Tim Kaine
U.S. Senator for VA
DemocraticSenate
Positions last updated Oct 12, 2026
- In Congress since
- 2013
- Years served
- 14
- Age
- 68
- Current term ends
- Jan 3, 2031
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
Tim Kaine's record sits 9% 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 Tim Kaine 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: Strongly agree
Taxes & spending
“Lowering taxes matters more than expanding government services.”
Votes: Strongly disagree|Says: Neutral or unsure
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: Agree|Says: Neutral or unsure
Guns
“Federal law should require background checks on all gun sales, including private sales.”
Votes: Neutral or unsure|Says: Strongly 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: Neutral or unsure
Foreign policy
“The U.S. should keep providing military aid to its allies abroad.”
Votes: Strongly agree|Says: Strongly agree
Votes on key bills
The final vote on each bill Scope tracks (not every vote they have cast). Newest first.
S. 1071: National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026
Voted yesSenate vote, Dec 17, 2025 · Counts toward: Foreign policy
H.R. 1: 2025 budget law (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act): tax cuts, Medicaid and border spending
Voted noSenate vote, Jul 1, 2025 · Counts toward: Education, Health care, Taxes & spending, Immigration
S. 5: Laken Riley Act (2025)
Voted noSenate vote, Jan 20, 2025 · Counts toward: Immigration
H.R. 815: National security aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan (2024)
Voted yesSenate vote, Apr 24, 2024 · Counts toward: Foreign policy
H.R. 5376: Inflation Reduction Act (2022)
Voted yesSenate vote, Aug 7, 2022 · Counts toward: Climate & energy, Health care
Show 3 more votes
S. 2938: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (2022)
Voted yesSenate vote, Jun 24, 2022 · Counts toward: Guns
H.R. 1319: American Rescue Plan Act (2021)
Voted yesSenate vote, Mar 6, 2021 · Counts toward: Health care
H.R. 1: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (2017)
Voted noSenate vote, Dec 2, 2017 · Counts toward: Taxes & spending, Education
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 (7 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 5 more topics one side is neutral, so there is nothing to contrast.
Campaign money
$787,828 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
- $787,828
- Spent
- $1.4 million
- Cash on hand
- $0
Where the money came from
- Small donors (under $200 each)13%
- Larger individual donors37%
- Political action committees (PACs)17%
- Other33%
Source: Federal Election Commission filings · see top donors on OpenSecrets.
What they work on
84 bills written, 346 signed onto. Top topic: International Affairs
In the current Congress they have written 84 bills and signed on to 346 more. A bill someone writes shows what they want to change.
Topics of the bills they wrote
- International Affairs53
- Health9
- Education7
- Armed Forces and National Security4
- Taxation4
Most recent bills they wrote
- S.Res. 883: A resolution requesting information on the Republic of Burundi's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) o... (Sep 23, 2026)
- S.Res. 885: A resolution requesting information on the Republic of Guinea-Bissau's human rights practices pursuant to section 502... (Sep 23, 2026)
- S. 5480: School Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2026 (Sep 23, 2026)
- S.Res. 884: A resolution requesting information on Belize's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Ass... (Sep 23, 2026)
- S.Res. 879: A resolution requesting information on the Republic of Ecuador's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) o... (Sep 23, 2026)
Source: Sponsorship records from Congress.gov; each bill links to its page there.
Committees
4 committees: Senate Committee on Armed Services; Senate Committee on Foreign Relations...
Committees study and rewrite bills before the full chamber votes.
Senate Committee on Armed Services
Subcommittees: Emerging Threats and Capabilities; Readiness and Management Support; Seapower
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Subcommittees: Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism; State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Development; Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Subcommittees: Education and the American Family; Employment and Workplace Safety
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
2013 to present
- 2013 to presentU.S. Senate, VADemocrat
Contact and learn more
Office phone, website, message form and where to read more
Contact their office
- Official website
- Send a message
- Phone: 202-224-4024
- Washington office: 231 Russell Senate Office Building
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 3 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 billRoll call on billWhat they say
Strongly agree (+2)
Based on 5 cosponsored bills related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
cosponsored bill: S 2556: Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Actcosponsored bill: SJRES 84: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Servcosponsored bill: S 46: Health Care Affordability Act of 2025cosponsored bill: S 3369: Medicare-X Choice Act of 2025cosponsored bill: S 2149: Health Equity and Access under the Law for Immigrant Families 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
Neutral or unsure (0)
Based on 1 cosponsored bill related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
cosponsored bill: S 1372: Tax Cut for Workers Act of 2025Immigration
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 billRoll 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: S 398: NO BAN ActClimate & energy
How they vote
Agree (+1)
Calculated from 1 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.What they say
Neutral or unsure (0)
Based on 1 cosponsored bill related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
cosponsored bill: SRES 36: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States, States, cities, Tribal nations, businesses, institutions of higher education, and other institutionsGuns
How they vote
Neutral or unsure (0)
Calculated from 1 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.
Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026
Roll call on Bipartisan Safer Communities ActWhat they say
Strongly agree (+2)
Based on 5 cosponsored bills related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
cosponsored bill: S 889: Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act of 2025cosponsored bill: S 726: Ethan's Lawcosponsored bill: SCONRES 25: A concurrent resolution recognizing the 15th anniversary of the January 8, 2011, Tucson, Arizona, shooting and honoring the survivors and victims, including former Congrecosponsored bill: S 3214: Background Check Expansion Actcosponsored bill: S 3458: Background Check Completion 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: S 4701: Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2026cosponsored bill: S 2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025Education
How they vote
Disagree (-1)
Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.
Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026
Roll 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
Neutral or unsure (0)
Based on 1 cosponsored bill related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
cosponsored bill: S 4297: Keep Public Funds in Public Schools ActForeign policy
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 billRoll call on Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.What they say
Strongly agree (+2)
Based on 3 cosponsored bills, 1 sponsored bill related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
cosponsored bill: SRES 51: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States Agency for International Development is essential for advancing the national security interests of thecosponsored bill: SRES 612: A resolution acknowledging the fourth anniversary of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, reaffirming support for the people of Ukraine, and emphasizing the importance of cosponsored bill: S 554: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025sponsored bill: S 5175: Fast Tracking European Investment in Ukraine’s Defense ActRevision 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): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Climate & energy (vote): 1 to 1Bulk 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
- Guns (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Foreign policy (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
- Taxes & spending (vote): -2 to -2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Health care (vote): 1 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Climate & energy (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 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): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Climate & energy (vote): 1 to 1Bulk 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): 1 to 1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
- Guns (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Education (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Foreign policy (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Climate & energy (vote): 1 to 1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Health care (vote): 1 to 1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Taxes & spending (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
- Guns (statement): 2 to 2Bulk 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
- Foreign policy (statement): 2 to 2Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
- Taxes & spending (statement): 0 to 0Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
- Health care (statement): 2 to 2Bulk 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
- Education (statement): 0 to 0Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
- Climate & energy (statement): created at 0Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Guns (statement): created at 2Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Education (statement): created at 0Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Immigration (statement): created at 0Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Foreign policy (statement): created at 2Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Abortion (statement): created at -1Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Taxes & spending (statement): created at 0Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Health care (statement): created at 2Created · 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): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
- Climate & energy (vote): 1 to 1Bulk 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
