Meet the Ten Most Liberal Senators

by Stephanie Wang, Washington Free Beacon, February 7, 2014 (excerpts)

National Journal released its 2013 vote ratings on Thursday. The ratings are based on roll-call votes from 2013 and compared on an ideological scale. Votes on noncontroversial issues and issues that fall along regional lines were not included.

Below are the ten most liberal senators in 2013. The ratings were decided based on 117 votes in the Senate.

1. (Tie) Brian Schatz, Chuck Schumer, Chris Murphy

Sens. Schatz, Schumer, and Murphy all received the same scores on economic, social, and foreign policy issues. The three are 93 percent more liberal than the rest of the Senate on economic issues, 73 percent more liberal on social issues, and 71 percent more liberal on foreign policy issues. They received a composite liberal score of 89.5 out of 100.

Brian Schatz (D., Hawaii)

Sen. Brian Schatz was appointed in 2012 to fill the term of Daniel Inouye, who passed away in late 2012.

Prior to his term in the Senate, Schatz served as lieutenant governor of Hawaii and in the Hawaii state house. Additionally, he was the chairman of the Hawaii Democratic Party from 2008-2010.

Schatz is up for reelection in 2014....

4. Mazie Hirono (D., Hawaii)

According to National Journal, Sen. Mazie Hirono is more liberal on economic issues than 92 percent of the Senate. She is 73 percent more liberal on social issues and 71 percent more liberal on foreign policy issues. She received a composite liberal score of 88.2.

Hirono is serving her first term in the Senate.

She has kept a relatively low profile, but her liberal voting record led the Hawaii Tribune-Herald to say, “We wish she’d be a little more independent and less partisan”

She previously served in the United States House (2006-2012), as Hawaii lieutenant governor (1994-2002), and in the Hawaii state House from 1980-1994.

Hirono will be up for reelection in 2016....

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