Democratic Senators Sherrod Brown (OH), Barbara Mikulski (MD) and Harry Reid (NV) were among “the most liberal” Senators last year, according to new rankings by National Journal. Republican Sens. John McCain (AZ), Jim DeMint (SC) and John Thune (SD) were among the most conservative.
National Journal is out with its annual congressional voting record rankings, which track the voting patterns of the 535 members of the House and Senate. The takeaway? Congress in 2010 was the most polarized it has been in close to 30 years. Parties in Congress are increasingly working in “virtual lockstep,” which the magazine’s political guru, Ron Brownstein described as the “decline of individualism in Congress” and the rise of a “a more top-down, parliamentary-style institution.”
But there are still members on both sides who represent the outer edge of the party’s ideological leanings. Here are National Journal‘s top conservative and liberal leaders in each chamber.
Most Liberal
Senate (tied for first place)
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Carl Levin (D-MI)
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Harry Reid (D-NV)
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
House (tied for first place)
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Judy Chu (D-CA)
John Lewis (D-GA)
Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
John Olver (D-MA)
Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
Linda Sanchez (D-CA)
Read National Journal‘s full “most liberal” list here.
Most Conservative
Senate (tied for first place)
John Barasso (R-WY)
Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Jim DeMint (R-SC)
John McCain (R-AZ)
James Risch (R-ID)
John Thune (R-SD)
House (tied for first place)
Randy Neugebauer (R-TX)
Sam Johnson (R-TX)
Jim Jordan (R-OH)
Doug Lamborn (R-CO)
Trent Franks (R-AZ)
Read National Journal‘s full “most conservative” list here.
