GovTrack Legislator Report Cards and Data Retractions
Since 2004, GovTrack has provided transparency into the legislative process by publishing legislator report cards. These rankings evaluate U.S. Senators based on the ideological leanings of the bills they co-sponsor, offering a data-driven glimpse into political alignment within the Senate.
The Evolution of Ranking Methodology
For most of its history, GovTrack utilized multi-year data sets to determine these rankings, as aggregating data over several years provides greater statistical significance and reliability. However, there were specific exceptions where the platform published rankings based on only a single year of data. These occurred in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019.
By 2020, GovTrack shifted its policy to stop publishing single-year rankings entirely, favoring the more stable multi-year approach. This commitment to data integrity culminated in July 2024, when GovTrack officially retracted the four single-year report cards from its records.
Political Implications and Data Disputes
The distinction between single-year and multi-year data has become a point of contention in recent political campaigns. Specifically, the single-year 2019 ranking—which identified Kamala Harris as the most liberal senator—was frequently cited by Republicans during the 2020 and 2024 election cycles to criticize her positions.
In contrast, the multi-year rating covering 2019 and 2020 combined presented a different result. In that data set, published in 2021, Independent Bernie Sanders was ranked as the most liberal senator, while Kamala Harris was ranked as the most liberal Democratic senator. This multi-year finding has also been cited during the 2024 Presidential campaign.
Key Facts
- GovTrack has published senator rankings based on bill co-sponsorship since 2004.
- Single-year rankings were issued only for 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019.
- GovTrack ceased publishing single-year rankings in 2020 to ensure higher statistical significance.
- The four single-year report cards were officially retracted in July 2024.
- Multi-year data (2019-2020) ranked Bernie Sanders as the most liberal senator and Kamala Harris as the most liberal Democratic senator.
Summary of GovTrack Ranking Data
| Ranking Type | Years Included | Current Status | Reliability Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Year | 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 | Retracted (July 2024) | Lower |
| Multi-Year | Various (e.g., 2019-2020) | Published | Higher |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are GovTrack legislator report cards?
They are rankings of U.S. Senators based on the ideological profiles of the bills they choose to co-sponsor.
Why did GovTrack retract certain report cards in 2024?
GovTrack retracted the report cards from 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019 because they were based on single-year data, which is less statistically significant than multi-year data.
Who was ranked as the most liberal senator in the 2019-2020 multi-year report?
Independent Bernie Sanders was ranked as the most liberal senator overall.
How did the 2019 single-year ranking differ from the 2019-2020 multi-year ranking for Kamala Harris?
The 2019 single-year ranking labeled Kamala Harris as the most liberal senator, whereas the 2019-2020 multi-year ranking labeled her as the most liberal Democratic senator.
When did GovTrack stop publishing single-year rankings?
GovTrack stopped publishing single-year rankings in 2020.