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Erik Paulsen'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%
2015-2016
100%
2013-2014
100%
2011-2012
100%
2009-2010
100%
2009
100%
2013-2014
100%
2013-2014
100%
2015-2016
100%
2015
100%
2014
100%
2013-2014
100%
2013
100%
2011-2012
100%
2011
100%
2009-2010
100%
2015-2016
60%
2013-2014
100%
2011-2012
100%
2009-2010
50%
2014
76%
2011
66%
2009-2010
100%
2015-2016
20%
2017
36%
2015-2016
36%
2015-2016
33%
2015
28%
2014
28%
2013-2014
28%
2013-2014
31%
2013
64%
2011-2012
64%
2011-2012
62%
2001-2002
62%
2001-2002
11%
2012
0%
2009-2010
0%
2009-2010
0%
2018
25%
2015-2016
25%
2015-2016
22%
2013-2014
22%
2013-2014
17%
2011-2012
17%
2011-2012
50%
2009-2010
50%
2009-2010
66%
2009-2010
66%
2009-2010
20%
2017
36%
2015-2016
36%
2015-2016
33%
2015
28%
2014
28%
2013-2014
28%
2013-2014
31%
2013
64%
2011-2012
64%
2011-2012
34%
2013
34%
2013
74%
2013
74%
2013
26%
2013
26%
2013
77%
2013
77%
2013
15%
2013
15%
2013
77%
2013
77%
2013
21%
2013
21%
2013
42%
2012
42%
2012
91%
2012
91%
2012
75%
2012
75%
2012
57%
2012
57%
2012
0%
2012
25%
2012
25%
2012
28%
2012
28%
2012
70%
2012
70%
2012
27%
2011
27%
2011
70%
2011
70%
2011
17%
2011
17%
2011
79%
2011
79%
2011
83%
2011
83%
2011
21%
2011
21%
2011
76%
2011
76%
2011
24%
2011
24%
2011
67%
2010
67%
2010
68%
2010
68%
2010
30%
2010
30%
2010
69%
2010
69%
2010
69%
2010
69%
2010
29%
2010
29%
2010
31%
2010
31%
2010
31%
2010
31%
2010
26%
2009
26%
2009
29%
2009
29%
2009
68%
2009
68%
2009
70%
2009
70%
2009
69%
2009
69%
2009
33%
2009
33%
2009
31%
2009
31%
2009
65%
2009
65%
2009
100%
2017-2018
91%
2017-2018
91%
2017-2018
80%
2016
91%
2015-2016
91%
2015-2016
74%
2015
88%
2015
58%
2014
70%
2014
76%
2011-2012
76%
2011-2012
68%
2011-2012
68%
2011-2012
85%
2009-2010
85%
2009-2010
25%
2014
25%
2014
100%
2015-2016
100%
2013-2014
100%
2011-2012
100%
2015-2016
100%
2011-2012
93%
2015-2016
92%
2015
70%
2013-2014
100%
2013-2014
100%
2013-2014
100%
2013-2014
75%
2013-2014
88%
2013-2014
81%
2013-2014
87%
2009-2010
80%
2009-2010
100%
2017-2018
76%
2009
100%
2009-2010
86%
2012-2013
50%
2009-2010
100%
2015-2016
100%
2015
95%
2013-2014
97%
2012
100%
2011-2012
78%
2009-2010
100%
2013-2014
100%
2013-2014
100%
2013-2014
100%
2013-2014
100%
2013-2014
100%
2011-2012
100%
2011
100%
2009-2010
50%
2010
50%
2010
100%
2011-2012
6%
2016
6%
2016
13%
2017
13%
2017
40%
2015-2016
40%
2015-2016
38%
2015-2016
14%
2013-2014
6%
2016
6%
2016
100%
2006-2012
100%
2006-2012
59%
2014
48%
2015-2016
48%
2015-2016
0%
2014
0%
2013-2014
0%
2013-2014
0%
2011-2012
0%
2011-2012
0%
2009-2010
0%
2009-2010
25%
2014
25%
2014
93%
2015-2016
100%
2013-2014
100%
2011-2012
100%
2009-2010
100%
2009
96%
2011-2012
96%
2011
91%
2009-2010
56%
2009
56%
2009
44%
2016
59%
2014
57%
2013-2014
57%
2013-2014
33%
2013
33%
2013
100%
2012
100%
2012
53%
2011
53%
2011
88%
2010
88%
2010
90%
2009
90%
2009
100%
2009-2010
52%
2015-2016
58%
2014
63%
2011-2012
62%
2011
100%
2001-2010
100%
2001-2010
A
2010
25%
2014
25%
2014
91%
2007-2008
91%
2007-2008
67
2013-2014
7%
2011-2012
70%
2011-2012
9%
2009-2010
48
2009-2010
31%
2009-2010
30%
2009
92%
2013-2014
100%
2011-2012
100%
2009-2010
20%
2013-2014
0%
2011-2012
33%
2009-2010
100%
2001-2010
100%
2001-2010
16%
2013
16%
2013
4%
2012
4%
2012
17%
2011
17%
2011
38%
2010
38%
2010
15%
2009
15%
2009
15%
2011
91%
2017-2018
91%
2017-2018
80%
2016
91%
2015-2016
91%
2015-2016
88%
2015
74%
2015
58%
2014
70%
2014
76%
2011-2012
76%
2011-2012
68%
2011-2012
68%
2011-2012
85%
2009-2010
85%
2009-2010
93%
2015-2016
100%
2013-2014
100%
2011-2012
100%
2009-2010
100%
2009
25%
2014
25%
2014
45%
2014
45%
2014
0%
2011-2012
0%
2012
0%
2011
0%
2009-2010
6%
2016
6%
2016
0%
2015-2016
0%
2015-2016
0%
2013-2014
0%
2013-2014
41%
2009
41%
2009
78%
2015-2016
78%
2015-2016
100%
2015-2016
100%
2015-2016
100%
2013-2014
100%
2011-2012
100%
2015-2016
0%
2015-2016
0%
2015-2016
0%
2013-2014
0%
2013-2014
0%
2011-2012
0%
2011-2012
56%
2009
56%
2009
82%
2006
13%
2005
33%
2004
20%
2003
38%
2002
26%
2001
13%
2015-2016
13%
2015-2016
0%
2015
6%
2014
0%
2013
0%
2011-2012
0%
2011-2012
18%
2011
17%
2009
20%
2017
36%
2015-2016
36%
2015-2016
33%
2015
28%
2014
28%
2013-2014
28%
2013-2014
31%
2013
64%
2011-2012
64%
2011-2012
100%
2006-2012
100%
2006-2012
18%
2018
24%
2017-2018
16%
2017
14%
2017
16%
2016
18%
2016
14%
2015-2016
17%
2014
10%
2013-2014
7%
2013
19%
2013
22%
2012
11%
2012
20%
2011-2012
29%
2011
29%
2011
29%
2010
40%
2010
29%
2009-2010
21%
2009
26%
2001-2002
27%
2001
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999
13%
1997-1998
0%
1995-1996
88%
2009-2010
100%
2017-2018
93%
2015-2016
100%
2013-2014
100%
2011-2012
100%
2009-2010
100%
2009
100%
2011
100%
2009-2010
57%
2013-2014
57%
2013-2014
33%
2013
33%
2013
100%
2012
100%
2012
53%
2011
53%
2011
88%
2010
88%
2010
90%
2009
90%
2009
100%
2013-2014
100%
2013-2014
91%
2017-2018
91%
2017-2018
80%
2016
91%
2015-2016
91%
2015-2016
74%
2015
88%
2015
58%
2014
70%
2014
68%
2011-2012
68%
2011-2012
76%
2011-2012
76%
2011-2012
85%
2009-2010
85%
2009-2010
89%
2017
100%
2016
91%
2015
100%
2014
92%
2013
93%
2012
93%
2011
45%
2014
45%
2014
78%
2015-2016
96%
2013-2014
90%
2011-2012
89%
2009-2010
76%
2016
73%
2015
78%
2013
72%
2012
74%
2011
89%
2010
76%
2009
63%
2013
82%
2013
100%
2013
80%
2009
58%
2009
52%
2018
65%
2017
70%
2017
71%
2016
72%
2016
64%
2015
71%
2015
72%
2014
68%
2014
70%
2013
73%
2013
65%
2012
64%
2011
92%
2010
72%
2009
50%
2015-2016
50%
2015-2016
11%
2014
11%
2014
10%
2013-2014
10%
2013-2014
5%
2012
5%
2012
20%
2011
20%
2011
100%
2015-2016
60%
2013-2014
100%
2011-2012
100%
2009-2010
20%
2017
36%
2015-2016
36%
2015-2016
33%
2015
28%
2014
28%
2013-2014
28%
2013-2014
31%
2013
64%
2011-2012
64%
2011-2012
100%
2009-2010
100%
2009-2010
0%
2012
0%
2011
0%
2009-2010
20%
2013-2014
0%
2011-2012
33%
2009-2010
100%
2006-2012
100%
2006-2012
38%
2013-2014
38%
2013-2014
30%
2013
25%
2012
76%
2016
73%
2015
78%
2013
72%
2012
74%
2011
89%
2010
76%
2009
68%
2018
65%
2017
70%
2017
71%
2016
72%
2016
64%
2015
71%
2015
72%
2014
68%
2014
70%
2013
73%
2013
65%
2012
64%
2011
92%
2010
72%
2009
6%
2016
6%
2016
89%
2017
100%
2016
91%
2015
100%
2014
92%
2013
93%
2012
93%
2011
59%
2017
59%
2017
68%
2016
68%
2016
67%
2015
67%
2015
76%
2014
76%
2014
57%
2013
57%
2013
45%
2012
45%
2012
69%
2011
69%
2011
95%
2010
95%
2010
86%
2009
86%
2009
45%
2014
45%
2014
58%
2015-2016
58%
2015-2016
59%
2015
59%
2015
54%
2013-2014
54%
2013-2014
33%
2009-2010
25%
2009-2010
27%
2015-2018
20%
2017
36%
2015-2016
36%
2015-2016
33%
2015
28%
2014
28%
2013-2014
28%
2013-2014
31%
2013
64%
2011-2012
64%
2011-2012
59%
2014
0%
2012
0%
2011
0%
2009-2010
59%
2014
0%
2013-2014
0%
2007-2010
27%
2017-2018
27%
2017-2018
61%
2017
61%
2017
63%
2016
63%
2016
13%
2015-2016
13%
2015-2016
63%
2015
63%
2015
13%
2015
13%
2015
64%
2014
64%
2014
87%
2013
87%
2013
29%
2013
29%
2013
57%
2011-2012
57%
2011-2012
89%
2009-2013
89%
2009-2013
87%
2009-2013
87%
2009-2013
100%
2009-2013
100%
2009-2013
100%
2009-2013
100%
2009-2013
100%
2009-2013
100%
2009-2013
54%
2009-2010
54%
2009-2010
0%
2006
0%
2005
40%
2004
40%
2004
40%
2003
40%
2003
10%
2017
11%
2017
10%
2016
25%
2016
17%
2015
9%
2015
8%
2014
0%
2014
14%
2013
9%
2013
7%
2012
15%
2012
0%
2011
9%
2010
0%
2010
14%
2009
14%
2009
0%
2011-2012
0%
2013-2014
15%
2015-2016
20%
2013-2014
0%
2011-2012
7%
2009-2010
13%
2006
6%
2005
0%
2004
19%
2003
14%
2001
14%
2000
17%
1999
8%
1998
58%
2015-2016
58%
2015-2016
59%
2015
59%
2015
54%
2013-2014
54%
2013-2014
48%
2015-2016
48%
2015-2016
0%
2014
0%
2013-2014
0%
2013-2014
0%
2011-2012
0%
2011-2012
0%
2009-2010
0%
2009-2010
92%
2013-2014
100%
2011-2012
100%
2009-2010
100%
2009-2010
100%
2009-2010
92%
2013-2014
100%
2011-2012
100%
2009-2010
20%
2013-2014
0%
2011-2012
33%
2009-2010
100%
2001-2010
100%
2001-2010
0%
2015-2016
0%
2015-2016
0%
2013-2014
0%
2013-2014
0%
2011-2012
0%
2011-2012
56%
2009
56%
2009
18%
2018
24%
2017-2018
16%
2017
14%
2017
16%
2016
18%
2016
14%
2015-2016
17%
2014
10%
2013-2014
19%
2013
7%
2013
11%
2012
22%
2012
20%
2011-2012
29%
2011
29%
2011
29%
2010
40%
2010
29%
2009-2010
21%
2009
83%
2015-2016
100%
2015-2016
100%
2015-2016
80%
2009-2010
80%
2009-2010
80%
2009-2010
13%
2017
13%
2017
40%
2015-2016
40%
2015-2016
88%
2009-2010
100%
2017-2018
4%
2013-2014
4%
2013-2014
38%
2013-2014
38%
2013-2014
30%
2013
25%
2012
100%
2012
100%
2012
38%
2015-2016
14%
2013-2014
100%
2011
100%
2009-2010
96%
2011-2012
96%
2011
91%
2009-2010
100%
2013-2014
100%
2013-2014
76%
2009
21%
2013-2014
25%
2009-2010
25%
2009-2010
33%
2009-2010
33%
2009-2010
52%
2015-2016
52%
2015-2016
55%
2015
55%
2014
69%
2014
55%
2013-2014
55%
2013-2014
70%
2013
68%
2011-2012
68%
2011-2012
80%
2011
90%
2011
90%
2010
80%
2009-2010
80%
2009-2010
73%
2009-2010
73%
2009-2010
78%
2009-2010
78%
2009-2010
70%
2009
90%
2009
50%
2009
17%
2013
17%
2013
33%
2013
48%
2015-2016
48%
2015-2016
0%
2014
0%
2013-2014
0%
2013-2014
0%
2011-2012
0%
2011-2012
0%
2009-2010
0%
2009-2010
0%
2004
0%
1993-2006
0%
1993-2006
0%
1993-2005
0%
1993-2005
75%
2014
88%
2009-2010
88%
2009-2010
80%
2017-2018
93%
2015-2016
93%
2015-2016
100%
2013-2014
100%
2013-2014
100%
2011-2012
100%
2011-2012
100%
2009-2010
100%
2009-2010
100%
2009
100%
2009
90%
2014
100%
2011
100%
2011
100%
2009-2010
100%
2009-2010
100%
2018
89%
2017
89%
2017
100%
2016
100%
2016
91%
2015
91%
2015
100%
2014
100%
2014
92%
2013
92%
2013
93%
2012
93%
2012
93%
2011
93%
2011
76%
2009
80%
2015
100%
2013
82%
2013
63%
2013
63%
2013
100%
2013
82%
2013
80%
2009
58%
2009
58%
2009
80%
2009
53%
2017-2018
53%
2017-2018
52%
2015-2016
52%
2015-2016
52%
2015-2016
52%
2015-2016
55%
2015
55%
2015
69%
2014
69%
2014
55%
2014
55%
2014
55%
2013-2014
55%
2013-2014
55%
2013-2014
55%
2013-2014
70%
2013
70%
2013
68%
2011-2012
68%
2011-2012
68%
2011-2012
68%
2011-2012
90%
2011
80%
2011
90%
2011
80%
2011
90%
2010
90%
2010
78%
2009-2010
78%
2009-2010
80%
2009-2010
80%
2009-2010
80%
2009-2010
80%
2009-2010
78%
2009-2010
78%
2009-2010
73%
2009-2010
73%
2009-2010
73%
2009-2010
73%
2009-2010
50%
2009
90%
2009
70%
2009
50%
2009
90%
2009
70%
2009
0%
2009
59%
2017
59%
2017
68%
2016
68%
2016
67%
2015
67%
2015
76%
2014
76%
2014
57%
2013
57%
2013
45%
2012
45%
2012
69%
2011
69%
2011
95%
2010
95%
2010
86%
2009
86%
2009
76%
2009
78%
2015-2016
96%
2013-2014
90%
2011-2012
89%
2009-2010
76%
2016
73%
2015
78%
2013
72%
2012
74%
2011
89%
2010
76%
2009
52%
2018
65%
2017
70%
2017
72%
2016
71%
2016
71%
2015
64%
2015
68%
2014
72%
2014
70%
2013
73%
2013
65%
2012
64%
2011
92%
2010
72%
2009
100%
2015-2016
86%
2012-2013
0%
2015-2016
0%
2015-2016
0%
2013-2014
0%
2013-2014
60%
2009-2010
60%
2009-2010
38%
2013-2014
38%
2013-2014
30%
2013
25%
2012
50%
2015-2016
50%
2015-2016
11%
2014
11%
2014
10%
2013-2014
10%
2013-2014
5%
2012
5%
2012
20%
2011
20%
2011
arrow_upward