Gun policy is the single most important issue for many voters, but when it comes to assessing their representative’s job performance, the bulk of Americans take multiple factors into account. Despite potentially alienating themselves from pro-gun voters, many senators on this list remain relatively popular with their constituency.
One of the most pressing and politically divisive problems in the United States is gun control. According to a recent Pew Survey, 60% of American adults consider gun violence a very big problem, ranking it among the top five issues – along with inflation, drug addiction, health care costs, and partisan gridlock. About half of Americans firmly believe that owning a gun is beneficial to their safety, while the other half takes the opposite stance – that gun ownership contributes to a reduction in safety.
Awareness of the issues posed by gun violence is split along party lines to a much higher degree than for any of the other top issues. The same Pew survey found that 81% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters consider gun violence a serious problem, compared to only 38% of Republican and Republican-leaning voters. Few other issues embody partisanship more clearly than gun control.
24/7 Wall St. identified the strongest gun control advocates in the U.S. Senate using data from the nonprofit gun rights lobbying group, Gun Owners of America. Of the 100 sitting U.S. Senators, GOA assigned 96 with a letter grade, from A+ to F-, for their positions on gun legislation. The highest grades were given to the most pro-gun lawmakers and the lowest to the most staunch supporters of gun control.
The list of U.S. senators with a grade of F or F- from the GOA includes every Democrat in the chamber and only one Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I) of Arizona, Bob Menendez (D) of New Jersey, and Joe Manchin (D) of West Virginia are the only lawmakers on this list to rank among the 10 least popular sitting U.S. senators. (Here is a look at the most and least popular Democratic senators.)
GOA gun policy grades are based only on the most recent available data. Some prominent lawmakers have shifted their positions in recent years, which may not be reflected on the GOA site. Based on the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, certain representatives, like Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R) of Wyoming, who was hard set against expanded background checks, have changed their position. Still, Lummis received an A from the GOA, which was assigned in 2020, the year she was elected to the U.S. Senate. (Here is a look at the states with the least restrictive gun laws.)
Click here to see the most anti-gun senators.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D) of Wisconsin
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 44% approve, 42% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Michael Bennet (D) of Colorado
Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 47% approve, 33% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D) of Washington
Source: Stephen Brashear / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 50% approve, 33% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Chris Coons (D) of Delaware
Source: Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 53% approve, 33% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2027
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D) of Illinois
Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 51% approve, 34% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Sen. John Fetterman (D) of Pennsylvania
Source: Mark Makela / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 43% approve, 40% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Sen. Margaret Hassan (D) of New Hampshire
Source: Darren McCollester / Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 50% approve, 40% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D) of New Mexico
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 43% approve, 34% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Mark Kelly (D) of Arizona
Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 53% approve, 38% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Sen. Ben Lujan (D) of New Mexico
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 44% approve, 37% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2027
Sen. Edward Markey (D) of Massachusetts
Source: Scott Eisen / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 55% approve, 26% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2027
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D) of Nevada
Source: Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 50% approve, 40% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D) of Oregon
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 47% approve, 33% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2027
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) of Alaska
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 48% approve, 46% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Sen. Patty Murray (D) of Washington
Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 50% approve, 38% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) of Georgia
Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 46% approve, 37% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2027
Sen. Alex Padilla (D) of California
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 44% approve, 27% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Sen. Gary Peters (D) of Michigan
Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 43% approve, 33% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2027
Sen. Brian Schatz (D) of Hawaii
Source: Sarah Silbiger / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 65% approve, 24% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I) of Arizona
Source: Christian Petersen / Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 42% approve, 44% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Jon Tester (D) of Montana
Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 58% approve, 33% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D) of Maryland
Source: Mark Wilson / Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 51% approve, 23% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Sen. Mark Warner (D) of Virginia
Source: Win McNamee / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 50% approve, 33% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2027
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) of Georgia
Source: Elijah Nouvelage / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 49% approve, 42% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Sen. Peter Welch (D) of Vermont
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F (reliably supports gun control legislation)
- 2023 popularity: 62% approve, 25% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D) of Connecticut
Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 54% approve, 36% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Sen. Cory Booker (D) of New Jersey
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 47% approve, 37% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2027
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) of Ohio
Source: Win McNamee / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 44% approve, 35% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D) of Maryland
Source: Mark Wilson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 52% approve, 23% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Thomas Carper (D) of Delaware
Source: Jeff Fusco / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 54% approve, 29% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Richard Durbin (D) of Illinois
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 47% approve, 35% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2027
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) of California
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 45% approve, 38% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) of New York
Source: Kena Betancur / Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 47% approve, 32% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D) of Colorado
Source: Thomas Cooper / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 48% approve, 35% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2027
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D) of Hawaii
Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 60% approve, 30% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Timothy Kaine (D) of Virginia
Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 47% approve, 36% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) of Minnesota
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 53% approve, 36% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Joe Manchin (D) of West Virginia
Source: Sarah Silbiger / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 38% approve, 55% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Robert Menendez (D) of New Jersey
Source: Kena Betancur / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 40% approve, 39% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Christopher Murphy (D) of Connecticut
Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 55% approve, 32% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. John Reed (D) of Rhode Island
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 54% approve, 27% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2027
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D) of Nevada
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 42% approve, 36% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Bernard Sanders (I) of Vermont
Source: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 64% approve, 33% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Charles Schumer (D) of New York
Source: Andrew Burton / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 53% approve, 36% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) of New Hampshire
Source: Scott Eisen / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 51% approve, 39% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2027
Sen. Tina Smith (D) of Minnesota
Source: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 45% approve, 33% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2027
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) of Michigan
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 46% approve, 36% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) of Massachusetts
Source: Photo by Scott Eisen / Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 52% approve, 38% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D) of Rhode Island
Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 51% approve, 33% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2025
Sen. Ron Wyden (D) of Oregon
Source: Alex Wong / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: F- (carries or cosponsors gun-control legislation and reliably supports gun-control bills)
- 2023 popularity: 50% approve, 34% disapprove
- Current term ends: 2029
Methodology
To identify the U.S. senators with the strongest pro-gun control positions, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data compiled by Gun Owners of America, a nonprofit gun rights lobbying group. GOA uses legislative voting records to assign a letter grade to sitting U.S. senators on their gun control positions. In the case where senators do not have an extensive voting record, they are graded based on their responses to GOA survey questions. Grades range from A+, reserved for the most staunch gun-rights senators, to F-, assigned to senators with the strongest gun-control agendas.
Only the 50 senators with a grade of F or F- appear on this list. The 50 senators on this list are split into two groups, starting with those who received a grade of F, and followed by those with an F-, and are listed alphabetically. Each senator’s grade is for the most recent year of available data, between 2018 and 2022.
Of all 100 sitting U.S. senators, four have not received a grade from GOA: Sen. Dan Sullivan (R) of Alaska, Sen. Cindy Clyde-Smith (R) of Mississippi, Sen. Pete Ricketts (R) of Nebraska, and Sen. J.D. Vance (R) of Ohio.
We also reviewed supplementary data on each senator’s approval and disapproval rating from Morning Consult, a public opinion data research company. Approval and disapproval ratings are based on survey data from each senator’s state, collected in the first quarter of 2023.
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