U.S. Senate, listed alphabetically
In advance of the Nov. 2 ballot, CNET News.com examined the technology voting records of the 100 U.S. senators serving as of September 2004. We ranked senators against 10 key votes over the past 10 years, assigning scores based on our own editorial judgment of the impact of those votes on the technology community at large. A full explanation of our thinking can be found here.
Approximately one-third of the senate is up for re-election Nov. 2. A list of useful links for researching incumbent candidates and challengers can be found here.
| Name | Party | State | CDA | DMCA | Tax | Firearms | Y2K | Export | Patriot Act | Net tax | Free Trade | R&D tax | Votes | Possible | Score |
| Akaka | D | HI | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | x | x | 2 | 8 | 25% |
| Alexander | R | TN | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Allard | R | CO | n/a | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 78% |
| Allen | R | VA | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 80% |
| Baucus | D | MT | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 60% |
| Bayh | D | IN | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 71% |
| Bennett | R | UT | 0 | 0 | 1 | x | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 67% |
| Biden | D | DE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 40% |
| Bingaman | D | NM | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 60% |
| Bond | R | MO | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 60% |
| Boxer | D | CA | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 50% |
| Breaux | D | LA | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 33% |
| Brownback | R | KS | n/a | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 67% |
| Bunning | R | KY | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 86% |
| Burns | R | MT | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 60% |
| Byrd | D | WV | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 30% |
| Campbell | R | CO | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 60% |
| Cantwell | D | WA | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 80% |
| Carper | D | DE | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 60% |
| Chafee | R | RI | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 40% |
| Chambliss | R | GA | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Clinton | D | NY | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 40% |
| Cochran | R | MS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 60% |
| Coleman | R | MN | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Collins | R | ME | n/a | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 56% |
| Conrad | D | ND | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 30% |
| Cornyn | R | TX | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Corzine | D | NJ | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 60% |
| Craig | R | ID | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 70% |
| Crapo | R | ID | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 86% |
| Name | Party | State | CDA | DMCA | Tax | Firearms | Y2K | Export | Patriot Act | Net tax | Free Trade | R&D tax | Votes | Possible | Score |
| Daschle | D | SD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 40% |
| Dayton | D | MN | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 40% |
| DeWine | R | OH | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 40% |
| Dodd | D | CT | 0 | 0 | 1 | x | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 56% |
| Dole | R | NC | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Domenici | R | NM | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 70% |
| Dorgan | D | ND | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 30% |
| Durbin | D | IL | n/a | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 22% |
| Edwards | D | NC | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | x | 3 | 6 | 50% |
| Ensign | R | NV | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 80% |
| Enzi | R | WY | n/a | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 56% |
| Feingold | D | WI | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 30% |
| Feinstein | D | CA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 50% |
| Fitzgerald | R | IL | n/a | n/a | n/a | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 57% |
| Frist | R | TN | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 60% |
| Graham | D | FL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 40% |
| Graham | R | SC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 40% |
| Grassley | R | IA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 50% |
| Gregg | R | NH | 0 | x | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 78% |
| Hagel | R | NE | n/a | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 78% |
| Harkin | D | IA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 30% |
| Hatch | R | UT | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 70% |
| Hollings | D | SC | 0 | 0 | x | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 11% |
| Hutchison | R | TX | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 50% |
| Inhofe | R | OK | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 44% |
| Inouye | D | HI | 0 | 0 | 1 | x | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | x | 4 | 8 | 50% |
| Jeffords | I | VT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 60% |
| Johnson | D | SD | n/a | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 22% |
| Kennedy | D | MA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | x | 4 | 9 | 44% |
| Kerry | D | MA | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | x | 4 | 9 | 44% |
| Name | Party | State | CDA | DMCA | Tax | Firearms | Y2K | Export | Patriot Act | Net tax | Free Trade | R&D tax | Votes | Possible | Score |
| Kohl | D | WI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 50% |
| Kyl | R | AZ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 60% |
| Landrieu | D | LA | n/a | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | x | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 63% |
| Lautenberg | D | NJ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 3 | 6 | 50% |
| Leahy | D | VT | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 50% |
| Levin | D | MI | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 30% |
| Lieberman | D | CT | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 70% |
| Lincoln | D | AR | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 71% |
| Lott | R | MS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 70% |
| Lugar | R | IN | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 60% |
| McCain | R | AZ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 50% |
| McConnell | R | KY | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 70% |
| Mikulski | D | MD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 30% |
| Miller | D | GA | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 80% |
| Murkowski | R | AK | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Murray | D | WA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 70% |
| Nelson | D | FL | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 60% |
| Nelson | D | NE | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 60% |
| Nickles | R | OK | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 70% |
| Pryor | D | AR | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Reed | D | RI | n/a | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 33% |
| Reid | D | NV | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 30% |
| Roberts | R | KS | n/a | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 67% |
| Rockefeller | D | WV | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 20% |
| Santorum | R | PA | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 60% |
| Sarbanes | D | MD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 20% |
| Schumer | D | NY | n/a | n/a | n/a | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 57% |
| Sessions | R | AL | n/a | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 44% |
| Shelby | R | AL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 30% |
| Smith | R | OR | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 70% |
| Name | Party | State | CDA | DMCA | Tax | Firearms | Y2K | Export | Patriot Act | Net tax | Free Trade | R&D tax | Votes | Possible | Score |
| Snowe | R | ME | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 50% |
| Specter | R | PA | 0 | 0 | x | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 33% |
| Stabenow | D | MI | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 40% |
| Stevens | R | AK | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 70% |
| Sununu | R | NH | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Talent | R | MO | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 | 1 | n/a |
| Thomas | R | WY | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 50% |
| Voinovich | R | OH | n/a | n/a | n/a | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 57% |
| Warner | R | VA | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 60% |
| Wyden | D | OR | n/a | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 67% |
