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Ben Nelson'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.

64%
2009
44%
2007-2008
76%
2005-2006
72%
2003-2004
77%
2003
47%
2001-2002
100%
2003-2004
90%
2011
0%
2010
15%
2009
0%
2008
25%
2007
0%
2006
20%
2005
0%
2004
7%
2003
0%
2001
25%
2011
57%
2009-2010
85%
2007-2008
75%
2005-2006
91%
2003-2004
100%
2001-2002
40%
2009-2010
100%
2002
33%
2009-2010
64%
2007-2008
70%
2005-2006
100%
2007
56%
2011-2012
56%
2011-2012
40%
2007-2008
88%
2001-2002
88%
2001-2002
60%
2003
60%
2001-2002
100%
2011
50%
2005
75%
2003-2004
20%
2001-2002
60%
2001-2002
60%
2001-2002
60%
2003
60%
2003
60%
2001-2002
60%
2001-2002
100%
2011
17%
2009-2010
25%
2009
64%
2007-2008
60%
2007
37%
2005-2006
0%
2004
60%
2001-2002
60%
2001-2002
56%
2011-2012
56%
2011-2012
33%
2002
49%
2012
49%
2012
43%
2012
43%
2012
52%
2012
52%
2012
49%
2012
49%
2012
47%
2012
47%
2012
49%
2012
49%
2012
53%
2012
53%
2012
49%
2011
49%
2011
47%
2011
47%
2011
51%
2011
51%
2011
53%
2011
53%
2011
49%
2011
49%
2011
49%
2011
49%
2011
51%
2011
51%
2011
50%
2011
50%
2011
41%
2010
41%
2010
41%
2010
41%
2010
42%
2010
42%
2010
58%
2010
58%
2010
53%
2010
53%
2010
58%
2010
58%
2010
41%
2010
41%
2010
58%
2010
58%
2010
58%
2009
58%
2009
38%
2009
38%
2009
41%
2009
41%
2009
59%
2009
59%
2009
41%
2009
41%
2009
41%
2009
41%
2009
56%
2009
56%
2009
61%
2009
61%
2009
47%
2008
47%
2008
46%
2008
46%
2008
48%
2008
48%
2008
52%
2008
52%
2008
50.2%
2008
50.2%
2008
53%
2008
53%
2008
47%
2008
47%
2008
50%
2008
50%
2008
46.7%
2007
46.7%
2007
51%
2007
51%
2007
52%
2007
52%
2007
55%
2007
55%
2007
46%
2007
46%
2007
48%
2007
48%
2007
44%
2007
44%
2007
53.3%
2007
53.3%
2007
46%
2006
46%
2006
54.7%
2006
54.7%
2006
29%
2006
29%
2006
53%
2006
53%
2006
51%
2006
51%
2006
69%
2006
69%
2006
46%
2006
46%
2006
45.3%
2006
45.3%
2006
51%
2005
51%
2005
52%
2005
52%
2005
50%
2005
50%
2005
46%
2005
46%
2005
50%
2005
50%
2005
48%
2005
48%
2005
50%
2005
50%
2005
49%
2005
49%
2005
54%
2004
54%
2004
53%
2004
53%
2004
54%
2004
54%
2004
45%
2004
45%
2004
46%
2004
46%
2004
45%
2004
45%
2004
51%
2003
51%
2003
53%
2003
53%
2003
50%
2003
50%
2003
53%
2003
53%
2003
48%
2003
48%
2003
46%
2003
46%
2003
51%
2003
51%
2003
46%
2003
46%
2003
52%
2002
52%
2002
49%
2002
49%
2002
49%
2002
49%
2002
44%
2002
44%
2002
50%
2002
50%
2002
48%
2002
48%
2002
55%
2002
55%
2002
48%
2002
48%
2002
54%
2001
54%
2001
49%
2001
49%
2001
48%
2001
48%
2001
36%
2001
36%
2001
51%
2001
51%
2001
47%
2001
47%
2001
23%
2011-2012
23%
2011-2012
8%
2009-2010
6%
2007-2008
16%
2007
71%
2006
100%
2005-2006
77%
2003-2004
100
2007
50%
2009
25%
2009-2010
100%
2005
67%
2003
67%
2003
71%
2011-2012
38%
2009-2010
31%
2007-2008
84%
2005-2006
73%
2003-2004
63%
2001-2002
50%
2005-2006
71%
2003-2004
57%
2011
55%
2009-2010
60%
2007-2008
75%
2005-2006
88%
2003-2004
88%
2003
100%
2010
100%
2010
24%
2003-2004
24%
2003-2004
9%
2003
9%
2003
31%
2001-2002
31%
2001-2002
53%
2009-2010
50%
2007-2008
71
2007
17%
2005-2006
33%
2003-2004
60%
2001-2002
75%
2001
0%
2001
0%
2001
42%
2011
33%
2010
73%
2009
67
2008
80
2007
38%
2005
71%
2004
83%
2003
13%
2012
67%
2006-2012
67%
2006-2012
75%
2009-2010
75%
2009-2010
65%
2007-2008
65%
2007-2008
11%
2005-2006
11%
2005-2006
25%
2003-2004
25%
2003-2004
43%
2001-2002
43%
2001-2002
40%
2001
100%
2007
100%
2007
67%
2007
50%
2007
54%
2001-2002
45%
2009
34%
2007
33%
2007
58%
2005
40%
2005
75%
2005
55%
2004
50
2003
50
2003
50
2003
56
2002
56
2002
56
2002
52%
2001
100%
2007-2008
100%
2007-2008
64%
2009
44%
2007-2008
76%
2005-2006
72%
2003-2004
77%
2003
47%
2001-2002
80%
2004
16%
2011
29%
2009-2010
51%
2007-2008
89%
2005-2006
92%
2003-2004
100%
2003
62%
2001-2002
6%
2011
6%
2011
57%
2010
57%
2010
41%
2009
41%
2009
50%
2008
50%
2008
70%
2007
70%
2007
100%
2006
100%
2006
25%
2005
25%
2005
80%
2004
80%
2004
73%
2003
73%
2003
33%
2002
33%
2002
45%
2009-2010
10%
2007
10%
2007
20%
2011-2012
66%
2001-2010
66%
2001-2010
F
2010
54%
2001-2002
25%
2011-2012
41
2009-2010
45%
2009-2010
31%
2009-2010
54%
2009
0%
2007-2008
75%
2007-2008
6%
2007-2008
41%
2009-2010
71%
2007-2008
76%
2005-2006
56%
1998-2002
88%
2009-2010
40%
2007-2008
59%
2007
16%
2005-2006
25%
2005
33%
2001-2004
66%
2001-2010
66%
2001-2010
22%
2011
22%
2011
79%
2010
79%
2010
50%
2009
50%
2009
40%
2008
40%
2008
9%
2007
9%
2007
33%
2006
33%
2006
33%
2005
33%
2005
50%
2004
50%
2004
40%
2003
40%
2003
0%
2002
0%
2002
14%
2001
14%
2001
23%
2011-2012
23%
2011-2012
8%
2009-2010
6%
2007-2008
16%
2007
71%
2006
64%
2009
44%
2007-2008
76%
2005-2006
72%
2003-2004
77%
2003
47%
2001-2002
36%
2001-2002
36%
2001-2002
42%
2011
33%
2010
73%
2009
67
2008
80
2007
38%
2005
71%
2004
83%
2003
86%
2002
57%
2011-2012
14%
2011
40%
2009-2010
40%
2009-2010
0%
2007-2008
0%
2007
0%
2005-2006
100%
2004
0%
2003
67%
2001-2002
67%
2001-2002
0%
2001
0%
2001
24%
2003-2004
24%
2003-2004
9%
2003
9%
2003
31%
2001-2002
31%
2001-2002
69%
2009
69%
2009
29%
2001
100%
2002
100%
2006
100%
2007
100%
2007
16%
2005-2006
0%
2004
29%
2001
67%
2001-2002
100%
2005-2006
77%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003
100
2007
50%
2005
75%
2003-2004
20%
2001-2002
100%
2007
33%
2002
100%
2001
20%
2011
100%
2011
17%
2009-2010
25%
2009
64%
2007-2008
60%
2007
37%
2005-2006
0%
2004
13%
2012
54%
2011
71%
2009
80%
2008
56%
2011-2012
56%
2011-2012
67%
2006-2012
67%
2006-2012
57%
2012
56%
2011-2012
55%
2011
42%
2011
41%
2010
0%
2010
33%
2009-2010
55%
2009
77%
2007-2008
67%
2007
43%
2006
30%
2005
32%
2003-2004
21%
2003
28%
2001-2002
100%
2007
66%
2007-2008
66%
2005-2006
100%
2004
100%
2003
50%
2002
64%
2009
44%
2007-2008
76%
2005-2006
72%
2003-2004
77%
2003
47%
2001-2002
60%
2009-2010
80%
2007-2008
83%
2004
83%
2003
60%
2001
6%
2011
6%
2011
57%
2010
57%
2010
41%
2009
41%
2009
50%
2008
50%
2008
70%
2007
70%
2007
100%
2006
100%
2006
25%
2005
25%
2005
80%
2004
80%
2004
73%
2003
73%
2003
33%
2002
33%
2002
23%
2011-2012
23%
2011-2012
8%
2009-2010
6%
2007-2008
16%
2007
71%
2006
20%
2011
10%
2007
10%
2007
37%
2009-2010
28%
2007-2008
60%
2005-2006
43%
2003-2004
9%
2001-2002
29%
2011
52%
2010
27%
2009
F
2008
D
2007
57%
2006
41%
2005
34%
2004
42%
2003
35%
2002
43%
2001
80%
2005-2006
80%
2005-2006
39%
2009
34%
2007
33%
2007
40%
2005
58%
2005
75%
2005
55%
2004
50
2003
50
2003
50
2003
56
2002
56
2002
56
2002
52%
2001
60%
2003-2004
60%
2003-2004
25%
2001-2002
25%
2001-2002
75%
2001-2002
75%
2001-2002
50%
1998
50%
1996
25%
1994
50%
1992
31%
2011
50%
2010
30%
2009
11%
2008
7%
2007
49%
2006
54%
2001-2002
71%
2007-2008
71%
2007-2008
68%
2005-2006
68%
2005-2006
67%
2009-2010
67%
2009-2010
100%
2007-2008
100%
2007-2008
67%
2005-2006
67%
2005-2006
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
100%
2001-2002
-2
2001-2002
14%
2011
40%
2009-2010
40%
2009-2010
0%
2007-2008
0%
2007
0%
2005-2006
100%
2004
0%
2003
67%
2001-2002
67%
2001-2002
88%
2009-2010
40%
2007-2008
59%
2007
16%
2005-2006
25%
2005
33%
2001-2004
67%
2006-2012
67%
2006-2012
67%
2005-2006
50%
2003-2004
50%
2001-2002
16%
2005-2006
0%
2004
22%
2011
22%
2011
79%
2010
79%
2010
50%
2009
50%
2009
40%
2008
40%
2008
9%
2007
9%
2007
33%
2006
33%
2006
33%
2005
33%
2005
50%
2004
50%
2004
40%
2003
40%
2003
0%
2002
0%
2002
14%
2001
14%
2001
25%
2009
25%
2009
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003-2004
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
100%
2005-2006
33%
2003-2004
50%
2003
29%
2011
52%
2010
27%
2009
F
2008
D
2007
57%
2006
41%
2005
34%
2004
42%
2003
35%
2002
43%
2001
31%
2011
50%
2010
30%
2009
11%
2008
7%
2007
49%
2006
0%
2001
0%
2001
33%
2011
33%
2011
35%
2010
35%
2010
23%
2009
23%
2009
14%
2008
14%
2008
9%
2007
9%
2007
50%
2006
50%
2006
44%
2005
44%
2005
43%
2003-2004
43%
2003-2004
48%
2009-2010
48%
2009-2010
51%
2007-2008
51%
2007-2008
59%
2005-2006
59%
2005-2006
43%
2003-2004
43%
2003-2004
26%
2001-2002
26%
2001-2002
58%
1993-2018
58%
1993-2018
58%
1993-2014
58%
1993-2014
100%
2001
100%
2001
100%
2008
100%
2007
33%
2009-2010
100%
2007
75%
2007-2008
50%
2005-2006
100%
2001
100%
2009
80%
2005-2006
67%
2003
100%
2011
50%
2004
100%
2003-2004
0
2007
56%
2011-2012
56%
2011-2012
60%
2003
67%
2001-2002
57%
2011-2012
14%
2011
40%
2009-2010
40%
2009-2010
0%
2007-2008
0%
2007
0%
2005-2006
100%
2004
0%
2003
67%
2001-2002
67%
2001-2002
100%
2001
33%
2007
33%
2007
25%
2006
25%
2006
0%
2001
0%
2001
69%
2001-2002
33%
2007-2010
73%
2009-2010
73%
2009-2010
64%
2005-2008
64%
2005-2008
72%
2005-2006
72%
2005-2006
17%
2003-2006
17%
2003-2006
8%
2003-2005
8%
2003-2005
25%
2003
25%
2003
70%
2002
70%
2002
70%
2001
70%
2001
91%
2012
58%
2011
70%
2010
31%
2010
78%
2009
75%
2009
74%
2008
100%
2008
95%
2007
47%
2006
64%
2005
82%
2004
62%
2003
62%
2002
81%
2001
62%
1999
57%
2011-2012
67%
2009-2010
67%
2009-2010
91
2007-2008
91
2007-2008
50%
2005-2006
50%
2005-2006
89%
2003-2004
89%
2003-2004
80%
2001-2002
80%
2001-2002
100%
2007
48%
2009-2010
48%
2009-2010
51%
2007-2008
51%
2007-2008
59%
2005-2006
59%
2005-2006
43%
2003-2004
43%
2003-2004
26%
2001-2002
26%
2001-2002
58%
1993-2018
58%
1993-2018
58%
1993-2014
58%
1993-2014
75%
2009-2010
75%
2009-2010
65%
2007-2008
65%
2007-2008
11%
2005-2006
11%
2005-2006
25%
2003-2004
25%
2003-2004
43%
2001-2002
43%
2001-2002
40%
2001
60%
2003
60%
2001-2002
78%
2009-2010
78%
2009-2010
90%
2007
60%
2006
67%
2005
91%
2003-2004
91%
2003-2004
64%
2001
0%
2003
100%
2001
71%
2009
69%
2009
69%
2009
67%
2009-2010
67%
2009-2010
100%
2007-2008
100%
2007-2008
67%
2005-2006
67%
2005-2006
0%
2003-2004
0%
2003-2004
41%
2009-2010
71%
2007-2008
76%
2005-2006
56%
1998-2002
88%
2009-2010
40%
2007-2008
59%
2007
16%
2005-2006
25%
2005
33%
2001-2004
66%
2001-2010
66%
2001-2010
22%
2011
22%
2011
79%
2010
79%
2010
50%
2009
50%
2009
40%
2008
40%
2008
9%
2007
9%
2007
33%
2006
33%
2006
33%
2005
33%
2005
50%
2004
50%
2004
40%
2003
40%
2003
0%
2002
0%
2002
14%
2001
14%
2001
44%
2012
56%
2011-2012
55%
2011
42%
2011
41%
2010
0%
2010
33%
2009-2010
55%
2009
77%
2007-2008
67%
2007
43%
2006
30%
2005
32%
2003-2004
21%
2003
28%
2001-2002
50%
2007-2008
50%
2013-2014
50%
2013-2014
66%
2007-2008
66%
2005-2006
100%
2004
100%
2003
-2
2001-2002
0%
2006
21%
2013-2014
21%
2013-2014
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003-2004
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
25%
2012
67%
2003
80%
2004
60%
2009-2010
80%
2007-2008
83%
2004
83%
2003
60%
2001
16%
2011
29%
2009-2010
51%
2007-2008
89%
2005-2006
92%
2003-2004
100%
2003
62%
2001-2002
50%
2009
46%
2009-2010
46%
2009-2010
7%
2007-2008
0%
2006
100
2007-2008
100
2007-2008
40%
2005-2006
40%
2005-2006
20%
2011
35%
2011
50%
2010
33%
2009-2010
33%
2009-2010
27%
2009-2010
27%
2009-2010
20%
2009-2010
20%
2009-2010
20%
2009
40%
2009
30%
2009
21%
2007-2008
21%
2007-2008
40%
2007
20%
2006
70%
2004
35%
2002
55%
2001
33%
2009-2010
67%
2003
67%
2003
75%
2009-2010
75%
2009-2010
65%
2007-2008
65%
2007-2008
11%
2005-2006
11%
2005-2006
25%
2003-2004
25%
2003-2004
43%
2001-2002
43%
2001-2002
40%
2001
100%
2001
42%
2011
33%
2010
73%
2009
67
2008
80
2007
38%
2005
71%
2004
83%
2003
32%
2009-2010
66%
2007-2008
66%
2007-2008
66%
2005-2006
66%
2005-2006
100%
2004
100%
2004
100%
2003
100%
2003
64%
2009-2010
64%
2009
64%
2009
44%
2007-2008
44%
2007-2008
76%
2005-2006
76%
2005-2006
72%
2003-2004
72%
2003-2004
77%
2003
77%
2003
47%
2001-2002
47%
2001-2002
30%
2011
60%
2009-2010
60%
2009-2010
80%
2007-2008
80%
2007-2008
83%
2004
83%
2004
83%
2003
83%
2003
60%
2001
60%
2001
88%
2012
73%
2011
73%
2011
0%
2008
0%
2008
10%
2007
10%
2007
10%
2007
10%
2007
50%
2009
80%
2005-2006
80%
2005-2006
45%
2009
45%
2009
39%
2009
33%
2007
34%
2007
33%
2007
34%
2007
40%
2005
58%
2005
58%
2005
75%
2005
75%
2005
40%
2005
55%
2004
55%
2004
50
2003
50
2003
50
2003
50
2003
50
2003
50
2003
56
2002
56
2002
56
2002
56
2002
56
2002
56
2002
52%
2001
52%
2001
33%
2011-2012
33%
2011-2012
20%
2011
35%
2011
20%
2011
35%
2011
50%
2010
50%
2010
20%
2009-2010
20%
2009-2010
27%
2009-2010
27%
2009-2010
27%
2009-2010
27%
2009-2010
20%
2009-2010
20%
2009-2010
33%
2009-2010
33%
2009-2010
33%
2009-2010
33%
2009-2010
30%
2009
20%
2009
20%
2009
40%
2009
40%
2009
30%
2009
21%
2007-2008
21%
2007-2008
21%
2007-2008
21%
2007-2008
40%
2007
40%
2007
20%
2006
20%
2006
70%
2004
70%
2004
35%
2002
35%
2002
55%
2001
55%
2001
70%
2012
33%
2005-2006
33%
2005-2006
50%
2009
54%
2001-2002
0%
2009
55%
2005
50%
2004
45%
2003
40%
2002
35%
2001
0%
2005-2006
33%
2011
33%
2011
35%
2010
35%
2010
23%
2009
23%
2009
14%
2008
14%
2008
9%
2007
9%
2007
50%
2006
50%
2006
44%
2005
44%
2005
43%
2003-2004
43%
2003-2004
50%
2009
37%
2009-2010
28%
2007-2008
60%
2005-2006
43%
2003-2004
9%
2001-2002
29%
2011
52%
2010
27%
2009
F
2008
D
2007
57%
2006
41%
2005
34%
2004
42%
2003
35%
2002
43%
2001
31%
2011
50%
2010
30%
2009
11%
2008
7%
2007
49%
2006
56%
2006
56%
2006
71%
2007
100%
2007
86%
2002
67%
2005-2006
50%
2003-2004
50%
2001-2002
24%
2003-2004
24%
2003-2004
9%
2003
9%
2003
31%
2001-2002
31%
2001-2002
50%
2009-2010
50%
2009-2010
60%
2003-2004
60%
2003-2004
60%
2001-2002
60%
2001-2002
69%
2003-2004
60%
2003
56%
2001-2002
16%
2011
29%
2009-2010
51%
2007-2008
89%
2005-2006
92%
2003-2004
100%
2003
62%
2001-2002
100%
2011
30%
2010
60%
2009
60
2007-2008
60%
2007
60%
2005-2006
60%
2005-2006
60%
2003-2004
60%
2003-2004
50%
2007
100%
2007
100%
2007
67%
2007
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