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Christopher H. Smith

U.S. Representative, NJ, district 4

RepublicanHouse

Positions last updated Oct 12, 2026

In Congress since
1981
Years served
46
Age
73
Current term ends
Jan 3, 2027

Source: Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress (via the public congress-legislators dataset). Photo: official congressional portrait.

Compare with another member

Where their record lies

Between the typical Democratic and typical Republican record

SmithLeaning toward the Republican record. Christopher H. Smith's record sits 74% of the way from the typical Democratic record to the typical Republican record. 258 Democratic and 269 Republican members are shown; 13 of 530 sit in the middle.
Democratic258 members
Middle13 members
Republican269 members

Leaning toward the Republican record

Christopher H. Smith's record sits 74% 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

Web chart of Christopher H. Smith’s positions on 8 topics; a larger shape means stronger agreement.Health careTaxes & spendingImmigrationClimate & energyGunsAbortionEducationForeign policy

Each point averages how Christopher H. Smith 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: Disagree|Says: Neutral or unsure

  • Taxes & spending

    “Lowering taxes matters more than expanding government services.”

    Votes: Neutral or unsure|Says: Agree

  • Immigration

    “Border security should be the top priority in immigration policy.”

    Votes: Strongly agree|Says: Neutral or unsure

  • Climate & energy

    “The federal government should require cuts to carbon emissions, even if energy costs rise.”

    Votes: Strongly disagree|Says: No data

  • Guns

    “Federal law should require background checks on all gun sales, including private sales.”

    Votes: Agree|Says: No data

  • Abortion

    “Abortion law should be decided by each state, not the federal government.”

    Votes: No data|Says: Strongly disagree

  • Education

    “Public school funding should follow students to the school their family chooses, including private schools.”

    Votes: Agree|Says: Agree

  • Foreign policy

    “The U.S. should keep providing military aid to its allies abroad.”

    Votes: Strongly agree|Says: Agree

Votes on key bills

The final vote on each bill Scope tracks (not every vote they have cast). Newest first.

Show 12 more votes

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 now

No 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 3 more topics one side is neutral, so there is nothing to contrast.

Campaign money

$592,016 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
$592,016
Spent
$467,765
Cash on hand
$0

Where the money came from

  • Small donors (under $200 each)14%
  • Larger individual donors46%
  • Political action committees (PACs)36%
  • Other4%

Source: Federal Election Commission filings · see top donors on OpenSecrets.

What they work on

49 bills written, 150 signed onto. Top topic: International Affairs

In the current Congress they have written 49 bills and signed on to 150 more. A bill someone writes shows what they want to change.

Topics of the bills they wrote

  • International Affairs31
  • Health8
  • Crime and Law Enforcement4
  • Armed Forces and National Security3
  • Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues1

Most recent bills they wrote

  • H.Res. 1584: Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment and its enduring legacy of saving the lives of more than 2,600... (Sep 24, 2026)
  • H.R. 10406: Jimmy Lai Hong Kong Political Prisoner Accountability Act of 2026 (Sep 16, 2026)
  • H.R. 10461: Somaliland Travel and Investment Act (Sep 16, 2026)
  • H.R. 9893: Stop Support for UNRWA Act of 2026 (Jul 23, 2026)
  • H.Res. 1400: Condemning the People's Republic of China's Law on the Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress and the Chinese Communi... (Jun 30, 2026)

Source: Sponsorship records from Congress.gov; each bill links to its page there.

Committees

1 committee: House Committee on Foreign Affairs

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

1981 to present
  • 1981 to presentU.S. House, NJ, district 4Republican

Source: Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

Contact and learn more

Office phone, website, message form and where to read more

Contact their office

Read more about them

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

Disagree (-1)

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 American Health Care Act of 2017Roll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14.Roll call on billRoll call on bill

Votes behind Smith, Christopher H.'s position on Health care

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Neutral or unsure (0)

Based on 1 cosponsored bill related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: HR 2082: WISH Act

Statements behind Smith, Christopher H.'s position on Health care

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Taxes & spending

How they vote

Neutral or unsure (0)

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 bill

Votes behind Smith, Christopher H.'s position on Taxes & spending

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Agree (+1)

Based on 2 cosponsored bills related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: HR 430: SALT Deductibility Actcosponsored bill: HR 5475: No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act

Statements behind Smith, Christopher H.'s position on Taxes & spending

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Immigration

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 billRoll call on billRoll call on Secure the Border Act of 2023

Votes behind Smith, Christopher H.'s position on Immigration

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Neutral or unsure (0)

Based on 1 cosponsored bill related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: HR 5517: Northern Border Security Enhancement and Review Act

Statements behind Smith, Christopher H.'s position on Immigration

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Climate & energy

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 Lower Energy Costs ActRoll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14.

Votes behind Smith, Christopher H.'s position on Climate & energy

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

No data

Guns

How they vote

Agree (+1)

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 2019

Votes behind Smith, Christopher H.'s position on Guns

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

No data

Abortion

How they vote

No data

What they say

Strongly disagree (-2)

Based on 5 cosponsored bills related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: HR 2251: Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Actcosponsored bill: HR 682: Heartbeat Protection Act of 2025cosponsored bill: HR 7286: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to revoke the tax-exempt status of organizations that provide, or provide funding for, abortion.cosponsored bill: HR 8603: Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026cosponsored bill: HR 685: SAVE Moms and Babies Act of 2025

Statements behind Smith, Christopher H.'s position on Abortion

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Education

How they vote

Agree (+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 bill

Votes behind Smith, Christopher H.'s position on Education

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Agree (+1)

Based on 1 cosponsored bill related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: HR 833: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025

Statements behind Smith, Christopher H.'s position on Education

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

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 billRoll call on Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024Roll call on Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024Roll call on Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

Votes behind Smith, Christopher H.'s position on Foreign policy

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Agree (+1)

Based on 3 cosponsored bills, 1 sponsored bill related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: HRES 1082: Recognizing 250 years of Polish-American friendship and reaffirming the interest of the United States of America in the democracy, sovereignty, prosperity, and security ofcosponsored bill: HR 1229: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025sponsored bill: HR 9893: Stop Support for UNRWA Act of 2026cosponsored bill: HR 6840: ARMENIA Security Partnership Act

Statements behind Smith, Christopher H.'s position on Foreign policy

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

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): 1 to 1Bulk 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): 0 to 0Bulk 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): 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
  • Taxes & spending (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Health care (vote): 0 to -1Status 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
  • 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): 1 to 1Bulk 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): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Health care (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 1 to 1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Education (vote): 1 to 1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Health care (vote): 1 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Climate & energy (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
  • Taxes & spending (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
  • Health care (statement): 0 to 0Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Foreign policy (statement): 1 to 1Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Abortion (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): 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
  • Immigration (statement): created at 0Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Health care (statement): created at 0Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Education (statement): created at 1Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (statement): created at 1Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Abortion (statement): created at -2Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Foreign policy (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): 1 to 1Bulk 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): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Health care (vote): 1 to 1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Education (vote): 2 to 1Status changed: needs_review to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Education (vote): created at 2Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 1 to 1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026