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James Leach'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.

40%
2003
38%
2001-2002
53%
1999-2000
0%
2004
30%
2003
45%
2001
44%
2000
49%
1999
42%
1997
45%
1996
36%
2001-2002
55%
1999-2000
53%
1999
50%
1997-1998
42%
1997
56%
1996
60%
2001
55%
1999
60%
1995-2003
70%
1995-1998
55%
1993-1996
100%
2001
82%
1999
73%
1995-1996
86%
1993-1994
88%
2001-2002
88%
2001-2002
40%
1991-1992
56%
2001-2002
56%
2001-2002
75%
1999-2000
75%
1999-2000
89%
1998
100%
1997
40%
1996
40%
1995
67%
1994
67%
1993
Fence Sitter
2002
Fence Sitter
2002
78%
2003
75%
2001-2002
82%
2003-2004
80%
2001-2002
78%
2003
75%
2001-2002
75%
2001-2002
66%
2000
78%
2003
78%
2003
75%
2001-2002
75%
2001-2002
80%
2003
75%
2001-2002
75%
2001-2002
50%
2005
78%
2004
78%
2003
75%
2001-2002
75%
2001-2002
88%
1999-2000
88%
1999-2000
66%
1999
50%
1997
50%
1995-1996
50%
1995-1996
100%
1995
33%
1993-1994
33%
1993-1994
100%
2003
100%
2003
100%
2003
45%
2005
45%
2005
54%
2005
54%
2005
58%
2005
58%
2005
72%
2005
72%
2005
28%
2005
28%
2005
62%
2005
62%
2005
39%
2005
39%
2005
51%
2004
51%
2004
38%
2004
38%
2004
39%
2004
39%
2004
61%
2004
61%
2004
61%
2004
61%
2004
49%
2004
49%
2004
56%
2003
56%
2003
55%
2003
55%
2003
46%
2003
46%
2003
59%
2003
59%
2003
44%
2003
44%
2003
53%
2003
53%
2003
45%
2003
45%
2003
40%
2003
40%
2003
45%
2002
45%
2002
57%
2002
57%
2002
54%
2002
54%
2002
33%
2002
33%
2002
51%
2002
51%
2002
49%
2002
49%
2002
43%
2002
43%
2002
66%
2002
66%
2002
75%
2001
75%
2001
52%
2001
52%
2001
39%
2001
39%
2001
49%
2001
49%
2001
62%
2001
62%
2001
25%
2001
25%
2001
55%
2000
55%
2000
46%
2000
46%
2000
58%
2000
58%
2000
40%
2000
40%
2000
54%
2000
54%
2000
44%
2000
44%
2000
45%
1999
45%
1999
48%
1999
48%
1999
59%
1999
59%
1999
54%
1999
54%
1999
52%
1999
52%
1999
40%
1999
40%
1999
31%
1998
31%
1998
48%
1998
48%
1998
60%
1998
60%
1998
52%
1998
52%
1998
38%
1998
38%
1998
64%
1998
64%
1998
48%
1996
48%
1996
52%
1996
52%
1996
63%
1996
63%
1996
35%
1996
35%
1996
52%
1996
52%
1996
47%
1996
47%
1996
67%
2003
41%
2003-2004
0%
2006
0%
2006
51%
2003
51%
2003
50%
2003-2004
27%
2003-2004
17%
2003
17%
2003
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
27%
1999-2000
27%
1999-2000
47%
1997-1998
47%
1997-1998
36%
1997
36%
1997
42%
1995-1996
42%
1995-1996
4%
2003-2004
0%
1997-1998
100%
2004
38%
2005
33%
2004
83%
2003
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001
90%
1999-2000
90%
1999-2000
73%
1999
88%
1997-1998
88%
1997-1998
78%
1995-1996
78%
1995-1996
77%
1991-1992
90%
1995-1996
90%
1995-1996
40%
2003
38%
2001-2002
53%
1999-2000
44%
2004
70%
1997
46%
1996
55%
2003-2004
78%
2001-2002
43%
1999-2000
20%
2004
20%
2004
78%
2003
78%
2003
60%
2002
60%
2002
13%
2001
13%
2001
30%
2000
30%
2000
45%
1999
45%
1999
63%
1998
63%
1998
50%
1997
50%
1997
40%
1996
40%
1996
67%
1995
67%
1995
80%
2002-2006
16%
2006
40%
2003
38%
2001-2002
53%
1999-2000
20%
2000
26%
1999
23%
1998
78%
1997
79%
1996
59%
1995
38%
2005
33%
2004
83%
2003
100%
2002
33%
2004
50%
2003
60%
2001-2002
60%
2001-2002
87%
1989-1990
17%
2003
17%
2003
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
27%
1999-2000
27%
1999-2000
47%
1997-1998
47%
1997-1998
36%
1997
36%
1997
42%
1995-1996
42%
1995-1996
90%
1995-1996
90%
1995-1996
100%
2001
100%
2000
41%
2003-2004
88%
2003
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999-2000
82%
2003-2004
80%
2001-2002
100%
2004
87
2005
87
2005
80%
2003
67%
2003
25%
2002
40%
2003
38%
2001-2002
53%
1999-2000
38%
2003
42%
2002
60%
1999-2000
53%
1997-1998
56%
1997
53%
1995-1996
45%
2004
45%
2004
28%
2003
28%
2003
47%
2002
47%
2002
16%
2006
56%
2001-2002
58%
1999-2000
50%
1997-1998
83%
1995-1996
37%
2004
39%
2003
44%
2002
53%
2001
57%
1999
42%
1998
52%
1997
82%
1995
67%
2005
56%
2005
51%
2004
60
2003
60
2003
60
2003
59
2002
59
2002
59
2002
52%
2001
59%
2000
82%
2001-2002
82%
2001-2002
14%
2001-2002
14%
2001-2002
100%
1999-2000
100%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
0%
1999-2000
44%
1997-1998
44%
1997-1998
50%
1995
60%
1995
30%
2005-2006
30%
2005-2006
41%
2001-2002
88%
2003-2004
88%
2003-2004
100%
2001-2002
+5
2001-2002
33%
2004
50%
2003
60%
2001-2002
60%
2001-2002
100%
2004
55%
2003-2004
78%
2001-2002
43%
1999-2000
0%
2005
100%
2003
67%
2001-2002
67%
2001-2002
100%
2000
0%
1999
100%
1998
100%
1997
17%
1996
100%
2003
37%
2004
39%
2003
44%
2002
53%
2001
57%
1999
42%
1998
52%
1997
82%
1995
55%
2003
67%
2002
41%
2001
50%
2000
45
1999
35%
1998
64%
1997
66%
1997-1998
66%
1997-1998
67%
1995-1996
67%
1995-1996
75%
2003-2004
56%
2005-2006
100%
2003
75%
2004
100%
2003
100%
2006
33%
2004
50%
2003
60%
2001-2002
60%
2001-2002
100%
2001
100%
2001
28%
2001-2002
40%
2000
0%
1999
58%
1997-1998
30%
1995-1996
24%
2003-2006
24%
2003-2006
15%
2003-2005
15%
2003-2005
65%
2003
65%
2003
56%
2002
56%
2002
56%
2001
56%
2001
100%
2005-2006
50%
2004
50%
2004
20%
2003-2004
71%
1997-1998
100%
2003-2004
43%
2003-2004
56%
2001-2002
56%
2001-2002
75%
1999-2000
75%
1999-2000
89%
1998
100%
1997
40%
1996
40%
1995
67%
1994
67%
1993
43%
1989-1990
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001
90%
1999-2000
90%
1999-2000
73%
1999
88%
1997-1998
88%
1997-1998
78%
1995-1996
78%
1995-1996
78%
2003
75%
2001-2002
45%
2003-2004
45%
2003-2004
45%
2001
70%
2000
80%
1999
88%
1998
44%
1997
43%
1996
66%
2001
88%
2003-2004
88%
2003-2004
70%
1997
46%
1996
55%
2003-2004
78%
2001-2002
43%
1999-2000
20%
2004
20%
2004
78%
2003
78%
2003
60%
2002
60%
2002
13%
2001
13%
2001
30%
2000
30%
2000
45%
1999
45%
1999
63%
1998
63%
1998
50%
1997
50%
1997
40%
1996
40%
1996
67%
1995
67%
1995
87
2005
87
2005
77%
2003-2004
90%
2003
59%
2001-2002
67%
1999-2000
56%
1999
76%
1998
69%
1997
62%
1995-1996
67%
2003
+5
2001-2002
100%
2003
67%
2001-2002
67%
2001-2002
100%
2000
0%
1999
100%
1998
100%
1997
17%
1996
100%
2003
44%
2004
38%
2003
42%
2002
60%
1999-2000
53%
1997-1998
56%
1997
53%
1995-1996
33%
1991-1992
33%
1991-1992
55%
2003-2004
50%
2003
36%
2001-2002
64%
2000
50%
1997-1998
25%
1995-1996
0%
2005
50%
2006
0%
2005
30%
2004
13%
2004
13%
2003
40%
2002
40%
2001
42%
2000
45%
1999
15%
1998
23%
1997
32%
1995-1996
32%
1995-1996
90%
1995-1996
90%
1995-1996
100%
2003
100%
2003
100%
2006
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001-2002
100%
2001
90%
1999-2000
90%
1999-2000
73%
1999
88%
1997-1998
88%
1997-1998
78%
1995-1996
78%
1995-1996
77%
1991-1992
66%
2001
38%
2005
33%
2004
83%
2003
70%
2005
36%
2003-2004
40%
2003
40%
2003
38%
2001-2002
38%
2001-2002
53%
1999-2000
53%
1999-2000
38%
2004
38%
2003
38%
2003
42%
2002
42%
2002
60%
1999-2000
60%
1999-2000
53%
1997-1998
53%
1997-1998
56%
1997
56%
1997
53%
1995-1996
53%
1995-1996
33%
1991-1992
33%
1991-1992
45%
2005
56%
2005
56%
2005
67%
2005
45%
2005
51%
2004
51%
2004
60
2003
60
2003
60
2003
60
2003
60
2003
60
2003
59
2002
59
2002
59
2002
59
2002
59
2002
59
2002
52%
2001
52%
2001
59%
2000
59%
2000
13%
2006
0%
2005
0%
2005
30%
2004
13%
2004
13%
2004
30%
2004
13%
2003
13%
2003
40%
2002
40%
2002
40%
2001
40%
2001
42%
2000
42%
2000
45%
1999
45%
1999
15%
1998
15%
1998
23%
1997
23%
1997
32%
1995-1996
32%
1995-1996
32%
1995-1996
32%
1995-1996
33%
2005-2006
30%
2005-2006
30%
2005-2006
30%
2005-2006
30%
2005-2006
60%
2005-2006
60%
2005-2006
41%
2001-2002
90%
1995-1996
90%
1995-1996
65%
2004
40%
2003
55%
2002
75%
2001
75%
2000
52%
1999
35%
1998
35%
2005
35%
2005
18%
2003-2004
18%
2003-2004
60%
2001-2002
60%
2001-2002
56%
2001-2002
58%
1999-2000
50%
1997-1998
83%
1995-1996
37%
2004
39%
2003
44%
2002
53%
2001
57%
1999
42%
1998
52%
1997
82%
1995
50%
2006
50%
2006
100%
2002
17%
2003
17%
2003
50%
2001-2002
50%
2001-2002
27%
1999-2000
27%
1999-2000
47%
1997-1998
47%
1997-1998
36%
1997
36%
1997
42%
1995-1996
42%
1995-1996
80%
2001-2002
80%
2001-2002
25%
2002
100%
2003
67%
2001-2002
67%
2001-2002
100%
2000
0%
1999
100%
1998
100%
1997
17%
1996
33%
2003-2004
0%
2003
40%
2003
38%
2003-2004
77%
2001
17%
1997-1998
20%
1989-1990
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