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Joel Hefley'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.

100%
2003
100%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999
100%
1997-1998
100%
1997
100%
1996
0%
2001
0%
1999
0%
1995-2003
0%
1995-1998
0%
1993-1996
100%
2001
55%
1999
83%
1995-1996
86%
1993-1994
71%
2001-2002
71%
2001-2002
30%
1991-1992
40%
2001-2002
40%
2001-2002
50%
1999-2000
50%
1999-2000
13%
1998
57%
1997
40%
1996
11%
1995
33%
1994
33%
1993
Fence Sitter
2002
Fence Sitter
2002
33%
2003
50%
2001-2002
0%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
33%
2003
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
50%
2000
33%
2003
33%
2003
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
0%
2004
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
0%
2005
33%
2004
33%
2003
50%
2001-2002
50%
1999-2000
50%
1999
0%
1997
0%
1995-1996
0%
1995
13%
1993-1994
13%
2003
13%
2003
100%
2003
15%
2005
15%
2005
18%
2005
18%
2005
0%
2005
33%
2005
33%
2005
89%
2005
89%
2005
82%
2005
82%
2005
67%
2005
67%
2005
0%
2004
60%
2004
60%
2004
32%
2004
32%
2004
91%
2004
91%
2004
40%
2004
40%
2004
67%
2004
67%
2004
51%
2003
51%
2003
40%
2003
40%
2003
55%
2003
55%
2003
48%
2003
48%
2003
45%
2003
45%
2003
24%
2003
24%
2003
60%
2003
60%
2003
71%
2003
71%
2003
17%
2002
17%
2002
69%
2002
69%
2002
0%
2002
83%
2002
83%
2002
0%
2002
85%
2002
85%
2002
75%
2002
75%
2002
31%
2002
31%
2002
39%
2001
39%
2001
61%
2001
61%
2001
33%
2001
33%
2001
81%
2001
81%
2001
60%
2001
60%
2001
0%
2001
6%
2000
12%
2000
12%
2000
85%
2000
85%
2000
0%
2000
78%
2000
78%
2000
79%
2000
79%
2000
92%
1999
92%
1999
65%
1999
65%
1999
29%
1999
29%
1999
82%
1999
82%
1999
3%
1999
16%
1999
16%
1999
14%
1998
14%
1998
83%
1998
83%
1998
7%
1998
0%
1998
81%
1998
81%
1998
88%
1998
88%
1998
20%
1996
20%
1996
79%
1996
79%
1996
77%
1996
77%
1996
76%
1996
76%
1996
0%
1996
14%
1996
14%
1996
67%
2003
91%
2003-2004
0%
2006
0%
2006
82%
2003
82%
2003
100%
2003-2004
82%
2003-2004
0%
2003
0%
2003
9%
2001-2002
9%
2001-2002
20%
1999-2000
20%
1999-2000
53%
1997-1998
53%
1997-1998
73%
1997
73%
1997
30%
1995-1996
30%
1995-1996
75%
2003-2004
100%
1997-1998
0%
2004
0%
2005
0%
2004
33%
2003
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
9%
1999
0%
1997-1998
0%
1997-1998
0%
1995-1996
0%
1995-1996
8%
1991-1992
94%
1995-1996
94%
1995-1996
100%
2003
100%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
96%
2004
95%
1997
93%
1996
45%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
14%
1999-2000
20%
2004
20%
2004
22%
2003
22%
2003
0%
2002
0%
2002
0%
2001
0%
2001
20%
2000
20%
2000
36%
1999
36%
1999
13%
1998
13%
1998
0%
1997
0%
1997
0%
1996
0%
1996
8%
1995
8%
1995
100%
2006
100%
2003
100%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
53%
2000
91%
1999
41%
1998
64%
1997
42%
1996
50%
1995
0%
2005
0%
2004
33%
2003
50%
2002
0%
2004
0%
2003
0%
2001-2002
0%
1989-1990
0%
2003
0%
2003
9%
2001-2002
9%
2001-2002
20%
1999-2000
20%
1999-2000
53%
1997-1998
53%
1997-1998
73%
1997
73%
1997
30%
1995-1996
30%
1995-1996
94%
1995-1996
94%
1995-1996
100%
2001
100%
2000
91%
2003-2004
0%
2003
0%
1999-2000
0%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
0%
2004
12
2005
12
2005
0%
2004
100%
2003
0%
2002
100%
2003
100%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
92%
2003
100%
2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1997-1998
100%
1997
87%
1995-1996
97%
2004
97%
2004
96%
2003
96%
2003
93%
2002
93%
2002
100%
2006
97%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1997-1998
92%
1995-1996
77%
2004
71%
2003
65%
2002
78%
2001
76%
1999
72%
1998
67%
1997
83%
1995
79%
2005
60%
2005
63%
2004
75
2003
75
2003
75
2003
90
2002
90
2002
90
2002
70%
2001
81%
2000
27%
2001-2002
27%
2001-2002
71%
2001-2002
71%
2001-2002
33%
1999-2000
33%
1999-2000
80%
1999-2000
80%
1999-2000
44%
1997-1998
44%
1997-1998
20%
1995
50%
1995
17%
2005-2006
17%
2005-2006
0%
2001-2002
88%
2003-2004
88%
2003-2004
35%
2001-2002
-2
2001-2002
0%
2004
0%
2003
0%
2001-2002
0%
2004
45%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
14%
1999-2000
0%
2005
0%
2003
33%
2001-2002
33%
2001-2002
0%
2000
0%
1999
33%
1998
0%
1997
0%
1996
77%
2004
71%
2003
65%
2002
78%
2001
76%
1999
72%
1998
67%
1997
83%
1995
50%
2003
33%
2002
50%
2001
63%
2000
60
1999
39%
1998
42%
1997
0%
1997-1998
0%
1997-1998
20%
1995-1996
20%
1995-1996
75%
2003-2004
44%
2005-2006
75%
2003
75%
2004
0%
2003
0%
2006
0%
2004
0%
2003
0%
2001-2002
100%
2001
100%
2001
11%
2001-2002
30%
2000
18%
1999
13%
1997-1998
10%
1995-1996
97%
2003-2006
97%
2003-2006
100%
2003-2005
100%
2003-2005
98%
2003
98%
2003
96%
2002
96%
2002
96%
2001
96%
2001
0%
2005-2006
0%
2004
0%
2004
100%
2003-2004
100%
1997-1998
100%
2003-2004
21%
2003-2004
40%
2001-2002
40%
2001-2002
50%
1999-2000
50%
1999-2000
13%
1998
57%
1997
40%
1996
11%
1995
33%
1994
33%
1993
7%
1989-1990
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
9%
1999
0%
1997-1998
0%
1997-1998
0%
1995-1996
0%
1995-1996
33%
2003
50%
2001-2002
18%
2003-2004
18%
2003-2004
9%
2001
50%
2000
53%
1999
38%
1998
33%
1997
0%
1996
0%
2001
88%
2003-2004
88%
2003-2004
95%
1997
93%
1996
45%
2003-2004
0%
2001-2002
14%
1999-2000
20%
2004
20%
2004
22%
2003
22%
2003
0%
2002
0%
2002
0%
2001
0%
2001
20%
2000
20%
2000
36%
1999
36%
1999
13%
1998
13%
1998
0%
1997
0%
1997
0%
1996
0%
1996
8%
1995
8%
1995
12
2005
12
2005
13%
2003-2004
15%
2003
14%
2001-2002
17%
1999-2000
13%
1999
14%
1998
13%
1997
8%
1995-1996
100%
2003
-2
2001-2002
0%
2003
33%
2001-2002
33%
2001-2002
0%
2000
0%
1999
33%
1998
0%
1997
0%
1996
100%
2003
96%
2004
92%
2003
100%
2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1997-1998
100%
1997
87%
1995-1996
100%
1991-1992
100%
1991-1992
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003
97%
2001-2002
100%
2000
75%
1997-1998
75%
1995-1996
0%
2005
94%
1995-1996
94%
1995-1996
50%
2003
50%
2003
0%
2006
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001-2002
0%
2001
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
9%
1999
0%
1997-1998
0%
1997-1998
0%
1995-1996
0%
1995-1996
8%
1991-1992
0%
2001
100%
2003-2004
100%
2003
100%
2003
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999-2000
92%
2004
92%
2003
92%
2003
100%
2002
100%
2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999-2000
100%
1997-1998
100%
1997-1998
100%
1997
100%
1997
87%
1995-1996
87%
1995-1996
100%
1991-1992
100%
1991-1992
60%
2005
60%
2005
40%
2005
79%
2005
79%
2005
63%
2004
63%
2004
75
2003
75
2003
75
2003
75
2003
75
2003
75
2003
90
2002
90
2002
90
2002
90
2002
90
2002
90
2002
70%
2001
70%
2001
81%
2000
81%
2000
52%
2006
88%
2005
88%
2005
75%
2004
90%
2004
75%
2004
90%
2004
50%
2003
50%
2003
65%
2002
65%
2002
85%
2001
85%
2001
81%
2000
81%
2000
85%
1999
85%
1999
89%
1998
89%
1998
63%
1997
63%
1997
64%
1995-1996
64%
1995-1996
64%
1995-1996
64%
1995-1996
0%
2005-2006
17%
2005-2006
17%
2005-2006
88%
2005-2006
88%
2005-2006
17%
2005-2006
17%
2005-2006
0%
2001-2002
94%
1995-1996
94%
1995-1996
85%
2004
85%
2003
95%
2002
85%
2001
95%
2000
88%
1999
85%
1998
65%
2005
65%
2005
82%
2003-2004
82%
2003-2004
80%
2001-2002
80%
2001-2002
97%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1997-1998
92%
1995-1996
77%
2004
71%
2003
65%
2002
78%
2001
76%
1999
72%
1998
67%
1997
83%
1995
42%
2006
42%
2006
50%
2002
0%
2003
0%
2003
9%
2001-2002
9%
2001-2002
20%
1999-2000
20%
1999-2000
53%
1997-1998
53%
1997-1998
73%
1997
73%
1997
30%
1995-1996
30%
1995-1996
20%
2001-2002
20%
2001-2002
0%
2002
0%
2003
33%
2001-2002
33%
2001-2002
0%
2000
0%
1999
33%
1998
0%
1997
0%
1996
0%
2003-2004
100%
2003
100%
2003
80%
2003
25%
2003-2004
77%
2001
60%
1997-1998
0%
1989-1990
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