Sheldon Whitehouse
2007 - Present
2025
17
Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. Senate from Rhode Island. He assumed office on January 3, 2007. His current term ends on January 3, 2025.
Whitehouse (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. Senate to represent Rhode Island. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on September 10, 2024.[source]
Whitehouse previously served as the Rhode Island attorney general from 1999 to 2003. Before that, he was a United States attorney from 1994 to 1998. He was nominated to the position by President Bill Clinton (D).
Whitehouse was a superdelegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention from Rhode Island. He cast his vote for Hillary Clinton.
As of a 2014 analysis of multiple outside rankings, Whitehouse is an average Democratic member of Congress, meaning he will vote with the Democratic Party on the majority of bills.
Career
Below is an abbreviated outline of Whitehouse's academic, professional, and political career:[1]
- 2007-Present: U.S. Senator from Rhode Island
- 1999-2003: Served as Rhode Island State Attorney General
- 1994-1998: Served as United States Attorney
- 1992-1994: Served as director, Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation
- 1982: Received his J.D. from the University of Virginia
- 1978: Graduated from Yale University
Possible 2016 SCOTUS nominee
Prior to President Barack Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland, Whitehouse was mentioned as a possible nominee to replace former United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died on February 13, 2016.[2]
Committee assignments
U.S. Senate
2023-2024
Whitehouse was assigned to the following committees:[Source]
- Senate Committee on Budget
- Committee on Finance
- Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure
- Subcommittee on Health Care
- Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight
- Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety
- Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife
- Committee on Judiciary
2021-2022
Whitehouse was assigned to the following committees:[Source]
- Committee on the Judiciary
- Subcommittee on The Constitution
- Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism
- Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, Chair
- Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law
- Senate Committee on Budget
- Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety
- Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife
- Transportation and Infrastructure
- Committee on Finance
- Health Care
- Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure
- Taxation and IRS Oversight, Chair
2019-2020
Whitehouse was assigned to the following committees:[Source]
- Senate Committee on Budget
- Committee on Finance
- Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Committee on the Judiciary
2017-2018
At the beginning of the 115th Congress, Whitehouse was assigned to the following committees:[3]
- Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
- United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control
- Committee on Aging (Special)
- Committee on the Budget
- Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Committee on the Judiciary
2015-2016
Whitehouse served on the following committees:[4]
- Special Committee on Aging
- Budget Committee
- Environment and Public Works Committee
- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Judiciary Committee
2013-2014
Whitehouse served on the following committees:[5]
- Budget Committee
- Environment and Public Works Committee
- Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife
- Subcommittee on Oversight
- Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety
- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging
- Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
- Judiciary Committee
- Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism Chairman
- Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law
- Bankruptcy and the Courts subcommittee
- United States Special Committee on Aging
2011-2012
Whitehouse served on the following committees:[6]
Key votes
- See also: Key votes
Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here.
Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023
The 118th United States Congress began on January 3, 2023, at which point Republicans held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (222-212), and Democrats held the majority in the U.S. Senate (51-49). Joe Biden (D) was the president and Kamala Harris (D) was the vice president. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.
Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vote | Bill and description | Status | ||||||
Yea |
|
Passed (87-13) | ||||||
Yea |
|
Passed (87-11) | ||||||
Yea |
|
Passed (88-9) | ||||||
Yea |
|
Passed (63-36) | ||||||
Not Voting |
|
Passed (68-23) | ||||||
Nay |
|
Failed (50-49) | ||||||
Nay |
|
Passed (50-46) |
Key votes: Previous sessions of Congress
Key votes (click "show" to expand or "hide" to contract) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Key votes: 117th Congress, 2021-2023The 117th United States Congress began on January 3, 2021 and ended on January 3, 2023. At the start of the session, Democrats held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (222-213), and the U.S. Senate had a 50-50 makeup. Democrats assumed control of the Senate on January 20, 2021, when President Joe Biden (D) and Vice President Kamala Harris (D), who acted as a tie-breaking vote in the chamber, assumed office. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.
Key votes: 116th Congress, 2019-2020114th CongressThe first session of the 114th Congress enacted into law six out of the 2,616 introduced bills (0.2 percent). Comparatively, the 113th Congress had 1.3 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the first session. In the second session, the 114th Congress enacted 133 out of 3,159 introduced bills (4.2 percent). Comparatively, the 113th Congress had 7.0 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session.[34][35] The Senate confirmed 18,117 out of 21,815 executive nominations received (83 percent). For more information pertaining to Whitehouse's voting record in the 114th Congress, please see the below sections.[36] Economic and fiscalTrade Act of 2015 On May 22, 2015, the Senate passed HR 1314, which was used as a legislative vehicle for trade legislation with the titles "Trade Act of 2015" and the "Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015," by a vote of 62-37. The bill proposed giving the president trade promotion authority (TPA). TPA, also known as fast track authority, allows the president to negotiate trade deals that cannot be amended by Congress. Congress casts a simple up or down vote on a trade agreement, and the legislation only requires a simple majority for approval. The bill also included a statement of trade priorities and provisions for trade adjustment assistance. Whitehouse voted with 30 other Democratic senators against the bill.[37][38]
2016 Budget proposalOn May 5, 2015, the Senate voted to approve SConRes11, a congressional budget proposal for fiscal year 2016, by a vote of 51-48. The non-binding resolution will be used to create 12 appropriations bills to fund the government before funding runs out on October 1, 2015. The vote marked the first time since 2009 that Congress approved a joint budget resolution. All 44 Democrats, including Whitehouse, voted against the resolution.[42][43][44] Defense spending authorizationOn November 10, 2015, the Senate passed S 1356 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 by a vote of 91-3. The second version of the $607 billion national defense bill included "$5 billion in cuts to match what was approved in the budget" and language preventing the closure of the Guantanamo Bay military prison.[45][46] Whitehouse voted with 41 Democrats, 48 Republicans and one independent in favor of the bill.[47] On November 5, 2015, the House passed the bill by a vote of 370-58, and President Barack Obama signed it into law on November 25, 2015.[48] On June 18, 2015, the Senate passed HR 1735 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 by a vote of 71-25. The bill "authorizes FY2016 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It does not provide budget authority, which is provided in subsequent appropriations legislation." Whitehouse voted with 21 Democrats, two Republicans and one Independent against the bill.[49] The House passed the bill on May 15, 2015.[50] President Barack Obama vetoed the bill on October 22, 2015.[51] 2015 budgetOn October 30, 2015, the Senate passed HR 1314 - Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 by a vote of 64-35. The bill increased military and domestic spending levels and suspended the debt ceiling until March 2017.[52] Whitehouse voted with 43 Democrats, 18 Republicans and two independents in favor of the bill.[53] It passed the House on October 28, 2015.[54] President Barack Obama signed it into law on November 2, 2015. Foreign AffairsIran nuclear deal
On May 7, 2015, the Senate voted to approve HR 1191 - A bill to provide for congressional review and oversight of agreements relating to Iran's nuclear program, and for other purposes, by a vote of 98-1. The bill required President Barack Obama to submit the details of the nuclear deal with Iran for congressional review. Congress had 60 days to review the deal and vote to approve, disapprove or take no action on the deal. During the review period, sanctions on Iran could not be lifted. All 43 Democratic senators who voted, including Whitehouse, approved the bill.[55][56]
DomesticUSA FREEDOM Act of 2015On June 2, 2015, the Senate passed HR 2048 - the Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring Act of 2015 or the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 by a vote of 67-32. The legislation revised HR 3199 - the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 by terminating the bulk collection of metadata under Sec. 215 of the act, requiring increased reporting from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and requiring the use of "a specific selection term as the basis for national security letters that request information from wire or electronic communication service providers, financial institutions, or consumer reporting agencies." Whitehouse voted with 42 Democrats, 23 Republicans and one Independent to approve the legislation. It became law on June 2, 2015.[64][65] Cyber securityOn October 27, 2015, the Senate passed S 754 - the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 by a vote of 74-21.[66] The bill proposed procedures that would allow federal agencies and private entities to share information about cyber threats. Whitehouse voted with 29 Democrats, 43 Republicans and one independent in favor of the bill.[67] ImmigrationOn October 20, 2015, the Senate voted against proceeding to a vote on S 2146 - the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act by a vote of 54-45. The bill proposed withholding federal funding from "sanctuary jurisdictions" that violate the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 and other federal immigration laws. In addition, the bill proposed increasing "penalties for individuals who illegally reenter the United States after being removed" and providing "liability protection for State and local law enforcement who cooperate with Federal law enforcement."[68] Whitehouse voted with 41 Democrats, one Republican and two Independents against proceeding to the bill.[69] 113th CongressThe second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 224 out of the 3215 introduced bills (7 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session.[70] The Senate confirmed 13,949 out of 18,323 executive nominations received (76.1 percent). For more information pertaining to Whitehouse's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections.[71] National securityJohn Brennan CIA nominationWhitehouse voted for the confirmation of John Brennan as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The nomination was confirmed by the Senate on March 7, 2013, with a vote of 63 - 34. Most Democrats supported the nomination, while Republicans were somewhat divided with roughly one-third supporting the nomination.[72] EconomyFarm billOn February 4, 2014, the Democratic controlled Senate approved the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, H.R. 2642, also known as the Farm Bill.[73] It passed the Senate with a vote of 68-32. The nearly 1,000-page bill reformed and continued various programs of the Department of Agriculture through 2018. The $1 trillion bill expanded crop insurance for farmers by $7 billion over the next decade and created new subsidies for rice and peanut growers that would kick in when prices drop.[74] However, cuts to the food stamp program cut an average of $90 per month for 1.7 million people in 15 states.[74] Whitehouse was one of nine Democratic senators who voted against the bill. 2014 BudgetOn January 16, 2014, the Democratic-controlled Senate approved H.R. 3547, a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September 30, 2014.[75][76] The Senate voted 72-26 for the 1,582 page bill, with 17 Republicans and 55 Democrats voting in favor of the bill.[76] The omnibus package included 12 annual spending bills to fund federal operations.[77] It included a 1 percent increase in the paychecks of federal workers and military personnel, a $1 billion increase in Head Start funding for early childhood education, reduced funding to the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency and left the Affordable Care Act without any drastic cuts. Whitehouse voted with the Democratic Party in favor of the bill.[75][76] Government shutdown
During the shutdown in October 2013, the Senate rejected, down party lines, every House-originated bill that stripped the budget of funding for the Affordable Care Act. A deal was reached late on October 16, 2013, just hours before the debt ceiling deadline. The bill to reopen the government, H.R. 2775, lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies.[78] The final vote on H.R. 2775 was 81-18, with all 18 votes against the bill from Republican members. Whitehouse voted with the Democratic Party for the bill.[79] No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013Whitehouse voted for H.R.325 -- No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013. The bill passed the Senate on January 31, 2013, with a vote of 64 - 34. The purpose of the bill was to temporarily suspend the debt ceiling and withhold the pay of members of Congress until a budget could be passed. The vote largely followed party lines with Democrats overwhelmingly supporting it and many Republicans in opposition to the bill.[72] ImmigrationMexico-U.S. borderWhitehouse voted against Senate Amendment 1197 -- Requires the Completion of the Fence Along the United States-Mexico Border. The amendment was rejected by the Senate on June 18, 2013, with a vote of 39 - 54. The purpose of the amendment was to require the completion of 350 miles of fence described in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 before registered provisional immigrant status may be granted. It would also require 700 miles of fence be completed before the status of registered provisional immigrants may be changed to permanent resident status. The vote followed party lines.[72] Social issuesViolence Against Women (2013)Whitehouse voted for S.47 -- Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. The bill was passed by the Senate on February 12, 2013, with a vote of 78 - 22. The purpose of the bill was to combat violence against women, from domestic violence to international trafficking in persons. All 22 dissenting votes were cast by Republicans.[72] Previous congressional sessionsFiscal cliffWhitehouse voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003, while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. The bill was passed in the Senate by an 89 - 8 vote on January 1, 2013.[80] |
Elections
2024
See also: United States Senate election in Rhode Island, 2024
General election
The primary will occur on September 10, 2024. The general election will occur on November 5, 2024. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.
General election for U.S. Senate Rhode Island
Armando Anzoli is running in the general election for U.S. Senate Rhode Island on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
Armando Anzoli (Independent) (Write-in) |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Rhode Island
Incumbent Sheldon Whitehouse is running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Rhode Island on September 10, 2024.
Candidate | ||
Sheldon Whitehouse |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Allen Waters (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Rhode Island
Raymond McKay and Patricia Morgan are running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Rhode Island on September 10, 2024.
Candidate | ||
Raymond McKay | ||
Patricia Morgan |
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2018
General election
General election for U.S. Senate Rhode Island
Incumbent Sheldon Whitehouse defeated Robert Flanders Jr. in the general election for U.S. Senate Rhode Island on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Sheldon Whitehouse (D) | 61.4 | 231,477 | |
Robert Flanders Jr. (R) | 38.3 | 144,421 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 840 |
Total votes: 376,738 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Raymond McKay (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Rhode Island
Incumbent Sheldon Whitehouse defeated Patricia Fontes in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Rhode Island on September 12, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Sheldon Whitehouse | 76.8 | 89,140 | |
Patricia Fontes | 23.2 | 26,947 |
Total votes: 116,087 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Rhode Island
Robert Flanders Jr. defeated Roque De La Fuente in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Rhode Island on September 12, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Robert Flanders Jr. | 87.7 | 26,543 | |
Roque De La Fuente | 12.3 | 3,722 |
Total votes: 30,265 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
2012
Whitehouse won re-election in 2012. He defeated B. Barrett Hinckley, III (R) and various write-in challengers in the general election.
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Sheldon Whitehouse Incumbent | 64.8% | 271,034 | |
Republican | B. Barrett Hinckley, III | 35% | 146,222 | |
Write-in | N/A | 0.2% | 933 | |
Total Votes | 418,189 | |||
Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" |
Polls
Democratic Primary for Congress | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Sheldon Whitehouse | Barry Hinckley | Not sure | Refused | Margin of Error | Sample Size | |||||||||||||
"Campaign 2012 Exclusive Poll" February 20-23 | 50.1% | 27.8% | 19.6% | 2.5% | +/-4.4 | 511 | |||||||||||||
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org |
Full history
To view the full congressional electoral history for Sheldon Whitehouse, click [show] to expand the section. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 On November 7, 2006, Sheldon Whitehouse won election to the United States Senate. He defeated Lincoln Chafee (R) in the general election.[81]
|
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Sheldon Whitehouse has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Sheldon Whitehouse asking him to fill out the survey. If you are Sheldon Whitehouse, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?
Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for. More than 17,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.
You can ask Sheldon Whitehouse to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing info@whitehouseforsenate.com.
2018
Campaign website
Whitehouse's campaign website stated the following:
“ |
Protecting Social Security & Medicare Lowering Health Care Costs Creating Good Jobs, Rebuilding Infrastructure, & Supporting Small Businesses I’ve helped bring millions of federal dollars back to Rhode Island to create construction jobs and invest our roads, bridges, and ports. I created a fund to help communities near the ocean meet the unique challenges facing coastal infrastructure. And I’m calling for bipartisan action on a $1 trillion investment in our national infrastructure to help American companies compete in the global economy. Preventing & Treating Addiction Standing Up to Special Interests Protecting the Environment I’ve authored legislation that would put a price on carbon pollution, reducing the emissions that drive climate change and returning all the money collected back to the American people. Democrats and Republicans who are serious about tackling climate change agree that a system like the one I’ve proposed is our best bet for curbing carbon pollution. Fixing Our Immigration System & Ensuring Justice It is long past time for Congress to enact common sense gun safety measures like universal background checks and renewing a ban on military-style assault weapons. I’m going to keep fighting for those changes until we’ve eliminated the scourge of senseless gun violence in America. I’ve also been working with colleagues across the aisle to pass much-needed reforms to our criminal justice system. Creating Opportunity Through Education Supporting Veterans |
” |
—Sheldon Whitehouse’s campaign website (2018)[83] |
(2012)
According to Whitehouse's website, his campaign themes included:
- Jobs: "...focused on creating Rhode Island's clean energy jobs of the future, and has introduced a bill to end corporate tax breaks companies receive when they ship jobs overseas."
- Seniors: "...a co-founder of the Defend Social Security Caucus, he will always fight against attempts to risk Social Security on Wall Street."
- Siding with Consumers and Homeowners: "...supporting legislation to give homeowners more leverage to renegotiate mortgages and standing up for consumers victimized when credit card companies raise interest rates through the roof."[84]
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage and endorsements scopes.
Personal Gain Index
- See also: Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)
- See also: Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)
The Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress) is a two-part measurement that illustrates the extent to which members of the U.S. Congress have prospered during their tenure as public servants.
It consists of two different metrics:
PGI: Change in net worth
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Whitehouse's net worth as of 2012 was estimated between $2,549,198 to $8,564,999. That averages to $5,557,098.50, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic Senate members in 2012 of $13,566,333.90. Whitehouse ranked as the 26th most wealthy senator in 2012.[85] Between 2006 and 2012, Whitehouse's calculated net worth[86] decreased by an average of 7 percent per year. Between 2004 and 2012, the average annual percentage increase for a member of Congress was 15.4 percent.[87]
Sheldon Whitehouse Yearly Net Worth | |
---|---|
Year | Average Net Worth |
2006 | $9,633,134 |
2012 | $5,557,098 |
Growth from 2006 to 2012: | −42% |
Average annual growth: | −7%[88] |
Comparatively, the American citizen experienced a median yearly decline in net worth of -0.94%.[89] |
The data used to calculate changes in net worth may include changes resulting from assets gained through marriage, inheritance, changes in family estates and/or trusts, changes in family business ownership, and many other variables unrelated to a member's behavior in Congress.
PGI: Donation Concentration Metric
Filings required by the Federal Election Commission report on the industries that give to each candidate. Using campaign filings and information calculated by OpenSecrets.org, Ballotpedia calculated the percentage of donations by industry received by each incumbent over the course of his or her career (or 1989 and later, if elected prior to 1988). In the 113th Congress, Whitehouse was the chair of the Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism. Whitehouse received the most donations from individuals and PACs employed by the Lawyers/Law Firms industry.
From 2005-2014, 36 percent of Whitehouse's career contributions came from the top five industries as listed below.[90]
Sheldon Whitehouse Campaign Contributions | |
---|---|
Total Raised | $11,651,891 |
Total Spent | $11,747,744 |
Chair of the Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism | |
Top five industries that contributed to campaign committee | |
Lawyers/Law Firms | $1,631,412 |
Securities & Investment | $973,565 |
Retired | $571,558 |
Leadership PACs | $532,262 |
Real Estate | $486,079 |
% total in top industry | 14% |
% total in top two industries | 22.36% |
% total in top five industries | 36% |
Analysis
Ideology and leadership
Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Whitehouse was a far-left Democrat as of September 2014.[91] This was the same rating Whitehouse received in July 2013.[92]
Like-minded colleagues
The website OpenCongress tracks the voting records of each member to determine with whom he or she votes most and least often. The results include a member from each party.[93]
Whitehouse most often votes with: |
Whitehouse least often votes with: |
Congressional staff salaries
The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Whitehouse paid his congressional staff a total of $2,201,382 in 2011. He ranked 6th on the list of the lowest paid Democratic senatorial staff salaries and ranked 22nd overall of the lowest paid senatorial staff salaries in 2011. Overall, Rhode Island ranked 30th in average salary for senatorial staff. The average U.S. Senate congressional staff was paid $2,529,141.70 in fiscal year 2011.[94]
Lifetime voting record
According to the website GovTrack, Whitehouse missed 27 of 2,774 roll call votes from January 2007 to September 2015. This amounts to 1 percent, which is better than the median of 1.6 percent among current senators as of September 2015.[95]
National Journal vote ratings
- See also: National Journal vote ratings
Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Click the link above for the full ratings of all members of Congress.
2013
Whitehouse ranked 17th in the liberal rankings in 2013.[96]
2012
Whitehouse ranked 20th in the liberal rankings in 2012.[97]
2011
Whitehouse and fellow Democratic Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed both ranked 19th in the liberal rankings in 2011.[98]
Voting with Party
The website OpenCongress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus.
2014
Whitehouse voted with the Democratic Party 94.9 percent of the time, which ranked 28th among the 53 Senate Democratic members as of September 2014.[99]
2013
Whitehouse voted with the Democratic Party 94.8 percent of the time, which ranked 31st among the 52 Senate Democratic members as of June 2013.[100]
2011
Sheldon Whitehouse voted with the Democratic Party 98.0 percent of the time, which ranked 2nd among the 52 Senate Democratic members as of November 2011.[101]
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Candidate U.S. Senate Rhode Island |
Officeholder U.S. Senate Rhode Island |
Footnotes
- ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "Sheldon Whitehouse," accessed November 4, 2011
- ↑ San Antonio-Express News, "Senior U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia found dead at West Texas ranch," accessed February 13, 2016
- ↑ United States Senate, "Committee Assignments of the 115th Congress," accessed January 19, 2017
- ↑ United States Senate, "Committee Assignments of the 114th Congress," accessed February 17, 2015
- ↑ Congressional Quarterly, "Senate Committee List," accessed January 22, 2013
- ↑ Congressional Quarterly, "Senate Committee List," accessed January 22, 2013
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024," accessed February 27, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.6363 - Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024," accessed February 27, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.5860 - Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act," accessed February 27, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.3746 - Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023," accessed February 27, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.7 - Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020." accessed February 23, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.44 - 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'"" accessed February 28, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.30 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to 'Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights'." accessed February 23, 2024
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.3684 - Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act," accessed April 15, 2022
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.1319 - American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," accessed April 15, 2022
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.5376 - Inflation Reduction Act of 2022," accessed January 20, 2023
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.1605 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022," accessed April 15, 2022
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.7776 - James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023," accessed January 20, 2023
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.3373 - Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022," accessed January 20, 2023
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.4346 - Chips and Science Act," accessed January 20, 2023
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.3755 - Women's Health Protection Act of 2021," accessed April 15, 2022
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2471 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022," accessed January 20, 2023
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.8404 - Respect for Marriage Act," accessed January 20, 2023
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.6833 - Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023," accessed January 20, 2023
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.937 - COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act," accessed April 15, 2022
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.3076 - Postal Service Reform Act of 2022," accessed January 23, 2023
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.2938 - Bipartisan Safer Communities Act," accessed January 20, 2023
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.5305 - Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act," accessed January 23, 2023
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Res.24 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.," accessed April 15, 2022
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.350 - Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022," accessed January 23, 2023
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.Con.Res.14 - A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2022 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2023 through 2031.," accessed April 15, 2022
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.5746 - Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act," accessed January 20, 2023
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2617 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023," accessed January 20, 2023
- ↑ Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, First Session of the 113th Congress," accessed April 29, 2015
- ↑ Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, Second Session of the 114th Congress," accessed January 5, 2017
- ↑ Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, First Session of the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress," April 13, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 1314," accessed May 25, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "H.R. 1314 (Ensuring Tax Exempt Organizations the Right to Appeal Act)," accessed May 25, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "Roll Call for HR 2146," June 24, 2015
- ↑ The Hill, "Senate approves fast-track, sending trade bill to White House," June 24, 2015
- ↑ The Hill, "Obama signs trade bills," June 29, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.Con.Res.11," accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Conference Report (Conference Report to Accompany S. Con. Res. 11)," accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ The Hill, "Republicans pass a budget, flexing power of majority," accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ The Hill, "Redone defense policy bill sails through House," accessed November 12, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S. 1356," accessed November 12, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to S. 1356)," accessed November 12, 2015
- ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 618," accessed November 12, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture Re: Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1735)," accessed October 6, 2015
- ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 239," accessed May 27, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R. 1735," accessed May 27, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 1314 - Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015," accessed November 1, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1314)," accessed November 1, 2015
- ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 579," accessed November 1, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "HR 1191," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "H.R. 1191," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on McConnell Amdt. No. 2640 )," accessed September 10, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "HJ Res 61," accessed September 10, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on McConnell Amdt. No. 2640 )," accessed September 16, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "HJ Res 61," accessed September 10, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on McConnell Amdt. No. 2640 )," accessed September 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.Amdt.2656 to S.Amdt.2640," accessed September 17, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on McConnell Amdt. No. 2656)," accessed September 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2048," accessed May 26, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 2048)," accessed June 2, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S 754," accessed November 1, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (S. 754, As Amended)," accessed November 1, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S 2146," accessed November 2, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to S. 2146)," accessed November 2, 2015
- ↑ Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, First Session of the 112th Congress," accessed September 5, 2013
- ↑ Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, Second Session of the 113th Congress," accessed March 4, 2014
- ↑ 72.0 72.1 72.2 72.3 Project Vote Smart, "Sheldon Whitehouse Key Votes," accessed October 17, 2013
- ↑ Senate.gov, "H.R. 2642 (Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 )," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ 74.0 74.1 NY Times, "Senate Passes Long-Stalled Farm Bill, With Clear Winners and Losers," accessed February 12, 2014
- ↑ 75.0 75.1 Politico, "Senate approves $1.1 trillion spending bill," accessed January 20, 2014
- ↑ 76.0 76.1 76.2 U.S. Senate, "January 16 Vote," accessed January 20, 2014
- ↑ Roll Call, "House Passes $1.1 Trillion Omnibus," accessed January 20, 2014
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Reid, McConnell propose bipartisan Senate bill to end shutdown, extend borrowing," accessed October 16, 2013
- ↑ Senate.gov, "H.R. 2775 As Amended," accessed October 31, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Senate, "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff," accessed January 4, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Sheldon Whitehouse’s campaign website, “Priorities,” accessed November 1, 2018
- ↑ Whitehouse for Senate, "Issues," accessed August 28, 2012
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "Whitehouse, 2012," accessed January 14, 2014
- ↑ This figure represents the total percentage growth from either 2004 (if the member entered office in 2004 or earlier) or the member's first year in office (as noted in the chart below).
- ↑ This number was found by dividing each member's total net worth growth percentage by the number of years included in the calculation.
- ↑ This figure represents the total percentage growth divided by the number of years for which there are net worth figures for each member.
- ↑ This figure was calculated using median asset data from the Census Bureau. Please see the Congressional Net Worth data for Ballotpedia spreadsheet for more information on this calculation.
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse," accessed October 2, 2014
- ↑ GovTrack, "Sheldon Whitehouse," accessed September 4, 2014
- ↑ GovTrack, "Sheldon Whitehouse," accessed July 5, 2013
- ↑ OpenCongress, "Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse," archived February 28, 2016
- ↑ LegiStorm, "Sheldon Whitehouse," accessed August 6, 2012
- ↑ GovTrack, "Sheldon Whitehouse," accessed October 15, 2015
- ↑ National Journal, "TABLE: Senate Liberal Scores by Issue Area," September 4, 2014
- ↑ National Journal, "TABLE: Senate Liberal Scores by Issue Area," February 21, 2013
- ↑ National Journal, "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: House," accessed February 23, 2012
- ↑ OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," accessed July 2014
- ↑ OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," accessed July 2014
- ↑ OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," accessed July 2014
Political offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Lincoln Chafee (D) |
U.S. Senate Rhode Island 2007-Present |
Succeeded by - |
Preceded by - |
Attorney General of Rhode Island 1999-2003 |
Succeeded by - |