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

James Louis Oberstar

Representative from Minnesota
HOUSEDEMOCRAT1975–2011ID O000006
Compare
LegislationHEADLINE
93%with Dems
of 10,355 votes
Nominations
—with Dems
of 0 · confirmations only
All contested
93%with Dems
of 10,355 · both combined
Steepest move
+6 pts
2005 → 2007
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 ↓197519811987199319992005
2009–10111th Congress
Sat as a Democrat
98.1%with Democrats
of 747 contested votes
Votes for this Congress are open below
Steepest move: 2005 → 2007, +6 pts — while still a Democrat.
Sat as a DemocratSat as a RepublicanVotes available below

Votes

DateBillVoteTypeCastSided with
Dec 21, 2010H.R. 6547Protecting Students from Sexual and Violent Predators ActLEGISLATIONYEABOTH · NOT SCORED
Dec 21, 2010H.R. 3082Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposesLEGISLATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Dec 21, 2010H.R. 2751FDA Food Safety Modernization ActLEGISLATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Full textFDA Food Safety Modernization ActParty majoritiesDemocrats Yea · Republicans NayCounts toward scoreYes — the parties split.
Where this lands
YEASided with the Democratic majority
Dec 21, 2010H.R. 2142GPRA Modernization Act of 2010LEGISLATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Dec 21, 2010H.R. 5116America COMPETES Reauthorization ActLEGISLATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Dec 21, 2010H.R. 6540Defense Level Playing Field ActLEGISLATIONYEABOTH · NOT SCORED
Dec 21, 2010H.Res. 1771Waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules, and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rulesLEGISLATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Dec 17, 2010S. 3874Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water ActLEGISLATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
Dec 17, 2010H.R. 5510Aiding Those Facing Foreclosure Act of 2010LEGISLATIONYEADEM MAJORITY
9 most recent roll calls shown · 747 contested votes scored in the 111th CongressAll votes this Congress →

By policy area

career · legislation
Economics and Public Finance91.9% · 2,462 votes
Congress97.2% · 2,042 votes
Armed Forces and National Security94.4% · 659 votes
Government Operations and Politics93.7% · 542 votes
International Affairs89.5% · 524 votes
Public Lands and Natural Resources86.8% · 280 votes
Taxation98.1% · 265 votes
Labor and Employment98.8% · 259 votes
Crime and Law Enforcement67.9% · 234 votes
Energy91.6% · 226 votes
Health78.4% · 222 votes
Education96.9% · 196 votes
Foreign Trade and International Finance92.5% · 187 votes
Transportation and Public Works93.5% · 186 votes
Agriculture and Food93.3% · 178 votes
Finance and Financial Sector90.6% · 170 votes
Science, Technology, Communications93.3% · 164 votes
Housing and Community Development96.8% · 154 votes
Law93.8% · 144 votes
Environmental Protection95.8% · 120 votes
Commerce93% · 100 votes
Social Welfare98.8% · 82 votes
Emergency Management96.3% · 81 votes
Immigration97.2% · 71 votes
Water Resources Development93.8% · 64 votes
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues96.6% · 58 votes
Native Americans94.2% · 52 votes
Commemorations100% · 26 votes
Families90.5% · 21 votes
Animals76.5% · 17 votes
Arts, Culture, Religion100% · 17 votes
Industrial relations100% · 14 votes
Too few contested votes to score
Independent regulatory commissions— · 9 votes
Lobbying— · 9 votes
Private Legislation— · 8 votes
Depletion allowances— · 7 votes
Electronic surveillance— · 7 votes
Black lung— · 6 votes
Mines and mineral resources— · 6 votes
Mortgages— · 6 votes
Vietnamese Conflict— · 6 votes
Home repair and improvement— · 5 votes
Constitutional amendments— · 4 votes
Government securities— · 4 votes
Income tax— · 4 votes
Municipal finance— · 4 votes
Political participation— · 4 votes
Social Sciences and History— · 4 votes
Congressional-Presidential relations— · 3 votes
Credit— · 3 votes
Embargo— · 3 votes
Financial disclosure— · 3 votes
Indian claims— · 3 votes
International economic relations— · 3 votes
Postal rates and revenues— · 3 votes
Public works— · 3 votes
Revenue sharing— · 3 votes
Sports and Recreation— · 3 votes
Conferences— · 2 votes
Contested elections— · 2 votes
Cultural centers— · 2 votes
Executive reorganization— · 2 votes
Life insurance— · 2 votes
Museums— · 2 votes
Power resources— · 2 votes
Printing— · 2 votes
Territories (U.S.)— · 2 votes
Youth— · 2 votes
Aquaculture— · 1 vote
Barber and beauty shops— · 1 vote
Chemicals— · 1 vote
Congressional oversight— · 1 vote
Day care— · 1 vote
Disabled— · 1 vote
Domestic relations— · 1 vote
Droughts— · 1 vote
Earthquakes— · 1 vote
Government corporations— · 1 vote
Heating— · 1 vote
Impeachments— · 1 vote
Import restrictions— · 1 vote
Intergovernmental relations— · 1 vote
Lakes— · 1 vote
Monuments and memorials— · 1 vote
Motor vehicles— · 1 vote
Noise— · 1 vote
Political representation— · 1 vote
Postal service— · 1 vote
Reclamation of land— · 1 vote
Refugees— · 1 vote
Rehabilitation— · 1 vote
Right to counsel— · 1 vote
Rivers— · 1 vote

They also voted in 64 areas where the parties never split, so there is nothing to score — never on a contested question: Age and employment, Agriculture in foreign trade, Auditing, Aviation insurance, Awards, medals, prizes, Broadcasting, Cemeteries and funerals, Checks, Child abuse, Citizenship, Clergy, Climate, Clothing industry, Commodity control, Conservation of natural resources, Contempt of legislative bodies, Corporations, Customs administration, Dairy industry, District of Columbia, Emigration, Federal advisory bodies, Federal-state relations, Fire fighters, Fishes, Gambling, Gold, Government life insurance, Government property, Government publications, Human rights, Insect control, Interest, Intergovernmental fiscal relations, International agencies, Leases, Libraries, Lotteries, Marine mammal protection, Marine resources conservation, Municipal budgets, Municipal home rule, Municipal politics and government, Narcotics, National emblems, Nuclear facilities, Nuclear weapons, Photovoltaic power systems, Political prisoners, Prices, Public records, Real estate business, Real property, Recall of officials, Recreation areas, Referendum, Rural conditions, Salaries, Solar energy, Strategic materials, Terrorism, Tobacco, Water conservation, Witnesses.

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

Service record

18 Congresses
94th · 1975111th · 2009
Democrat · House · MN94th–111th
Term datesexact
Members · Minnesota
JO

James Louis Oberstar

Representative from Minnesota
HOUSED1975–201118 CONGRESSES
Compare
LegislationHEADLINE
93.1%with Democrats
of 10,355 votes · 6.9% with Republicans
Nominations—of 0 votes
All contested93%of 10,355 · combined
Steepest move+6 pts2005→07, as a Democrat

Career arc

10050019752009
2009–10 · 111th · Democrat · of 747 votes98.1%

Legislation leads. Tap a point to read that Congress.

Votes

Democratic majorityYea
Republican majorityNay
Counts toward scoreYes
Open roll call
Latest 6 shown · 747 contested votes scored in the 111th

By policy area

career
Economics and Public Finance91.9% · 2,462
Congress97.2% · 2,042
Armed Forces and National Security94.4% · 659
Government Operations and Politics93.7% · 542
International Affairs89.5% · 524
Public Lands and Natural Resources86.8% · 280
Taxation98.1% · 265
Labor and Employment98.8% · 259
Crime and Law Enforcement67.9% · 234
Energy91.6% · 226
Health78.4% · 222
Education96.9% · 196
Foreign Trade and International Finance92.5% · 187
Transportation and Public Works93.5% · 186
Agriculture and Food93.3% · 178
Finance and Financial Sector90.6% · 170
Science, Technology, Communications93.3% · 164
Housing and Community Development96.8% · 154
Law93.8% · 144
Environmental Protection95.8% · 120
Commerce93% · 100
Social Welfare98.8% · 82
Emergency Management96.3% · 81
Immigration97.2% · 71
Water Resources Development93.8% · 64
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues96.6% · 58
Native Americans94.2% · 52
Commemorations100% · 26
Families90.5% · 21
Animals76.5% · 17
Arts, Culture, Religion100% · 17
Industrial relations100% · 14
Independent regulatory commissions— · 9
Lobbying— · 9
Private Legislation— · 8
Depletion allowances— · 7
Electronic surveillance— · 7
Black lung— · 6
Mines and mineral resources— · 6
Mortgages— · 6
Vietnamese Conflict— · 6
Home repair and improvement— · 5
Constitutional amendments— · 4
Government securities— · 4
Income tax— · 4
Municipal finance— · 4
Political participation— · 4
Social Sciences and History— · 4
Congressional-Presidential relations— · 3
Credit— · 3
Embargo— · 3
Financial disclosure— · 3
Indian claims— · 3
International economic relations— · 3
Postal rates and revenues— · 3
Public works— · 3
Revenue sharing— · 3
Sports and Recreation— · 3
Conferences— · 2
Contested elections— · 2
Cultural centers— · 2
Executive reorganization— · 2
Life insurance— · 2
Museums— · 2
Power resources— · 2
Printing— · 2
Territories (U.S.)— · 2
Youth— · 2
Aquaculture— · 1
Barber and beauty shops— · 1
Chemicals— · 1
Congressional oversight— · 1
Day care— · 1
Disabled— · 1
Domestic relations— · 1
Droughts— · 1
Earthquakes— · 1
Government corporations— · 1
Heating— · 1
Impeachments— · 1
Import restrictions— · 1
Intergovernmental relations— · 1
Lakes— · 1
Monuments and memorials— · 1
Motor vehicles— · 1
Noise— · 1
Political representation— · 1
Postal service— · 1
Reclamation of land— · 1
Refugees— · 1
Rehabilitation— · 1
Right to counsel— · 1
Rivers— · 1

Also voted in 64 areas where the parties never split — never on a contested question: Age and employment, Agriculture in foreign trade, Auditing, Aviation insurance, Awards, medals, prizes, Broadcasting, Cemeteries and funerals, Checks, Child abuse, Citizenship, Clergy, Climate, Clothing industry, Commodity control, Conservation of natural resources, Contempt of legislative bodies, Corporations, Customs administration, Dairy industry, District of Columbia, Emigration, Federal advisory bodies, Federal-state relations, Fire fighters, Fishes, Gambling, Gold, Government life insurance, Government property, Government publications, Human rights, Insect control, Interest, Intergovernmental fiscal relations, International agencies, Leases, Libraries, Lotteries, Marine mammal protection, Marine resources conservation, Municipal budgets, Municipal home rule, Municipal politics and government, Narcotics, National emblems, Nuclear facilities, Nuclear weapons, Photovoltaic power systems, Political prisoners, Prices, Public records, Real estate business, Real property, Recall of officials, Recreation areas, Referendum, Rural conditions, Salaries, Solar energy, Strategic materials, Terrorism, Tobacco, Water conservation, Witnesses.

Service record

94th · 1975111th · 2009
Democrat94th–111th

Party switchers

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