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James Ramstad's Ratings and Endorsements

Vote Smart displays all known interest group ratings for each candidate and official, regardless of issue or bias.

Keep in mind that ratings done by special interest groups often do not represent a non-partisan stance. In addition, some groups select votes that tend to favor members of one political party over another, rather than choosing votes based solely on issue concerns. Nevertheless, they can be invaluable in showing where an incumbent has stood on a series of votes in the past one or two years, especially when ratings by groups on all sides of an issue are compared. Website links, if available, and descriptions of the organizations offering performance evaluations are accessible by clicking on the name of the group.

With rare exceptions, Vote Smart displays interest group ratings as a 0-100 percentage. While many interest groups use percentages as ratings to begin with, please note that Vote Smart has translated some ratings to a percentage from a different rating system for consistency and ease in understanding. Please visit the group's website, email us at ratings@votesmart.org or call our Voter Information Hotline at 1-888-VOTESMART for more specific information.

73%
2003-2004
68%
2003
68%
2001-2002
64%
1999-2000
35%
2006
40%
2005
35%
2004
30%
2003
45%
2001
66%
2000
63%
1999
46%
1997
45%
1996
55%
2005-2006
55%
2003-2004
56%
2001-2002
40%
1999-2000
46%
1999
40%
1997-1998
42%
1997
67%
1996
64%
2001
64%
1999
64%
1995-2003
70%
1995-1998
60%
1993-1996
100%
2001
47%
2005-2006
67%
2000
73%
1999
54%
1995-1996
93%
1993-1994
100%
2007
69%
2001-2002
69%
2001-2002
25%
1991-1992
33%
2003-2004
33%
2003-2004
40%
2001-2002
40%
2001-2002
58%
1999-2000
58%
1999-2000
33%
1998
57%
1997
40%
1996
30%
1995
33%
1994
33%
1993
0%
2007
Fence Sitter
2002
Fence Sitter
2002
78%
2003
100%
2001-2002
67%
2005
82%
2003-2004
60%
2001-2002
100%
2005-2006
100%
2005-2006
78%
2003
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
83%
2000
100%
2005-2006
100%
2005-2006
78%
2003
78%
2003
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
54%
2008
54%
2008
58%
2008
58%
2008
42%
2008
42%
2008
44%
2008
44%
2008
45%
2008
45%
2008
55.8%
2008
55.8%
2008
55%
2008
55%
2008
38%
2007
38%
2007
55%
2007
55%
2007
57%
2007
57%
2007
57.8%
2007
57.8%
2007
42%
2007
42%
2007
45%
2007
45%
2007
60%
2007
60%
2007
42.2%
2007
42.2%
2007
48%
2006
48%
2006
47.7%
2006
47.7%
2006
44%
2006
44%
2006
50%
2006
50%
2006
52%
2006
52%
2006
55%
2006
55%
2006
49%
2006
49%
2006
52.3%
2006
52.3%
2006
51%
2005
51%
2005
48%
2005
48%
2005
49%
2005
49%
2005
57%
2005
57%
2005
43%
2005
43%
2005
48%
2005
48%
2005
51%
2005
51%
2005
52%
2005
52%
2005
50%
2004
50%
2004
39%
2004
39%
2004
49%
2004
49%
2004
60%
2004
60%
2004
42%
2004
42%
2004
58%
2004
58%
2004
60%
2003
60%
2003
44%
2003
44%
2003
51%
2003
51%
2003
46%
2003
46%
2003
50%
2003
50%
2003
55%
2003
55%
2003
39%
2003
39%
2003
53%
2003
53%
2003
60%
2002
60%
2002
42%
2002
42%
2002
57%
2002
57%
2002
47%
2002
47%
2002
35%
2002
35%
2002
42%
2002
42%
2002
53%
2002
53%
2002
58%
2002
58%
2002
53%
2001
53%
2001
53%
2001
53%
2001
47%
2001
47%
2001
50%
2001
50%
2001
43%
2001
43%
2001
50%
2001
50%
2001
54%
2000
54%
2000
53%
2000
53%
2000
57%
2000
57%
2000
42%
2000
42%
2000
45%
2000
45%
2000
45%
2000
45%
2000
48%
1999
48%
1999
86%
1999
86%
1999
62%
1999
62%
1999
36%
1999
36%
1999
10%
1999
10%
1999
52%
1999
52%
1999
48%
1998
48%
1998
51%
1998
51%
1998
48%
1998
48%
1998
48%
1998
48%
1998
51%
1998
51%
1998
49%
1998
49%
1998
51%
1996
51%
1996
50%
1996
50%
1996
67%
1996
67%
1996
31%
1996
31%
1996
49%
1996
49%
1996
48%
1996
48%
1996
33%
2003
83%
2007-2008
100
2007
75%
2007
75%
2007
0%
2006
0%
2006
100%
2005-2006
84%
2003
84%
2003
82%
2003-2004
81%
2001-2002
60%
2007
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003
0%
2003
18%
2001-2002
18%
2001-2002
20%
1999-2000
20%
1999-2000
53%
1997-1998
53%
1997-1998
64%
1997
64%
1997
38%
1995-1996
38%
1995-1996
10%
2003-2004
75%
1997-1998
100%
2004
70
2007
0%
2006
13%
2005
0%
2004
50%
2003
50%
2006-2012
50%
2006-2012
0%
2005-2006
0%
2005-2006
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001
10%
1999-2000
10%
1999-2000
9%
1999
0%
1997-1998
0%
1997-1998
22%
1995-1996
22%
1995-1996
50%
2007
100%
2007
0%
2007
50%
2007
15%
1991-1992
0%
2007
24%
2001-2002
53%
2007
35%
2005
79%
2005
57%
2005
63%
2004
65
2003
65
2003
65
2003
79
2002
79
2002
79
2002
55%
2001
64%
2000
67%
2005-2006
67%
2005-2006
93%
1995-1996
93%
1995-1996
73%
2003-2004
68%
2003
68%
2001-2002
64%
1999-2000
56%
2004
71%
2005-2006
77%
2003-2004
69%
2003
62%
2001-2002
64%
2000
75%
1997-1998
50%
1995-1996
24%
2001-2002
0%
2007-2008
57%
2005-2006
64%
1998-2002
50%
1997
43%
1996
15%
2005
27%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
71%
1999-2000
43%
2006
43%
2006
42%
2005
42%
2005
0%
2004
0%
2004
44%
2003
44%
2003
0%
2002
0%
2002
25%
2001
25%
2001
40%
2000
40%
2000
63%
1999
63%
1999
63%
1998
63%
1998
75%
1997
75%
1997
60%
1996
60%
1996
50%
1995
50%
1995
17%
2007
63%
2007
95%
2006
73%
2003-2004
68%
2003
68%
2001-2002
64%
1999-2000
48%
2000
95%
1999
26%
1998
84%
1997
67%
1996
67%
1995
70
2007
0%
2006
13%
2005
0%
2004
50%
2003
100%
2002
33%
2007
0%
2005-2006
0%
2004
0%
2003
0%
2001-2002
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003
0%
2003
18%
2001-2002
18%
2001-2002
20%
1999-2000
20%
1999-2000
53%
1997-1998
53%
1997-1998
64%
1997
64%
1997
38%
1995-1996
38%
1995-1996
100%
2001
100%
2000
93%
1995-1996
93%
1995-1996
100%
2001
100%
2000
90%
2003-2004
90%
2003-2004
63%
2003
75%
1999-2000
75%
1999-2000
100
2007
67%
2005
82%
2003-2004
60%
2001-2002
100%
2007
100%
2004
83
2006
83
2006
87
2005
87
2005
100%
2008
50%
2006-2012
50%
2006-2012
95%
2007
83%
2006
61%
2005
61%
2003-2004
75%
2003
73%
2001-2002
80%
1999-2000
75%
1999
83%
1998
81%
1997
54%
1995-1996
100%
2007
67%
2003
0%
2002
73%
2003-2004
68%
2003
68%
2001-2002
64%
1999-2000
69%
2004
69%
2003
58%
2002
67%
1999-2000
67%
1997-1998
56%
1997
66%
1995-1996
29%
2006
29%
2006
53%
2005
53%
2005
79%
2004
79%
2004
58%
2003
58%
2003
67%
2002
67%
2002
63%
2007
95%
2006
0%
2007
0%
2007
46%
2005-2006
86%
2003-2004
81%
2001-2002
79%
1999-2000
50%
1997-1998
88%
1995-1996
54%
2006
51%
2005
67%
2004
65%
2003
59%
2002
62%
2001
70%
1999
48%
1998
64%
1997
93%
1995
37%
2005-2006
37%
2005-2006
53%
2007
35%
2005
57%
2005
79%
2005
63%
2004
65
2003
65
2003
65
2003
79
2002
79
2002
79
2002
55%
2001
64%
2000
91%
2003-2004
91%
2003-2004
71%
2001-2002
71%
2001-2002
91%
2001-2002
91%
2001-2002
60%
1999-2000
60%
1999-2000
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999-2000
67%
1997-1998
67%
1997-1998
84%
2007
50%
2006
45%
1995
40%
1995
33%
2005-2006
33%
2005-2006
24%
2001-2002
33%
2007-2008
44%
2005-2006
44%
2005-2006
100%
2005-2006
100%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003-2004
78%
2001-2002
-13
2001-2002
33%
2007
0%
2005-2006
0%
2004
0%
2003
0%
2001-2002
100%
2004
15%
2005
27%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
71%
1999-2000
0%
2005
50%
2006-2012
50%
2006-2012
67%
2005-2006
50%
2003-2004
83%
2001-2002
100%
2000
100%
1999
43%
2006
43%
2006
42%
2005
42%
2005
0%
2004
0%
2004
44%
2003
44%
2003
0%
2002
0%
2002
25%
2001
25%
2001
40%
2000
40%
2000
63%
1999
63%
1999
63%
1998
63%
1998
75%
1997
75%
1997
60%
1996
60%
1996
50%
1995
50%
1995
100%
2003
67%
2001-2002
67%
2001-2002
100%
2000
0%
1999
100%
1998
100%
1997
17%
1996
50%
2003-2004
50%
2003
54%
2006
51%
2005
67%
2004
65%
2003
59%
2002
62%
2001
70%
1999
48%
1998
64%
1997
93%
1995
62%
2004
65%
2003
33%
2002
50%
2001
75%
2000
62
1999
56%
1998
89%
1997
84%
2007
50%
2006
80%
2001
80%
2001
40%
1997-1998
40%
1997-1998
50%
1995-1996
50%
1995-1996
100%
2007
100%
2007
44%
2005-2006
50%
2005-2006
75%
2003
40%
2007
25%
2004
100
2007
50%
2003
100%
2006
33%
2007
0%
2005-2006
0%
2004
0%
2003
0%
2001-2002
100%
2007
100%
2007
0%
2006
0%
2006
100%
2001
100%
2001
86%
2005-2008
86%
2005-2008
79%
2005-2006
79%
2005-2006
80%
2003-2006
80%
2003-2006
69%
2003-2005
69%
2003-2005
85%
2003
85%
2003
81%
2002
81%
2002
81%
2001
81%
2001
0%
2005-2006
0%
2005
0%
2005
0%
2004
0%
2004
100%
2003-2004
86%
1997-1998
B+
2007-2008
B+
2007-2008
33%
2003-2004
33%
2003-2004
40%
2001-2002
40%
2001-2002
58%
1999-2000
58%
1999-2000
33%
1998
57%
1997
40%
1996
30%
1995
33%
1994
33%
1993
17%
2007
0%
2005-2006
0%
2005-2006
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001
10%
1999-2000
10%
1999-2000
9%
1999
0%
1997-1998
0%
1997-1998
22%
1995-1996
22%
1995-1996
78%
2003
100%
2001-2002
60%
2006
33%
2005
27%
2003-2004
27%
2003-2004
18%
2001
60%
2000
73%
1999
88%
1998
56%
1997
29%
1996
0%
2001
100%
2007
100%
2005-2006
100%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003-2004
64%
1998-2002
50%
1997
43%
1996
15%
2005
27%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
71%
1999-2000
43%
2006
43%
2006
42%
2005
42%
2005
0%
2004
0%
2004
44%
2003
44%
2003
0%
2002
0%
2002
25%
2001
25%
2001
40%
2000
40%
2000
63%
1999
63%
1999
63%
1998
63%
1998
75%
1997
75%
1997
60%
1996
60%
1996
50%
1995
50%
1995
83
2006
83
2006
87
2005
87
2005
95%
2007
83%
2006
61%
2005
61%
2003-2004
75%
2003
73%
2001-2002
80%
1999-2000
75%
1999
83%
1998
81%
1997
54%
1995-1996
67%
2003
-13
2001-2002
100%
2003
67%
2001-2002
67%
2001-2002
100%
2000
0%
1999
100%
1998
100%
1997
17%
1996
100%
2003
56%
2004
69%
2004
69%
2003
58%
2002
67%
1999-2000
67%
1997-1998
56%
1997
66%
1995-1996
79%
1991-1992
79%
1991-1992
71%
2005-2006
77%
2003-2004
69%
2003
62%
2001-2002
64%
2000
75%
1997-1998
50%
1995-1996
0%
2005
100
2005
50%
2005-2006
50%
2005-2006
40%
2007
23%
2006
0%
2005
40%
2004
25%
2004
50%
2003
45%
2002
65%
2001
45%
2000
47%
1999
35%
1998
33%
1997
47%
1995-1996
47%
1995-1996
93%
1995-1996
93%
1995-1996
100%
2003
100%
2003
100%
2006
0%
2005-2006
0%
2005-2006
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001
10%
1999-2000
10%
1999-2000
9%
1999
0%
1997-1998
0%
1997-1998
22%
1995-1996
22%
1995-1996
15%
1991-1992
0%
2001
0%
2007
70
2007
0%
2006
13%
2005
0%
2004
50%
2003
52%
2005-2006
67%
2003
67%
2003
83%
2005-2006
73%
2003-2004
73%
2003-2004
68%
2003
68%
2003
68%
2001-2002
68%
2001-2002
64%
1999-2000
64%
1999-2000
60%
2007-2008
69%
2004
69%
2004
69%
2003
69%
2003
58%
2002
58%
2002
67%
1999-2000
67%
1999-2000
67%
1997-1998
67%
1997-1998
56%
1997
56%
1997
66%
1995-1996
66%
1995-1996
79%
1991-1992
79%
1991-1992
0%
2008
0%
2008
0%
2007
0%
2007
0%
2007
0%
2007
37%
2005-2006
37%
2005-2006
56%
2007
53%
2007
56%
2007
79%
2005
79%
2005
35%
2005
57%
2005
57%
2005
35%
2005
63%
2004
63%
2004
65
2003
65
2003
65
2003
65
2003
65
2003
65
2003
79
2002
79
2002
79
2002
79
2002
79
2002
79
2002
55%
2001
55%
2001
64%
2000
64%
2000
33%
2007-2008
33%
2007-2008
40%
2007
40%
2007
23%
2006
23%
2006
0%
2005
0%
2005
25%
2004
40%
2004
40%
2004
25%
2004
50%
2003
50%
2003
45%
2002
45%
2002
65%
2001
65%
2001
45%
2000
45%
2000
47%
1999
47%
1999
35%
1998
35%
1998
33%
1997
33%
1997
47%
1995-1996
47%
1995-1996
47%
1995-1996
47%
1995-1996
50%
2005-2006
75%
2005-2006
75%
2005-2006
33%
2005-2006
33%
2005-2006
75%
2005-2006
75%
2005-2006
24%
2001-2002
33%
2007-2008
93%
1995-1996
93%
1995-1996
86%
2006
79%
2005
100%
2004
80%
2003
90%
2002
85%
2001
90%
2000
72%
1999
60%
1998
0%
2005-2006
35%
2007
35%
2007
75%
2006
75%
2006
53%
2005
53%
2005
64%
2003-2004
64%
2003-2004
75%
2001-2002
75%
2001-2002
46%
2005-2006
86%
2003-2004
81%
2001-2002
79%
1999-2000
50%
1997-1998
88%
1995-1996
54%
2006
51%
2005
67%
2004
65%
2003
59%
2002
62%
2001
70%
1999
48%
1998
64%
1997
93%
1995
50%
2006
50%
2006
75%
2007
75%
2007
100%
2007
100%
2002
67%
2005-2006
50%
2003-2004
83%
2001-2002
100%
2000
100%
1999
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003
0%
2003
18%
2001-2002
18%
2001-2002
20%
1999-2000
20%
1999-2000
53%
1997-1998
53%
1997-1998
64%
1997
64%
1997
38%
1995-1996
38%
1995-1996
80%
2001-2002
80%
2001-2002
0%
2007
36%
2007-2008
0%
2002
44%
2006
100%
2003
67%
2001-2002
67%
2001-2002
100%
2000
0%
1999
100%
1998
100%
1997
17%
1996
44%
2005-2006
44%
2005-2006
B
2007
0%
2003-2004
100%
2003
100%
2003
91%
2007-2008
60%
2003
50%
2003-2004
77%
2001
17%
1997-1998
54%
2003-2004
43%
2003
27%
2001-2002
71%
2005-2006
77%
2003-2004
69%
2003
62%
2001-2002
64%
2000
75%
1997-1998
50%
1995-1996
arrow_upward