These are the members at the ideological center of the Senate and the House, according to National Journal’s 2010 vote ratings. The members with composite scores closest to 50 are at the exact center of each chamber.

 

Senate

(Composite Score)

                                                        

Judd Gregg, R-N.H.                     
Liberal: 35.0
Conservative: 65.0

Scott Brown, R-Mass.                 
Liberal: 35.2
Conservative: 64.8 

Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska                     
Liberal: 36.2
Conservative: 63.8 

Richard Lugar, R-Ind.                          
Liberal:  36.3 
Conservative: 63.7 

Olympia Snowe, R-Maine                     
Liberal: 36.7
Conservative: 63.3 

Susan Collins, R-Maine                        
Liberal: 38.0
Conservative: 62.0

George Voinovich, R-Ohio           
Liberal: 39.3
Conservative: 60.7 

Ben Nelson, D-Neb.                     
Liberal: 42.3
Conservative: 57.7 

Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn.                    
Liberal: 46.8 
Conservative: 53.2

Jon Tester, D-Mont.                   
Liberal: 47.5
Conservative: 52.5

Max Baucus, D-Mont.                            
Liberal: 48.5
Conservative: 51.5

Mark Warner, D-Va.                  
Liberal: 51.0
Conservative: 49.0

Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.                         
Liberal: 53.8
Conservative: 46.2

Mark Pryor, D-Ark.                    
Liberal: 53.8
Conservative: 46.2 

Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.                         
Liberal: 56.5
Conservative: 43.5 

Jim Webb, D-Va.                        
Liberal: 57.7
Conservative: 42.3 

Michael Bennet, D-Colo.                        
Liberal: 59.7
Conservative: 40.3  

Kay Hagan, D-N.C.                     
Liberal: 60.5
Conservative: 39.5

Mark Udall, D-Colo.                  
Liberal: 60.8
Conservative: 39.2 

Bill Nelson, D-Fla.                      
Liberal: 62.2 
Conservative: 37.8 

Mary Landrieu, D-La.                           
Liberal: 63.8 
Conservative: 36.2

Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.                    
Liberal: 64.2
Conservative: 35.8

Mark Begich, D-Alaska                          
Liberal: 64.7
Conservative: 35.3 

Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.                     
Liberal: 65.0
Conservative: 35.0

Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.                       
Liberal: 65.2
Conservative: 34.8

 

 

 

House

(Composite Score)

Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb.           
Liberal: 35.0
Conservative: 65.0 

Todd Platts, R-Pa.          
Liberal: 35.7
Conservative: 64.3 

Judy Biggert, R-Ill.         
Liberal: 36.7
Conservative: 63.3 

Steven LaTourette, R-Ohio       
Liberal: 37.0
Conservative: 63.0 

Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla.        
Liberal: 37.8  
Conservative: 62.2 

Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Fla.         
Liberal: 38.0
Conservative: 62.0

Tim Johnson, R-Ill.         
Liberal: 38.2
Conservative: 61.8

Don Young, R-Alaska     
Liberal: 38.2
Conservative: 61.8

Dave Reichert, R-Wash.          
Liberal: 38.3  
Conservative: 61.7 

Tim Murphy, R-Pa.        
Liberal: 38.7
Conservative: 61.3 

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla.       
Liberal: 38.8
Conservative: 61.2 

Mark Kirk, R-Ill.             
Liberal: 39.2
Conservative: 60.8

Charlie Dent, R-Pa.        
Liberal: 39.7
Conservative: 60.3 

Gene Taylor, D-Miss.     
Liberal: 39.7
Conservative: 60.3

Bobby Bright, D-Ala.     
Liberal: 40.2 
Conservative: 59.8 

Vernon Ehlers, R-Mich.             
Liberal: 40.3
Conservative: 59.7

Walter Jones, R-N.C.      
Liberal: 40.3
Conservative: 59.7 

Travis Childers, D-Miss.            
Liberal: 40.8
Conservative: 59.2 

Michael Castle, R-Del.              
Liberal:  41.0
Conservative: 59.0 

Charles Djou, R-Hawaii             
Liberal: 41.7
Conservative: 58.3

Jim Marshall, D-Ga.        
Liberal: 42.2
Conservative: 57.8

Joseph Cao, R-La.           
Liberal: 43.0
Conservative: 57.0 

Walt Minnick, D-Idaho              
Liberal: 43.2
Conservative: 56.8 

Dan Boren, D-Okla.        
Liberal: 44.0
Conservative: 56.0 

Mike McIntyre, D-N.C.              
Liberal: 44.0 
Conservative: 56.0 

Bill Owens, D-N.Y.          
Liberal: 44.0
Conservative: 56.0 

Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz.              
Liberal: 44.3
Conservative: 55.7

Glenn Nye, D-Va.            
Liberal: 45.0
Conservative: 55.0

John Tanner, D-Tenn.               
Liberal: 45.2
Conservative: 54.8 

Joe Donnelly, D-Ind.      
Liberal: 45.3
Conservative: 54.7

Zack Space, D-Ohio        
Liberal: 45.3
Conservative: 54.7 

Rick Boucher, D-Va.       
Liberal: 45.5
Conservative: 54.5 

Mark Critz, D-Pa.           
Liberal: 45.5
Conservative: 54.5

Tim Holden, D-Pa.         
Liberal: 45.5
Conservative: 54.5 

Collin Peterson, D-Minn.           
Liberal: 45.7
Conservative: 54.3

Jason Altmire, D-Pa.      
Liberal: 45.8
Conservative: 54.2 

Christopher Carney, D-Pa.       
Liberal: 46.0
Conservative: 54.0

Ike Skelton, D-Mo.        
Liberal: 46.2 
Conservative: 53.8

Mike Ross, D-Ark.           
Liberal: 46.3
Conservative: 53.7 

Michael McMahon, D-N.Y.         
Liberal: 46.7
Conservative: 53.3

Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.        
Liberal: 46.8 
Conservative: 53.2 

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D.      
Liberal: 47.0
Conservative: 53.0 

John Adler, D-N.J.           
Liberal: 47.5
Conservative: 52.5

Jim Cooper, D-Tenn.     
Liberal: 48.2
Conservative: 51.8 

Daniel Lipinski, D-Ill.     
Liberal: 48.3
Conservative: 51.7

Chet Edwards, D-Texas            
Liberal: 49.0
Conservative: 51.0 

Jerry Costello, D-Ill.      
Liberal: 49.2
Conservative: 50.8

Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz.           
Liberal: 49.2 
Conservative: 50.8

John Barrow, D-Ga.       
Liberal: 49.3 
Conservative: 50.7 

Jim Matheson, D-Utah         
Liberal: 49.3    
Conservative: 50.7

Ben Chandler, D-Ky.     
Liberal: 49.8
Conservative: 50.2 

Frank Kratovil, D-Md.               
Liberal: 50.2
Conservative: 49.8

Kathy Dahlkemper, D-Pa.         
Liberal: 50.3
Conservative: 49.7 

Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn.              
Liberal: 50.5
Conservative: 49.5

Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind.              
Liberal: 51.0
Conservative: 49.0

Charlie Melancon, D-La.            
Liberal: 51.0
Conservative: 49.0

Melissa Bean, D-Ill.    
Liberal: 51.5  
Conservative: 48.5 

Michael Arcuri, D-N.Y.               
Liberal: 51.8
Conservative: 48.2

Bill Foster, D-Ill.             
Liberal: 51.8
Conservative: 48.2 

Debbie Halvorson, D-Ill.           
Liberal: 51.8 
Conservative:48.2

Solomon Ortiz, D-Texas           
Liberal: 52.0 
Conservative: 48.0 

Jerry McNerney, D-Calif.           
Liberal: 52.2
Conservative: 47.8

Baron Hill, D-Ind.         
Liberal: 52.3 
Conservative: 47.7 

Nick Rahall, D-W.Va.      
Liberal: 52.7
Conservative: 47.3 

John Salazar, D-Colo.    
Liberal: 52.7 
Conservative: 47.3 

Allen Boyd, D-Fla.          
Liberal: 53.0
Conservative: 47.0

Jim Costa, D-Calif.          
Liberal: 53.0
Conservative: 47.0 

Tom Perriello, D-Va.     
Liberal: 53.3
Conservative: 46.7

Marion Berry, D-Ark.     
Liberal: 53.7
Conservative: 46.3

John Boccieri, D-Ohio               
Liberal: 53.7
Conservative: 46.3

Jim Himes, D-Conn.    
Liberal: 53.8
Conservative: 46.2

Patrick Murphy, D-Pa.             
Liberal: 53.8
Conservative: 46.2

Harry Teague, D-N.M.              
Liberal: 53.8 
Conservative: 46.2

Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D.                
Liberal: 54.0
Conservative: 46.0

Gary Peters, D-Mich.     
Liberal: 54.7
Conservative: 45.3

Betsy Markey, D-Colo.               
Liberal: 55.0
Conservative: 45.0

Gene Green, D-Texas                
Liberal: 55.2
Conservative: 44.8 

Steve Driehaus, D-Ohio            
Liberal: 55.3
Conservative: 44.7

Heath Shuler, D-N.C.    
Liberal: 55.3 
Conservative: 44.7

Dina Titus, D-Nev.        
Liberal: 55.3
Conservative: 44.7 

Paul Kanjorski, D-Pa.               
Liberal: 56.0 
Conservative: 44.0

Larry Kissell, D-N.C.       
Liberal: 56.0
Conservative: 44.0 

David Wu, D-Ore.          
Liberal: 56.5
Conservative: 43.5 

Henry Cuellar, D-Texas            
Liberal: 57.2
Conservative: 42.8 

Suzanne Kosmas, D-Fla.            
Liberal: 57.3
Conservative: 42.7

Artur Davis, D-Ala.         
Liberal: 57.7
Conservative: 42.3

Paul Hodes, D-N.H.        
Liberal: 58.3
Conservative: 41.7 

Ron Kind, D-Wis.          
Liberal: 58.3 
Conservative: 41.741.7 

Scott Murphy, D-N.Y.     
Liberal: 58.3
Conservative: 41.7 

Charlie Wilson, D-Ohio             
Liberal: 58.8
Conservative: 41.2 

Ruben Hinojosa, D-Texas         
Liberal: 59.2
Conservative: 40.8 

Mark Schauer, D-Mich.            
Liberal: 59.2 
Conservative: 40.8

Brian Baird, D-Wash.               
Liberal: 59.3 
Conservative: 40.7 

John Spratt, D-S.C.        
Liberal: 59.3 
Conservative: 40.7

Peter Visclosky, D-Ind.              
Liberal: 59.3
Conservative: 40.7

Kurt Schrader, D-Ore.               
Liberal: 59.7
Conservative: 40.3

Sanford Bishop, D-Ga.               
Liberal: 60.5
Conservative: 39.5 

Bob Etheridge, D-N.C.               
Liberal: 61.3
Conservative: 38.7 

Gerald Connolly, D-Va.              
Liberal: 61.5
Conservative: 38.5  

Joe Courtney, D-Conn.             
Liberal: 61.5
Conservative: 38.5 

Vic Snyder, D-Ark.         
Liberal: 61.5
Conservative: 38.5 

Dennis Moore, D-Kan.               
Liberal: 61.7
Conservative: 38.3

Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif.           
Liberal: 61.8
Conservative: 38.2 

Bart Gordon, D-Tenn.                
Liberal: 62.0
Conservative: 38.0 

Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio             
Liberal: 62.2 
Conservative: 37.8

Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va.           
Liberal:  62.3
Conservative: 37.7 

Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas           
Liberal: 62.3
Conservative: 37.7

Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md.              
Liberal: 62.5
Conservative: 37.5

Joe Baca, D-Calif.           
Liberal:  62.8
Conservative: 37.2

Ron Klein, D-Fla.           
Liberal: 63.3
Conservative: 36.7 

Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa.           
Liberal: 63.3
Conservative: 36.7

Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo.              
Liberal: 63.7
Conservative: 36.3

Ciro Rodriguez, D-Texas           
Liberal: 64.0
Conservative: 36.0 

Adam Smith, D-Wash.               
Liberal: 64.8
Conservative: 35.2

This article appears in the Feb. 26, 2011, edition of National Journal.

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