James A. Himes
U.S. Representative, CT, district 4
DemocraticHouse
Positions last updated Oct 12, 2026
- In Congress since
- 2009
- Years served
- 18
- Age
- 60
- Current term ends
- Jan 3, 2027
Source: Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress (via the public congress-legislators dataset). Photo: official congressional portrait.
Where their record lies
Between the typical Democratic and typical Republican record
Close to the typical Democratic record
James A. Himes's record sits 2% of the way from the typical Democratic record to the typical Republican record.
Built from 6 topics that divide the parties. It describes a record of votes and statements, not a person. How this is calculated.
Their record by topic
Further from the center means more agreement with the quiz statement
Each point averages how James A. Himes votes and what they say on that topic. A topic with no data is left out, not drawn as neutral. The sources are in the sections below.
Where they stand
Each topic is a statement from the quiz. "Agree" means their votes or words line up with it.
Health care
“The federal government should guarantee health coverage for every American.”
Votes: Strongly agree|Says: Agree
Taxes & spending
“Lowering taxes matters more than expanding government services.”
Votes: Strongly disagree|Says: Disagree
Immigration
“Border security should be the top priority in immigration policy.”
Votes: Strongly disagree|Says: Neutral or unsure
Climate & energy
“The federal government should require cuts to carbon emissions, even if energy costs rise.”
Votes: Strongly agree|Says: Neutral or unsure
Guns
“Federal law should require background checks on all gun sales, including private sales.”
Votes: Strongly agree|Says: Agree
Abortion
“Abortion law should be decided by each state, not the federal government.”
Votes: No data|Says: Disagree
Education
“Public school funding should follow students to the school their family chooses, including private schools.”
Votes: Disagree|Says: No data
Foreign policy
“The U.S. should keep providing military aid to its allies abroad.”
Votes: Strongly agree|Says: No data
Votes on key bills
The final vote on each bill Scope tracks (not every vote they have cast). Newest first.
H.R. 1834: Extension of enhanced ACA health insurance subsidies (House vote, 2026)
Voted yesHouse vote, Jan 8, 2026 · Counts toward: Health care
S. 1071: National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026
Voted yesHouse vote, Dec 10, 2025 · Counts toward: Foreign policy
H.R. 1: 2025 budget law (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act): tax cuts, Medicaid and border spending
Voted noHouse vote, Jul 3, 2025 · Counts toward: Education, Health care, Taxes & spending, Immigration
S. 5: Laken Riley Act (2025)
Voted noHouse vote, Jan 22, 2025 · Counts toward: Immigration
H.R. 8035: Ukraine security aid (2024)
Voted yesHouse vote, Apr 20, 2024 · Counts toward: Foreign policy
Show 12 more votes
H.R. 8034: Israel security aid (2024)
Voted yesHouse vote, Apr 20, 2024 · Counts toward: Foreign policy
H.R. 8036: Indo-Pacific security aid (2024)
Voted yesHouse vote, Apr 20, 2024 · Counts toward: Foreign policy
H.R. 2: Secure the Border Act (2023)
Voted noHouse vote, May 11, 2023 · Counts toward: Immigration
H.R. 1: Lower Energy Costs Act (2023)
Voted noHouse vote, Mar 30, 2023 · Counts toward: Climate & energy
H.R. 5: Parents Bill of Rights Act (2023)
Voted noHouse vote, Mar 24, 2023 · Counts toward: Education
H.R. 5376: Inflation Reduction Act (2022)
Voted yesHouse vote, Aug 12, 2022 · Counts toward: Climate & energy, Health care
S. 2938: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (2022)
Voted yesHouse vote, Jun 24, 2022 · Counts toward: Guns
H.R. 1319: American Rescue Plan Act (2021)
Voted yesHouse vote, Mar 10, 2021 · Counts toward: Health care
H.R. 1425: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act (2020)
Voted yesHouse vote, Jun 29, 2020 · Counts toward: Health care
H.R. 8: Bipartisan Background Checks Act (2019)
Voted yesHouse vote, Feb 27, 2019 · Counts toward: Guns
H.R. 1: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017)
Voted noHouse vote, Dec 20, 2017 · Counts toward: Taxes & spending, Education
H.R. 1628: American Health Care Act (2017)
Voted noHouse vote, May 4, 2017 · Counts toward: Health care
Source: House Clerk and Senate roll-call records via Congress.gov. For every vote they have cast, see GovTrack.
Words versus votes
Pro preview · free for nowNo topic where votes and statements point in opposite directions (5 topics compared).
A difference is a prompt to look closer, not proof of anything. Votes come from a short list of tracked bills; statements come from speeches, press releases and bills they put their name on. See the evidence for each topic. On 2 more topics one side is neutral, so there is nothing to contrast.
Campaign money
$1.4 million raised in the 2025-2026 cycle
For the 2025-2026 election cycle, through Jun 30, 2026. Who funds a campaign can shape who a member listens to, though it does not decide how they vote.
- Raised
- $1.4 million
- Spent
- $968,702
- Cash on hand
- $0
Where the money came from
- Small donors (under $200 each)3%
- Larger individual donors27%
- Political action committees (PACs)60%
- Other10%
Source: Federal Election Commission filings · see top donors on OpenSecrets.
What they work on
2 bills written, 125 signed onto. Top topic: Crime and Law Enforcement
In the current Congress they have written 2 bills and signed on to 125 more. A bill someone writes shows what they want to change.
Topics of the bills they wrote
- Crime and Law Enforcement1
- Taxation1
Most recent bills they wrote
- H.R. 10142: Multi-State Worker Tax Fairness Act of 2026 (Aug 24, 2026)
- H.R. 9983: Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act (Jul 30, 2026)
Source: Sponsorship records from Congress.gov; each bill links to its page there.
Committees
2 committees: House Committee on Financial Services; House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Committees study and rewrite bills before the full chamber votes.
Source: Committee rosters from the congress-legislators dataset (built from the House and Senate committee pages, as of 2026-10-12). Each committee name links to its official page.
Career in Congress
2009 to present
- 2009 to presentU.S. House, CT, district 4Democrat
Contact and learn more
Office phone, website, message form and where to read more
Contact their office
- Official website
- Phone: 202-225-5541
- Washington office: 2137 Rayburn House Office Building
- X (Twitter)
Read more about them
- Official biography (Congress) (Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress)
- GovTrack (Votes, bills and ideology scores)
- OpenSecrets (Who funds them)
- Ballotpedia (Background and elections)
- Wikipedia (Encyclopedia article)
Source: Contact details from the member's official pages, via the congress-legislators dataset. Outside sites are not run by Scope.
The evidence, topic by topic
Every position links to the votes, quotes and bills it was built from
Health care
How they vote
Strongly agree (+2)
Calculated from 6 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.
Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026
Roll call on billRoll call on billRoll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14.Roll call on billRoll call on billRoll call on American Health Care Act of 2017What they say
Agree (+1)
Based on 2 cosponsored bills related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
cosponsored bill: HR 247: Health Care Affordability Act of 2025cosponsored bill: HR 4849: Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2025Taxes & spending
How they vote
Strongly disagree (-2)
Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.
Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026
Roll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.Roll call on billWhat they say
Disagree (-1)
Based on 1 floor speech related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
floor speech: DEFENDING MEDICAID FOR FAMILIES LIKE THE CURRANS“that cost will be paid, as the Republicans have laid it out for us to see, by the Medicaid program”
Immigration
How they vote
Strongly disagree (-2)
Calculated from 3 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.
Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026
Roll call on billRoll call on Secure the Border Act of 2023Roll call on billWhat they say
Neutral or unsure (0)
Based on 1 cosponsored bill related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
cosponsored bill: HR 924: NO BAN ActClimate & energy
How they vote
Strongly agree (+2)
Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.
Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026
Roll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14.Roll call on Lower Energy Costs ActWhat they say
Neutral or unsure (0)
Based on 1 cosponsored bill related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
cosponsored bill: HRES 68: Expressing strong disapproval of the President's announcement to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.Guns
How they vote
Strongly agree (+2)
Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.
Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026
Roll call on Bipartisan Safer Communities ActRoll call on Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019What they say
Agree (+1)
Based on 2 cosponsored bills related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
cosponsored bill: HR 3868: Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2025cosponsored bill: HR 18: Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2025Abortion
How they vote
No data
What they say
Disagree (-1)
Based on 2 cosponsored bills related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
cosponsored bill: HR 12: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025cosponsored bill: HR 4099: Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom ActEducation
How they vote
Disagree (-1)
Calculated from 3 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.
Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026
Roll call on billRoll call on billRoll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.What they say
No data
Foreign policy
How they vote
Strongly agree (+2)
Calculated from 4 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.
Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026
Roll call on Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024Roll call on Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024Roll call on Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024Roll call on billWhat they say
No data
Revision history
50 recorded changes
- Foreign policy (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Education (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Guns (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Climate & energy (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Immigration (vote): -2 to -2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Taxes & spending (vote): -2 to -2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Health care (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Climate & energy (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Guns (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Education (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Health care (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Taxes & spending (vote): -2 to -2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Foreign policy (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Immigration (vote): -2 to -2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Foreign policy (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Education (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Guns (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Climate & energy (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Immigration (vote): -2 to -2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Taxes & spending (vote): -2 to -2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Health care (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Health care (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Climate & energy (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Guns (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Taxes & spending (vote): -2 to -2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Education (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Immigration (vote): -2 to -2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Foreign policy (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Health care (statement): 1 to 1Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
- Taxes & spending (statement): -1 to -1Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
- Abortion (statement): -1 to -1Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
- Climate & energy (statement): 0 to 0Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
- Immigration (statement): 0 to 0Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
- Guns (statement): 1 to 1Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
- Taxes & spending (statement): created at -1Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Immigration (statement): created at 0Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Abortion (statement): created at -1Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Climate & energy (statement): created at 0Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Guns (statement): created at 1Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Health care (statement): created at 1Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Foreign policy (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
- Education (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
- Guns (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
- Climate & energy (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
- Immigration (vote): -2 to -2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
- Taxes & spending (vote): -2 to -2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
- Health care (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
- Education (vote): -2 to -1Status changed: needs_review to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
- Guns (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
- Health care (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
