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Ray LaHood's Ratings and Endorsements

Vote Smart displays all known interest group ratings for each candidate and official, regardless of issue or bias.

Keep in mind that ratings done by special interest groups often do not represent a non-partisan stance. In addition, some groups select votes that tend to favor members of one political party over another, rather than choosing votes based solely on issue concerns. Nevertheless, they can be invaluable in showing where an incumbent has stood on a series of votes in the past one or two years, especially when ratings by groups on all sides of an issue are compared. Website links, if available, and descriptions of the organizations offering performance evaluations are accessible by clicking on the name of the group.

With rare exceptions, Vote Smart displays interest group ratings as a 0-100 percentage. While many interest groups use percentages as ratings to begin with, please note that Vote Smart has translated some ratings to a percentage from a different rating system for consistency and ease in understanding. Please visit the group's website, email us at ratings@votesmart.org or call our Voter Information Hotline at 1-888-VOTESMART for more specific information.

93%
2003-2004
100%
2003
82%
2001-2002
82%
1999-2000
100%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
100%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999
100%
1997-1998
100%
1997
100%
1996
100%
2001
88%
2005-2006
100%
2000
82%
1999
90%
1995-1996
83%
2007
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
40%
2003-2004
40%
2003-2004
40%
2001-2002
40%
2001-2002
75%
1999-2000
75%
1999-2000
67%
1998
100%
1997
53%
1996
40%
1995
Anti Hemp
2002
Anti Hemp
2002
11%
2003
60%
2001-2002
0%
2005
0%
2003-2004
20%
2001-2002
0%
2005-2006
11%
2003
60%
2001-2002
60%
2001-2002
33%
2000
25%
2005-2006
25%
2005-2006
11%
2003
11%
2003
60%
2001-2002
60%
2001-2002
58%
2008
58%
2008
59.2%
2008
59.2%
2008
44%
2008
44%
2008
56%
2008
56%
2008
42%
2008
42%
2008
41%
2008
41%
2008
35%
2008
35%
2008
38%
2007
38%
2007
62%
2007
62%
2007
43%
2007
43%
2007
42%
2007
42%
2007
45%
2007
45%
2007
57%
2007
57%
2007
55%
2007
55%
2007
58%
2007
58%
2007
59.2%
2006
59.2%
2006
47%
2006
47%
2006
40.8%
2006
40.8%
2006
61%
2006
61%
2006
51%
2006
51%
2006
63%
2006
63%
2006
38%
2006
38%
2006
35%
2006
35%
2006
44%
2005
44%
2005
52%
2005
52%
2005
54%
2005
54%
2005
46%
2005
46%
2005
46%
2005
46%
2005
48%
2005
48%
2005
54%
2005
54%
2005
55%
2005
55%
2005
54%
2004
54%
2004
52%
2004
52%
2004
45%
2004
45%
2004
48%
2004
48%
2004
55%
2004
55%
2004
46%
2004
46%
2004
42%
2003
42%
2003
43%
2003
43%
2003
44%
2003
44%
2003
57%
2003
57%
2003
40%
2003
40%
2003
55%
2003
55%
2003
58%
2003
58%
2003
56%
2003
56%
2003
66%
2002
66%
2002
65%
2002
65%
2002
60%
2002
60%
2002
63%
2002
63%
2002
34%
2002
34%
2002
35%
2002
35%
2002
32%
2002
32%
2002
35%
2002
35%
2002
46%
2001
46%
2001
43%
2001
43%
2001
48%
2001
48%
2001
53%
2001
53%
2001
55%
2001
55%
2001
52%
2001
52%
2001
55%
2000
55%
2000
43%
2000
43%
2000
55%
2000
55%
2000
44%
2000
44%
2000
53%
2000
53%
2000
45%
2000
45%
2000
40%
1999
40%
1999
48%
1999
48%
1999
28%
1999
28%
1999
51%
1999
51%
1999
59%
1999
59%
1999
70%
1999
70%
1999
40%
1998
40%
1998
43%
1998
43%
1998
51%
1998
51%
1998
48%
1998
48%
1998
59%
1998
59%
1998
53%
1998
53%
1998
35%
1996
35%
1996
64%
1996
64%
1996
62%
1996
62%
1996
56%
1996
56%
1996
41%
1996
41%
1996
33%
1996
33%
1996
33%
2003
64%
2007-2008
66
2007
87%
2005-2006
100%
2003-2004
81%
2001-2002
75%
2007
75%
2007
0%
2006
0%
2006
100%
2005-2006
89%
2003
89%
2003
85%
2003-2004
90%
2001-2002
100%
2007
83%
2003-2004
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003
0%
2003
14%
2001-2002
14%
2001-2002
13%
1999-2000
13%
1999-2000
11%
1997-1998
11%
1997-1998
0%
1997
0%
1997
23%
1995-1996
23%
1995-1996
25%
2003-2004
25%
1997-1998
0%
2004
75
2007
0%
2006
0%
2005
29%
2004
50%
2003
50%
2006-2012
50%
2006-2012
25%
2005-2006
25%
2005-2006
11%
2003-2004
11%
2003-2004
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001
30%
1999-2000
30%
1999-2000
18%
1999
12%
1997-1998
12%
1997-1998
22%
1995-1996
22%
1995-1996
100%
2007
100%
2007
100%
2007
100%
2007
18%
2001-2002
41%
2007
53%
2005
67%
2005
40%
2005
50%
2004
60
2003
60
2003
60
2003
71
2002
71
2002
71
2002
65%
2001
60%
2000
74%
1995-1996
74%
1995-1996
93%
2003-2004
100%
2003
82%
2001-2002
82%
1999-2000
89%
2004
93%
2005-2006
95%
2003-2004
100%
2003
76%
2001-2002
79%
2000
75%
1997-1998
100%
1995-1996
42
2006
42
2006
46
2005
46
2005
18%
2001-2002
0%
2007-2008
43%
2005-2006
60%
1998-2002
85%
1997
57%
1996
30%
2005
27%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
0%
1999-2000
14%
2006
14%
2006
25%
2005
25%
2005
0%
2004
0%
2004
11%
2003
11%
2003
0%
2002
0%
2002
13%
2001
13%
2001
10%
2000
10%
2000
36%
1999
36%
1999
25%
1998
25%
1998
8%
1997
8%
1997
10%
1996
10%
1996
0%
1995
0%
1995
17%
2007
55%
2007
0%
2006
93%
2003-2004
100%
2003
82%
2001-2002
82%
1999-2000
42%
2000
59%
1999
47%
1998
56%
1997
56%
1996
41%
1995
75
2007
0%
2006
0%
2005
29%
2004
50%
2003
100%
2002
100%
2007
80%
2005-2006
80%
2005-2006
25%
2004
50%
2003
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003
0%
2003
14%
2001-2002
14%
2001-2002
13%
1999-2000
13%
1999-2000
11%
1997-1998
11%
1997-1998
0%
1997
0%
1997
23%
1995-1996
23%
1995-1996
100%
2001
100%
2000
74%
1995-1996
74%
1995-1996
100%
2001
100%
2000
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003
0%
1999-2000
66
2007
0%
2005
0%
2003-2004
20%
2001-2002
83%
2007
0%
2004
42
2006
42
2006
46
2005
46
2005
54%
2008
50%
2006-2012
50%
2006-2012
35%
2007
25%
2006
22%
2005
19%
2003-2004
20%
2003
36%
2001-2002
20%
1999-2000
19%
1999
24%
1998
19%
1997
31%
1995-1996
100%
2007
100%
2003
18%
2002
93%
2003-2004
100%
2003
82%
2001-2002
82%
1999-2000
92%
2004
92%
2003
92%
2002
93%
1999-2000
93%
1997-1998
89%
1997
73%
1995-1996
69%
2007
69%
2007
71%
2006
71%
2006
79%
2005
79%
2005
64%
2004
64%
2004
76%
2003
76%
2003
80%
2002
80%
2002
55%
2007
0%
2006
10%
2007
10%
2007
59%
2005-2006
63%
2003-2004
71%
2001-2002
73%
1999-2000
68%
1997-1998
88%
1995-1996
49%
2006
49%
2005
45%
2004
51%
2003
53%
2002
57%
2001
59%
1999
45%
1998
45%
1997
77%
1995
87%
2005-2006
87%
2005-2006
41%
2007
40%
2005
53%
2005
67%
2005
50%
2004
60
2003
60
2003
60
2003
71
2002
71
2002
71
2002
65%
2001
60%
2000
91%
2003-2004
91%
2003-2004
73%
2001-2002
73%
2001-2002
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
44%
1997-1998
44%
1997-1998
0%
2007
39%
2006
60%
1995
50%
1995
27%
2005-2006
27%
2005-2006
18%
2001-2002
33%
2007-2008
11%
2005-2006
11%
2005-2006
77%
2005-2006
77%
2005-2006
88%
2003-2004
88%
2003-2004
81%
2001-2002
-6
2001-2002
100%
2007
80%
2005-2006
80%
2005-2006
25%
2004
50%
2003
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
0%
2004
30%
2005
27%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
0%
1999-2000
0%
2005
50%
2006-2012
50%
2006-2012
100%
2003
33%
2001-2002
33%
2001-2002
50%
2000
0%
1999
100%
1998
50%
1997
17%
1996
49%
2006
49%
2005
45%
2004
51%
2003
53%
2002
57%
2001
59%
1999
45%
1998
45%
1997
77%
1995
0%
2007
39%
2006
40%
2001
40%
2001
40%
1997-1998
40%
1997-1998
33%
1995-1996
33%
1995-1996
100%
2007
100%
2007
78%
2005-2006
0%
2005-2006
100%
2007
100%
2003
60%
2007
75%
2004
100
2007
0%
2003
0%
2006
100%
2003-2004
0%
2005
67%
2002
0%
1995-1996
0%
1995-1996
20%
2005-2006
20%
2005-2006
100%
2005
33%
2005-2006
33%
2005-2006
100%
2007
100%
2007
80%
2005-2006
80%
2005-2006
25%
2004
50%
2003
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
50%
2006
50%
2006
100%
2001
100%
2001
22%
2001-2002
50%
2000
9%
1999
38%
1997-1998
20%
1995-1996
50%
2005-2008
50%
2005-2008
42%
2005-2006
42%
2005-2006
42%
2003-2006
42%
2003-2006
46%
2003-2005
46%
2003-2005
23%
2003
23%
2003
33%
2002
33%
2002
33%
2001
33%
2001
33%
2005-2006
33%
2005
33%
2005
100%
2004
100%
2004
40%
2003-2004
86%
1997-1998
A
2007-2008
A
2007-2008
40%
2003-2004
40%
2003-2004
40%
2001-2002
40%
2001-2002
75%
1999-2000
75%
1999-2000
67%
1998
100%
1997
53%
1996
40%
1995
25%
2005-2006
25%
2005-2006
11%
2003-2004
11%
2003-2004
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001
30%
1999-2000
30%
1999-2000
18%
1999
12%
1997-1998
12%
1997-1998
22%
1995-1996
22%
1995-1996
11%
2003
60%
2001-2002
20%
2006
0%
2005
9%
2003-2004
27%
2001
60%
2000
46%
1999
50%
1998
33%
1997
14%
1996
0%
2001
100%
2007
77%
2005-2006
77%
2005-2006
88%
2003-2004
88%
2003-2004
60%
1998-2002
85%
1997
57%
1996
30%
2005
27%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
0%
1999-2000
14%
2006
14%
2006
25%
2005
25%
2005
0%
2004
0%
2004
11%
2003
11%
2003
0%
2002
0%
2002
13%
2001
13%
2001
10%
2000
10%
2000
36%
1999
36%
1999
25%
1998
25%
1998
8%
1997
8%
1997
10%
1996
10%
1996
0%
1995
0%
1995
42
2006
42
2006
46
2005
46
2005
35%
2007
25%
2006
22%
2005
19%
2003-2004
20%
2003
36%
2001-2002
20%
1999-2000
19%
1999
24%
1998
19%
1997
31%
1995-1996
100%
2003
-6
2001-2002
100%
2003
33%
2001-2002
33%
2001-2002
50%
2000
0%
1999
100%
1998
50%
1997
17%
1996
100%
2003
89%
2004
92%
2004
92%
2003
92%
2002
93%
1999-2000
93%
1997-1998
89%
1997
73%
1995-1996
93%
2005-2006
95%
2003-2004
100%
2003
76%
2001-2002
79%
2000
75%
1997-1998
100%
1995-1996
0%
2005
0
2005
20%
2005-2006
20%
2005-2006
40%
2007
25%
2006
0%
2005
50%
2004
0%
2004
29%
2003
37%
2002
70%
2001
56%
2000
60%
1999
40%
1998
38%
1997
47%
1995-1996
47%
1995-1996
74%
1995-1996
74%
1995-1996
50%
2003
50%
2003
0%
2006
25%
2005-2006
25%
2005-2006
11%
2003-2004
11%
2003-2004
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001-2002
17%
2001
30%
1999-2000
30%
1999-2000
18%
1999
12%
1997-1998
12%
1997-1998
22%
1995-1996
22%
1995-1996
0%
2001
100%
2007
75
2007
0%
2006
0%
2005
29%
2004
50%
2003
25%
2005
100%
2005-2006
100%
2003
100%
2003
93%
2005-2006
93%
2003-2004
93%
2003-2004
100%
2003
100%
2003
82%
2001-2002
82%
2001-2002
82%
1999-2000
82%
1999-2000
71%
2007-2008
92%
2004
92%
2004
92%
2003
92%
2003
92%
2002
92%
2002
93%
1999-2000
93%
1999-2000
93%
1997-1998
93%
1997-1998
89%
1997
89%
1997
73%
1995-1996
73%
1995-1996
0%
2008
0%
2008
10%
2007
10%
2007
10%
2007
10%
2007
87%
2005-2006
87%
2005-2006
43%
2007
43%
2007
41%
2007
53%
2005
53%
2005
40%
2005
40%
2005
67%
2005
67%
2005
50%
2004
50%
2004
60
2003
60
2003
60
2003
60
2003
60
2003
60
2003
71
2002
71
2002
71
2002
71
2002
71
2002
71
2002
65%
2001
65%
2001
60%
2000
60%
2000
28%
2007-2008
28%
2007-2008
40%
2007
40%
2007
25%
2006
25%
2006
0%
2005
0%
2005
0%
2004
50%
2004
50%
2004
0%
2004
29%
2003
29%
2003
37%
2002
37%
2002
70%
2001
70%
2001
56%
2000
56%
2000
60%
1999
60%
1999
40%
1998
40%
1998
38%
1997
38%
1997
47%
1995-1996
47%
1995-1996
47%
1995-1996
47%
1995-1996
33%
2005-2006
27%
2005-2006
27%
2005-2006
27%
2005-2006
27%
2005-2006
13%
2005-2006
13%
2005-2006
18%
2001-2002
33%
2007-2008
74%
1995-1996
74%
1995-1996
95%
2006
79%
2005
85%
2004
75%
2003
90%
2002
85%
2001
90%
2000
72%
1999
75%
1998
20%
2005-2006
20%
2005-2006
11%
2007
11%
2007
58%
2006
58%
2006
47%
2005
47%
2005
36%
2003-2004
36%
2003-2004
70%
2001-2002
70%
2001-2002
59%
2005-2006
63%
2003-2004
71%
2001-2002
73%
1999-2000
68%
1997-1998
88%
1995-1996
49%
2006
49%
2005
45%
2004
51%
2003
53%
2002
57%
2001
59%
1999
45%
1998
45%
1997
77%
1995
0%
2007
39%
2006
40%
2006
40%
2006
75%
2007
75%
2007
83%
2007
100%
2002
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003
0%
2003
14%
2001-2002
14%
2001-2002
13%
1999-2000
13%
1999-2000
11%
1997-1998
11%
1997-1998
0%
1997
0%
1997
23%
1995-1996
23%
1995-1996
80%
2001-2002
80%
2001-2002
66%
2007-2008
18%
2002
11%
2006
100%
2003
33%
2001-2002
33%
2001-2002
50%
2000
0%
1999
100%
1998
50%
1997
17%
1996
11%
2005-2006
11%
2005-2006
B
2007
33%
2003-2004
50%
2003
66%
2007-2008
40%
2003
38%
2003-2004
77%
2001
33%
1997-1998
46%
2003-2004
43%
2003
18%
2001-2002
93%
2005-2006
95%
2003-2004
100%
2003
76%
2001-2002
79%
2000
75%
1997-1998
100%
1995-1996
arrow_upward