obligations under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.LEGISLATIONNAYDEM MAJORITY
Jan 15, 2009S. 181A bill to amend title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and to modify the operation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to clarify that a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice that is unlawful under such Acts occurs each time compensation is paid pursuant to the discriminatory compensation decision or other practice, and for other purposes.LEGISLATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
2 most recent roll calls shown · 2 contested votes scored in the 111th CongressAll votes this Congress →

By policy area

career · legislation
Economics and Public Finance87% · 1,906 votes
Armed Forces and National Security88.4% · 567 votes
Government Operations and Politics87.4% · 485 votes
Taxation86.7% · 429 votes
International Affairs84.1% · 296 votes
Energy87.6% · 226 votes
Agriculture and Food77.6% · 201 votes
Transportation and Public Works91.1% · 158 votes
Education92.3% · 156 votes
Health89.5% · 153 votes
Labor and Employment92.7% · 150 votes
Crime and Law Enforcement87% · 146 votes
Finance and Financial Sector73.4% · 143 votes
Foreign Trade and International Finance85.9% · 142 votes
Congress86.6% · 134 votes
Immigration88.5% · 131 votes
Social Welfare86.8% · 106 votes
Law91.3% · 103 votes
Public Lands and Natural Resources90.1% · 91 votes
Environmental Protection89.6% · 77 votes
Commerce86.8% · 76 votes
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues92.7% · 55 votes
Science, Technology, Communications81.8% · 55 votes
Emergency Management94.9% · 39 votes
Housing and Community Development96.8% · 31 votes
Animals96.4% · 28 votes
Water Resources Development92% · 25 votes
Sports and Recreation79.2% · 24 votes
Depletion allowances71.4% · 21 votes
Income tax72.2% · 18 votes
Power resources100% · 14 votes
Families100% · 13 votes
Independent regulatory commissions100% · 13 votes
Political participation60% · 10 votes
Too few contested votes to score
Commemorations— · 9 votes
Congressional-Presidential relations— · 9 votes
Native Americans— · 9 votes
Political representation— · 9 votes
Automobile insurance— · 8 votes
Economic stabilization— · 8 votes
Public works— · 8 votes
Solar heating and cooling— · 7 votes
Black lung— · 5 votes
Constitutional amendments— · 5 votes
Industrial relations— · 5 votes
Mortgages— · 5 votes
Petroleum industry— · 5 votes
Age and employment— · 4 votes
Credit— · 4 votes
Day care— · 4 votes
Embargo— · 4 votes
Intergovernmental relations— · 4 votes
Territories (U.S.)— · 4 votes
Amnesties— · 3 votes
Mines and mineral resources— · 3 votes
Motor vehicles— · 3 votes
Range management— · 3 votes
District of Columbia— · 2 votes
Government securities— · 2 votes
International monetary system— · 2 votes
Private Legislation— · 2 votes
Congressional oversight— · 1 vote
Conservation of natural resources— · 1 vote
Dairy industry— · 1 vote
Disaster relief— · 1 vote
Federal advisory bodies— · 1 vote
Government publications— · 1 vote
Intergovernmental fiscal relations— · 1 vote
Lobbying— · 1 vote
Monuments and memorials— · 1 vote
Ships and shipping— · 1 vote
Vietnamese Conflict— · 1 vote

They also voted in 40 areas where the parties never split, so there is nothing to score — never on a contested question: Arts, Culture, Religion, Auditing, Awards, medals, prizes, Child abuse, Child welfare, Congressional-executive relations, Disabled, Droughts, Electronic surveillance, Executive reorganization, Explosives, Gambling, Gold, Government corporations, Heating, Home repair and improvement, Human experimentation in medicine, Import restrictions, Interest, Investment guaranty insurance, Lakes, Land use, Lead poisoning, Livestock, Medical supplies, Mobile homes, Municipal finance, Nuclear facilities, Nuclear weapons, Postal rates and revenues, Postal service, Reclamation of land, Refugees, Revenue sharing, Right of privacy, Rivers, Salaries, Social Sciences and History, Strategic materials, Terrorism.

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

Service record

19 Congresses
93rd · 1973111th · 2009
Democrat · Senate · DE93rd–111th
Term datesexact
Members · Delaware
JB

Joseph Robinette (Joe) Biden Jr.

Senator from Delaware
SENATED1973–201119 CONGRESSES
Compare
LegislationHEADLINE
87%with Democrats
of 6,445 votes · 13% with Republicans
Nominations93%of 99 votes
All contested87%of 6,544 · combined
Steepest move+10 pts1989→91, as a Democrat

Career arc

10050019732009
2009–10 · 111th · Democrat · of 2 votes100%

Legislation leads. Tap a point to read that Congress.

Votes

Latest 2 shown · 2 contested votes scored in the 111th

By policy area

career
Economics and Public Finance87% · 1,906
Armed Forces and National Security88.4% · 567
Government Operations and Politics87.4% · 485
Taxation86.7% · 429
International Affairs84.1% · 296
Energy87.6% · 226
Agriculture and Food77.6% · 201
Transportation and Public Works91.1% · 158
Education92.3% · 156
Health89.5% · 153
Labor and Employment92.7% · 150
Crime and Law Enforcement87% · 146
Finance and Financial Sector73.4% · 143
Foreign Trade and International Finance85.9% · 142
Congress86.6% · 134
Immigration88.5% · 131
Social Welfare86.8% · 106
Law91.3% · 103
Public Lands and Natural Resources90.1% · 91
Environmental Protection89.6% · 77
Commerce86.8% · 76
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues92.7% · 55
Science, Technology, Communications81.8% · 55
Emergency Management94.9% · 39
Housing and Community Development96.8% · 31
Animals96.4% · 28
Water Resources Development92% · 25
Sports and Recreation79.2% · 24
Depletion allowances71.4% · 21
Income tax72.2% · 18
Power resources100% · 14
Families100% · 13
Independent regulatory commissions100% · 13
Political participation60% · 10
Commemorations— · 9
Congressional-Presidential relations— · 9
Native Americans— · 9
Political representation— · 9
Automobile insurance— · 8
Economic stabilization— · 8
Public works— · 8
Solar heating and cooling— · 7
Black lung— · 5
Constitutional amendments— · 5
Industrial relations— · 5
Mortgages— · 5
Petroleum industry— · 5
Age and employment— · 4
Credit— · 4
Day care— · 4
Embargo— · 4
Intergovernmental relations— · 4
Territories (U.S.)— · 4
Amnesties— · 3
Mines and mineral resources— · 3
Motor vehicles— · 3
Range management— · 3
District of Columbia— · 2
Government securities— · 2
International monetary system— · 2
Private Legislation— · 2
Congressional oversight— · 1
Conservation of natural resources— · 1
Dairy industry— · 1
Disaster relief— · 1
Federal advisory bodies— · 1
Government publications— · 1
Intergovernmental fiscal relations— · 1
Lobbying— · 1
Monuments and memorials— · 1
Ships and shipping— · 1
Vietnamese Conflict— · 1

Also voted in 40 areas where the parties never split — never on a contested question: Arts, Culture, Religion, Auditing, Awards, medals, prizes, Child abuse, Child welfare, Congressional-executive relations, Disabled, Droughts, Electronic surveillance, Executive reorganization, Explosives, Gambling, Gold, Government corporations, Heating, Home repair and improvement, Human experimentation in medicine, Import restrictions, Interest, Investment guaranty insurance, Lakes, Land use, Lead poisoning, Livestock, Medical supplies, Mobile homes, Municipal finance, Nuclear facilities, Nuclear weapons, Postal rates and revenues, Postal service, Reclamation of land, Refugees, Revenue sharing, Right of privacy, Rivers, Salaries, Social Sciences and History, Strategic materials, Terrorism.

Service record

93rd · 1973111th · 2009
Democrat93rd–111th

Party switchers

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