Stephen F. Lynch
U.S. Representative, MA, district 8
DemocraticHouse
Positions last updated Oct 12, 2026
- In Congress since
- 2001
- Years served
- 25
- Age
- 71
- 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
Stephen F. Lynch'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 Stephen F. Lynch 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: Disagree
Immigration
“Border security should be the top priority in immigration policy.”
Votes: 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: Agree
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: Agree|Says: Strongly agree
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 noHouse 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 yesHouse 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. 8036: Indo-Pacific security aid (2024)
Voted yesHouse vote, Apr 20, 2024 · Counts toward: Foreign policy
H.R. 8034: Israel 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 (6 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 1 more topic one side is neutral, so there is nothing to contrast.
Campaign money
$910,160 raised in the 2025-2026 cycle
For the 2025-2026 election cycle, through Aug 12, 2026. Who funds a campaign can shape who a member listens to, though it does not decide how they vote.
- Raised
- $910,160
- Spent
- $1.4 million
- Cash on hand
- $0
Where the money came from
- Small donors (under $200 each)3%
- Larger individual donors58%
- Political action committees (PACs)37%
- Other2%
Source: Federal Election Commission filings · see top donors on OpenSecrets.
What they work on
5 bills written, 317 signed onto. Top topic: Armed Forces and National Security
In the current Congress they have written 5 bills and signed on to 317 more. A bill someone writes shows what they want to change.
Topics of the bills they wrote
- Armed Forces and National Security2
- International Affairs2
- Education1
Most recent bills they wrote
- H.Res. 1549: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the People's Republic of China has engaged in the arbitrary... (Sep 21, 2026)
- H.R. 7183: Youth Financial Learning Act (Apr 13, 2026)
- H.R. 5915: K2 Veterans Total Coverage Act of 2025 (Nov 4, 2025)
- H.R. 5683: Military Consumer Protection Task Force Act of 2025 (Oct 3, 2025)
- H.R. 1259: The Global Demining Protection Act (Feb 25, 2025)
Source: Sponsorship records from Congress.gov; each bill links to its page there.
Committees
2 committees: House Committee on Financial Services; House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Committees study and rewrite bills before the full chamber votes.
House Committee on Financial Services
Subcommittees: Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence; Capital Markets; Financial Institutions
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Subcommittees: Military and Foreign Affairs; Delivering on Government Efficiency
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
2001 to present
- 2001 to 2013U.S. House, MA, district 9Democrat
- 2013 to presentU.S. House, MA, district 8Democrat
Contact and learn more
Office phone, website, message form and where to read more
Contact their office
- Official website
- Phone: 202-225-8273
- Washington office: 2109 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 An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14.Roll call on billRoll call on billRoll call on billRoll call on American Health Care Act of 2017Roll call on billWhat they say
Strongly agree (+2)
Based on 4 cosponsored bills related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
cosponsored bill: HR 2045: Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2025cosponsored bill: HR 4849: Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2025cosponsored bill: HR 9816: MOMMIES Actcosponsored bill: HR 247: Health Care Affordability 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 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
Disagree (-1)
Based on 3 cosponsored bills related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
cosponsored bill: HR 1700: Social Security Expansion Actcosponsored bill: HR 5475: No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Actcosponsored bill: HR 609: Assuring Medicare’s Promise Act of 2025Immigration
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 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 1061: Protecting Sensitive Locations 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 Lower Energy Costs ActRoll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14.What they say
Agree (+1)
Based on 2 cosponsored bills related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
cosponsored bill: HCONRES 44: Recognizing a health and safety emergency disproportionately affecting the fundamental rights of children due to the Trump administration's directives that unleash fossilcosponsored 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 Background Checks Act of 2019Roll call on Bipartisan Safer Communities ActWhat 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 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 billRoll call on billWhat they say
No data
Foreign policy
How they vote
Agree (+1)
Calculated from 4 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.
Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026
Roll call on Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024Roll call on billRoll call on Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024Roll call on Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024What they say
Strongly agree (+2)
Based on 4 cosponsored bills, 1 floor speech related to this issue.
Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026
floor speech: FOREIGN AID AND NATIONAL SECURITYcosponsored bill: HR 2913: Ukraine Support Actcosponsored bill: HRES 155: Reaffirming the United States unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity as Russia's illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine hits cosponsored bill: HR 2411: UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2025cosponsored bill: HR 3565: To provide for a limitation on the transfer of defense articles and defense services to Israel.“Our continued support for Ukraine is vital to the ability of the U.S. and our NATO allies to deter escalating Russian aggression across Europe.”
Revision history
50 recorded changes
- Foreign policy (vote): 1 to 1Bulk 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): -1 to -1Bulk 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
- Taxes & spending (vote): -2 to -2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Immigration (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Guns (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Foreign policy (vote): 1 to 1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Climate & energy (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
- Foreign policy (vote): 1 to 1Bulk 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): -1 to -1Bulk 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
- 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
- Immigration (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Guns (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Foreign policy (vote): 2 to 1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Climate & energy (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Health care (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
- Health care (statement): 2 to 2Bulk 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
- Abortion (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
- Climate & energy (statement): 1 to 1Bulk 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
- Immigration (statement): 0 to 0Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
- Foreign policy (statement): 1 to 2Status changed: needs_review to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
- Immigration (statement): created at 0Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Abortion (statement): created at -1Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Foreign policy (statement): created at 1Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Guns (statement): created at 1Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Health care (statement): created at 2Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Taxes & spending (statement): created at -1Created · Oct 8, 2026
- Climate & energy (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): -1 to -1Bulk 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
