Jim Bridenstine

Jim Bridenstine

Republican Party

Prior offices

U.S. House Oklahoma District 1

Successor: Kevin Hern

Predecessor: John Sullivan

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Compensation

Net worth

(2012) $-22,148

Education

High school

Jenks High School

Bachelor's

Rice University

Graduate

Cornell University

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Navy

Years of service

1998 - 2007

Personal

Religion

Christian: Baptist

Profession

Navy Reserve Pilot, Museum Director

Jim Bridenstine is a former Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Oklahoma. Bridenstine was first elected to Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District in 2012.

On April 23, 2018, Bridenstine resigned from Congress and was sworn in as NASA's 13th administrator.

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of Bridenstine's academic, professional, and political career:

• 2018: NASA Administrator
• 2013-2018: U.S. Representative from Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District
• 2008-2010: Director, Tulsa Air and Space Museum
• 2009: Attended Cornell University, MBA
• 2007-2008: Defense consultant, Wyle Laboratories
• 1998-2007: U.S. Navy Pilot
• 1994-1998: Attended Rice University, B.S.

Committee assignments

U.S. House

2017-2018

At the beginning of the 115th Congress, Bridenstine was assigned to the following committees:

• Committee on Armed Services
• Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

2015-2016

Bridenstine served on the following committees:

• Armed Services Committee
  • Subcommittee on Seapower & Projection Forces
  • Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
• Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  • Subcommittee on Environment, Chairman
  • Subcommittee on Space

2013-2014

Bridenstine served on the following committees:

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
  • Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations
  • Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
• Committee on Science, Space and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Research and Science Education
  • Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics
  • Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation

Key votes

See also: Key votes

Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here.

Key votes: 115th Congress, 2017-2018

For detailed information about each vote, click here.

• Votes on domestic policy (click to expand)

  Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (Conference report) (HR 2)

   Bill Passed (369-47) on December 12, 2018

  Proposed providing funding for commodity support, conservation, trade and international food aid, nutrition assistance, farm credit, rural development, research and extension activities, forestry, horticulture, and crop insurance through fiscal year 2023.

  Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (HR 2 (second vote))

   Bill Passed (213-211) on June 21, 2018

  Proposed providing funding for commodity support, conservation, trade and international food aid, nutrition assistance, farm credit, rural development, research and extension activities, forestry, horticulture, and crop insurance. It also proposed modifying the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously known as the food stamp program.

  Securing America’s Future Act of 2018 (HR 4760)

   Bill Failed (193-231) on June 21, 2018

  Proposed funding a border wall, limiting legal immigration, a mandatory worker verification program, allowing DACA recipients to apply for legal status, and preventing separation of families at the border.

  Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (HR 2)

   Bill Passed (369-47) on December 12, 2018

  Reauthorizes through FY2023 and modifies some Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs.

  Did not vote on: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (HR 36)

   Bill Passed (237-189) on October 3, 2017

  Proposed amending the federal criminal code to make it a crime for any person to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus was 20 weeks or more. The bill provided exceptions for an abortion: (1) that was necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, or (2) when the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest.

  Voted Yea on: Kate's Law (HR 3004)

   Bill Passed (257-167) on June 29, 2017

  Proposed increasing criminal penalties for individuals in the country illegally who were convicted of certain crimes, deported, and then re-entered the U.S. illegally.

  Voted Yea on: No Sanctuary for Criminals Act (HR 3003)

   Bill Passed (228-195) on June 29, 2017

  Proposed withholding federal funds from states and localities that chose not to follow federal immigration laws.

  Voted Yea on: American Health Care Act of 2017 (HR 1628)

   Bill passed (217-213) on May 4, 2017

  Proposed modifying the budgetary and fiscal provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.

• Votes on economic affairs and regulations (click to expand)

  Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (Conference report) (HR 6157)

   Bill Passed (361-61) on September 26, 2018

  Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education.

  Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019 (Conference report) (HR 5895)

   Bill Passed (377-20) on September 13, 2018

  Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Department of Energy, water resources, the legislative branch, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, among other programs.

  Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (HR 6157)

   Bill Passed (359-49) on June 28, 2018

  Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education.

  Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 (HR 5895)

   Bill Passed (235-179) on June 8, 2018

  Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Department of Energy, water resources, the legislative branch, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, among other programs.

  Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S 2155)

   Bill Passed (258-159) on May 22, 2018

  Proposed exempting some banks from the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

  Did not vote on: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1625)

   Bill Passed (256-167) on March 22, 2018

  Proposed providing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes.

  Did not vote on: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (HR 1892)

   Bill Passed (240-186) on February 9, 2018

  Proposed providing appropriations through March 23, 2018.

  Did not vote on: Further Extension Of Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1892)

   Bill Passed (245-182) on February 6, 2018

  Proposed providing appropriations through March 23, 2018.

  Did not vote on: Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. (HR 195)

   Bill Passed (266-150) on January 22, 2018

  Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 8, 2018.

  Did not vote on: Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. (HR 195)

   Bill Passed (230-197) on January 18, 2018

  Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 16, 2018.

  Did not vote on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1370)

   Bill Passed (231-188) on December 21, 2017

  Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through January 19, 2018.

  Voted Yea on: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1)

   Bill Passed (227-203) on December 19, 2017

  Proposed providing for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.

  Did not vote on: Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes (HJ Res 123)

   Bill Passed (235-193) on December 7, 2017

  Proposed funding the government until December 22, 2017.

  Voted Yea on: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1)

   Bill Passed (227-205) on November 16, 2017

  Proposed amending the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates and modify policies, credits, and deductions for individuals and businesses.

  Voted Yea on: Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. (H Con Res 71)

   Bill Passed (216-212) on October 26, 2017

  Proposed establishing the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2018 and setting forth budgetary levels for FY2019-FY2027. (This bill proposed adopting the Senate's budget resolution.)

  Did not vote on: Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. (H Con Res 71)

   Bill Passed (219-206) on October 5, 2017

  Proposed establishing the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2018 and setting forth budgetary levels for FY2019-FY2027.

  
  

  Did not vote on: Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 3354)

   Bill Passed (211-198) on September 14, 2017

  Proposed providing FY2018 appropriations for the federal government. It combined 12 appropriations bills.

  Did not vote on: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 (Included amendments to suspend the debt ceiling and fund the government) (HR 601)

   Bill Passed (316-90) on September 8, 2017

  Proposed suspending the debt ceiling and funding the government until December 8, 2017, and providing funding for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma relief efforts.

  Did not vote on: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 (HR 601)

   Bill Passed (419-3) on September 6, 2017

  Proposed providing $7.85 billion for disaster relief requirements, including response and recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey.

  Voted Yea on: Financial CHOICE Act of 2017 (HR 10)

   Bill passed (233-186) on June 8, 2017

  Proposed amending the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, among other acts.

  Voted Nay on: Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 (HR 244)

   Bill passed (309-118) on May 3, 2017

  Proposed a $1.2 trillion budget to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2017.

• Votes on foreign policy and national security issues (click to expand)

  National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (HR 5515)

   Bill Passed (351-66) on May 24, 2018

  Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities

  Voted Yea on: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 695)

   Bill Passed (250-166) on January 30, 2018

  Proposed providing appropriations for military functions administered by the Department of Defense and for other purposes, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018.

  
  

  Did not vote on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018—Conference report (HR 2810)

   Bill Passed (356-70) on November 14, 2017

  Proposed authorizing FY2018 appropriations and setting forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths.

  Voted Yea on: Make America Secure Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 3219)

   Bill Passed (235-192) on July 27, 2017

  Proposed making appropriations for defense, military construction, Veterans Affairs, the Legislative Branch, energy and water development, and for other purposes for the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2018.

  Voted Yea on: Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (HR 3364)

   Bill Passed (419-3) on July 25, 2017

  Proposed providing congressional review and measures to counter aggression by the governments of Iran, the Russian Federation, and North Korea, and for other purposes.

  Voted Yea on: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 3180, second vote)

   Bill Passed (380-35) on July 28, 2017

  Proposed authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes.

  Voted Yea on: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 3180)

   Bill Failed (241-163) on July 24, 2017

  Proposed authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes.

  Voted Yea on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 2810)

   Bill Passed (344-81) on July 14, 2017

  Proposed authorizing fiscal year 2018 appropriations and setting forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It did not provide budget authority.

  Voted Yea on: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017 (HR 1301)

   Bill passed (371-48) on March 8, 2017

  The $577.9 billion fiscal year 2017 defense spending bill proposed $516.1 billion in base budget funding and $61.8 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism funding.

Key votes: Previous sessions of Congress

Key votes (click "show" to expand or "hide" to contract)

114th Congress The first session of the 114th Congress enacted into law six out of the 2,616 introduced bills (0.2 percent). Comparatively, the 113th Congress had 1.3 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the first session. In the second session, the 114th Congress enacted 133 out of 3,159 introduced bills (4.2 percent). Comparatively, the 113th Congress had 7.0 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session. For more information pertaining to Bridenstine's voting record in the 114th Congress, please see the below sections. Economic and fiscal Trade Act of 2015 See also: The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, 2015 Trade act procedural motion On June 11, 2015, 34 House Republicans voted against a procedural motion to open up debate on a Senate amendment to the Trade Act of 2015, the primary bill associated with the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The White House and GOP leadership supported the motion, as well as the TPP, while most House Democrats opposed it. The rule passed 217 to 202, but Speaker John Boehner (R) openly expressed his disapproval of the House Republicans who voted against it, telling reporters shortly afterwards, "I made it clear to members today I am not happy about it." Several of these Republicans lost leadership positions in the weeks following the vote, causing some to see a connection between the demotions and the vote against the procedural motion. Bridenstine was one of 34 Republicans to vote against the procedural motion. Trade adjustment assistance On June 12, 2015, the House rejected the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) measure in HR 1314—the Trade Act of 2015—by a vote of 126-302. Trade adjustment assistance (TAA) is a federal program providing American workers displaced by foreign trade agreements with job training and services. The measure was packaged with trade promotion authority (TPA), also known as fast-track authority. TPA is a legislative procedure that allows Congress to define "U.S. negotiating objectives and spells out a detailed oversight and consultation process for during trade negotiations. Under TPA, Congress retains the authority to review and decide whether any proposed U.S. trade agreement will be implemented," according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Bridenstine was one of 158 Republicans to vote against TAA. Trade promotion authority On June 12, 2015, the House passed the trade promotion authority (TPA) measure in HR 1314—the Trade Act of 2015—by a vote of 219-211. TPA gives the president fast-track authority to negotiate trade agreements sent to Congress without the opportunity for amendment or filibuster. Although the House approved TPA, it was a largely symbolic vote given the measure was part of a package trade bill including trade adjustment assistance (TAA), which was rejected earlier the same day. Bridenstine was one of 54 Republicans to vote against the measure. Trade promotion authority second vote After the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) and trade promotion authority (TPA) did not pass the House together on June 12, 2015, representatives voted to authorize TPA alone as an amendment to HR 2146—the Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act—on June 18, 2015. The amendment passed by a vote of 218-208, with all voting members of the House maintaining their original positions on TPA except for Ted Yoho (R-Fla.). Bridenstine was one of 50 Republicans to vote against the amendment. Trade adjustment assistance second vote The House passed HR 1295—the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015—on June 25, 2015, by a vote of 286-138. The Senate packaged trade adjustment assistance (TAA) in this bill after the House rejected the TAA measure in HR 1314—the Trade Act of 2015. Along with trade promotion authority (TPA), which Congress passed as part of HR 2146—the Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act—TAA became law on June 29, 2015. Bridenstine was one of 132 Republicans to vote against HR 1295. Defense spending authorization On May 15, 2015, the House passed HR 1735—the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016—by a vote of 269-151. The bill "authorizes FY2016 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It does not provide budget authority, which is provided in subsequent appropriations legislation." Bridenstine voted with 227 other Republicans and 41 Democrats to approve the bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 18, 2015, by a vote of 71-25. President Barack Obama vetoed the bill on October 22, 2015. On November 5, 2015, the House passed S 1356—the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016—by a vote of 370-58. The second version of the $607 billion national defense bill included $5 billion in cuts to match what was approved in the budget and language preventing the closure of the Guantanamo Bay military prison. Bridenstine voted with 234 other Republicans and 135 Democrats to approve the bill. On November 10, 2015, the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 91-3, and President Barack Obama signed it into law on November 25, 2015. 2016 Budget proposal On April 30, 2015, the House voted to approve SConRes11, a congressional budget proposal for fiscal year 2016, by a vote of 226-197. The non-binding resolution was designed to create 12 appropriations bills to fund the government. All 183 Democrats who voted, voted against the resolution. Bridenstine voted with 225 other Republicans to approve the bill. 2015 budget On October 28, 2015, the House passed HR 1314—the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015—by a vote of 266-167. The bill increased military and domestic spending levels and suspended the debt ceiling until March 2017. Bridenstine voted with 166 Republicans against the bill. It passed the Senate on October 30, 2015. President Barack Obama signed it into law on November 2, 2015. Foreign Affairs Iran nuclear deal See also: Iran nuclear agreement, 2015 On May 14, 2015, the House approved HR 1191—the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015—by a vote of 400-25. The bill required President Barack Obama to submit the details of the nuclear deal with Iran for congressional review. Congress had 60 days to review the deal and vote to approve, disapprove, or take no action on the deal. During the review period, sanctions on Iran could not be lifted. Bridenstine voted with 222 other Republican representatives to approve the bill. Approval of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action On September 11, 2015, the House rejected HR 3461—To approve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed at Vienna on July 14, 2015, relating to the nuclear program of Iran—by a vote of 162-269. The legislation proposed approving the nuclear agreement with Iran. Bridenstine voted with 243 Republicans and 25 Democrats against the bill. Suspension of Iran sanctions relief On September 11, 2015, the House approved HR 3460—To suspend until January 21, 2017, the authority of the President to waive, suspend, reduce, provide relief from, or otherwise limit the application of sanctions pursuant to an agreement related to the nuclear program of Iran—by a vote of 247-186. HR 3460 prohibited "the President, prior to January 21, 2017, from: limiting the application of specified sanctions on Iran or refraining from applying any such sanctions; or removing a foreign person (including entities) listed in Attachments 3 or 4 to Annex II of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) from the list of designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Asset Control of the Department of the Treasury." Bridenstine voted with 244 Republicans and two Democrats for the bill. Presidential non-compliance of section 2 On September 10, 2015, the House passed H Res 411—Finding that the President has not complied with section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015—by a vote of 245-186. Section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 required the president to submit all materials related to the nuclear agreement for congressional review. House Republicans introduced the resolution because two agreements between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran were not submitted to Congress. Bridenstine voted with 244 Republicans for the resolution. Export-Import Bank On October 27, 2015, the House passed HR 597—the Export-Import Bank Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2015—by a vote of 313-118. The bill proposed reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank and allowing it to resume offering assistance in the form of loans and insurance to foreign companies that wanted to buy U.S. goods. Bridenstine voted with 126 Republicans and 186 Democrats in favor of the bill. Domestic USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 On May 13, 2015, the House passed HR 2048—the Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring Act of 2015 or the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015—by a vote of 338-88. The legislation revised HR 3199—the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005—by ending the bulk collection of metadata under Sec. 215 of the act, requiring increased reporting from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, and requiring the use of "a specific selection term as the basis for national security letters that request information from wire or electronic communication service providers, financial institutions, or consumer reporting agencies." Bridenstine voted with 195 Republicans and 142 Democrats to approve the legislation. It became law on June 2, 2015. Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act On May 13, 2015, the House passed HR 36—the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act—by a vote of 242-184. The bill proposed prohibiting abortions from being performed after a fetus was determined to be 20 weeks or older. The bill proposed exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. Bridenstine voted with 237 Republicans in favor of the bill. Cyber security On April 23, 2015, the House passed HR 1731—the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act of 2015—by a vote of 355-63. The bill proposed creating an information sharing program that would allow federal agencies and private entities to share information about cyber threats. It also proposed including liability protections for companies. Bridenstine voted with 18 Republicans and 44 Democrats against the bill. On April 22, 2015, the House passed HR 1560—the Protecting Cyber Networks Act—by a vote of 307-116. The bill proposed procedures that would allow federal agencies and private entities to share information about cyber threats. Bridenstine voted with 36 Republicans and 79 Democrats against the bill. Immigration On November 19, 2015, the House passed HR 4038—the American SAFE Act of 2015—by a vote of 289-137. The bill proposed instituting additional screening processes for refugees from Iraq and Syria who applied for admission to the U.S. Bridenstine voted with 241 Republicans and 47 Democrats in favor of the bill. 113th Congress The second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 224 out of the 3215 introduced bills (7 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session. For more information pertaining to Bridenstine's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections. National security NDAA Bridenstine voted for HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote. DHS Appropriations Bridenstine voted for HR 2217 - the DHS Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 that was largely along party lines. CISPA (2013) Bridenstine voted against HR 624 - the CISPA (2013). The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill permitted federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities. The bill was largely supported by Republicans, but divided the Democratic Party. Economy Government shutdown See also: United States budget debate, 2013 On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201. At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. Harry Reid rejected the call to conference. Bridenstine voted in favor of the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate. The shutdown ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the Senate. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies. The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from Republican members. Bridenstine voted against HR 2775. Federal Pay Adjustment Elimination Bridenstine voted for HR 273 - Eliminates the 2013 Statutory Pay Adjustment for Federal Employees. The bill passed the House on February 15, 2013, with a vote of 261 - 154. The bill called for stopping a 0.5 percent pay increase for all federal workers from taking effect. The raises were projected to cost $11 billion over 10 years. Immigration Morton Memos Prohibition Bridenstine voted for House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain individuals residing in the United States without legal status. The vote largely followed party lines. Healthcare Healthcare Reform Rules Bridenstine voted for House Amendment 450 - Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The amendment was adopted by the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 227-185. The amendment requires that all changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act be approved by Congress before taking effect. The vote was largely along party lines. Social issues Abortion Bridenstine voted for HR 1797 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The resolution passed the House on June 18, 2013, with a vote of 228 - 196 that largely followed party lines. The purpose of the bill was to ban abortions that would take place 20 or more weeks after fertilization. Government affairs HR 676 See also: Boehner's lawsuit against the Obama administration On July 30, 2014, the U.S. House approved a resolution 225 to 201 to sue President Barack Obama for exceeding his constitutional authority. Five Republicans—Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Paul Broun of Georgia, Scott Garrett of New Jersey, Walter Jones of North Carolina and Steve Stockman of Texas—voted with Democrats against the lawsuit. Bridenstine joined the other 224 Republicans in favor of the lawsuit. All Democrats voted against the resolution.

Issues

2016 presidential endorsement

✓ Bridenstine endorsed Donald Trump for the 2016 presidential general election. Bridenstine endorsed Ted Cruz for the Republican presidential primary.

See also: Endorsements for Donald Trump

Conservative Fight Club

According to the conservative website RedState, Bridenstine was one of 16 U.S. House members in the "Conservative Fight Club," a designation meant to describe the "gold standard for conservatives in the House," as outlined by RedState. They were the 16 Republicans who voted against the continuing appropriations resolution to avoid the government shutdown in March 2013. This type of resolution is used to fund government agencies when a formal federal budget has not been approved.

American response in Syria

See also: United States involvement in Syria

Bridenstine opposed President Barack Obama's proposed military strikes against Syria. He stated at a town hall meeting at Wesleyan University in response to questions about the possibility of taking action, "Stay away from Syria quagmire, please oppose any action in Syria."

Elections

2018

See also: Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District election, 2018

On January 17, 2018, a representative from Bridenstine's office told Ballotpedia that the congressman would not seek re-election.

2016

See also: Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Jim Bridenstine (R) defeated David Matthew Hullum (Independent) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Bridenstine defeated Evelyn Rogers and Tom Atkinson in the Republican primary on June 28, 2016. No Democratic candidates filed to run.

U.S. House, Oklahoma District 1 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Jim Bridenstine Incumbent	100%
Total Votes				0
Source: Oklahoma State Election Board

U.S. House, Oklahoma, District 1 Republican Primary, 2016

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Jim Bridenstine Incumbent	80.8%	50,595
Tom Atkinson	16%	10,056
Evelyn Rogers	3.2%	2,004
Total Votes		62,655
Source: Oklahoma State Election Board

2014

See also: Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District elections, 2014

Bridenstine ran for re-election to the U.S. House in 2014. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary election on June 24, 2014, and also in the general election on November 4, 2014.

U.S. House, Oklahoma District 1 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Jim Bridenstine Incumbent	0%	0
Total Votes				0
Source: Oklahoma State Election Board

Race background

Bridenstine announced on January 29, 2014, that he would not run in the 2014 special election for Tom Coburn's Senate seat. In a statement, he said, “Since Dr. Tom Coburn’s retirement announcement, I have been honored and overwhelmed by encouragement to succeed him as Oklahoma’s senator. After giving this matter serious consideration and prayer, my family and I have decided I will not run in the special election to complete Dr. Coburn’s term.”

Endorsements

• FreedomWorks endorsed Bridenstine on March 17, 2014.

2012

See also: Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District elections, 2012

Bridenstine won election in the 2012 election for the U.S. House, representing Oklahoma's 1st District. Bridenstine defeated incumbent John Sullivan in the Republican primary on June 26, 2012. He then defeated John Olson (D) and Craig Allen (I) in the general election on November 6, 2012.

The day of the primary, Sullivan said he had made a mistake by ignoring the primary challenge for too long. "I never had a race like this in all my life," he said.

U.S. House, Oklahoma District 1 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	John Olson	32%	91,421
	Republican	Jim Bridenstine	63.5%	181,084
	Independent	Craig Allen	4.5%	12,807
Total Votes				285,312
Source: Oklahoma Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

U.S. House, Oklahoma District 1 Republican Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Jim Bridenstine	53.8%	28,055
John Sullivan Incumbent	46.2%	24,058
Total Votes		52,113

Endorsements

• Restoring America Project
• Can-Do Conservatives of America
• Combat Veterans for Congress PAC

Polls

An automated phone poll, conducted May 14-15, 2012, by the Bridenstine campaign, showed Bridenstine in a statistical tie with incumbent Rep. John Sullivan.

Oklahoma's Congressional District 1, 2012
Poll	Jim Bridenstine (R)	John Sullivan (R)	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
JimBridenstine.com (May 17, 2012)	34.16%	32.92%	32.92%	+/-3.79	641
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Tulsa Air and Space Museum Attacks

Incumbent Rep. John Sullivan, whom Bridenstine challenged in the GOP primary, accused Bridenstine of mismanaging finances at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum. Bridenstine served as the museum's director from December 2008 to August 2010. Though Bridenstine acknowledged the museum lost nearly $383,000 under his watch, he called Sullivan's attacks "recklessly false allegations." Bridenstine argued the loss was because he was trying to attract a retired NASA shuttle. Museum attorney Greggory Colpitts released a statement calling Sullivan's attacks a "reckless denial of the facts," and he demanded that the Congressman "publicly withdraw the allegations he made."

Campaign themes

2016

The following issues were listed on Bridenstine's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

“	2nd Amendment: Supporting our constitutionally recognized right to keep and bear arms is an honor I do not take lightly. I know that the Second Amendment is not negotiable to the people of Oklahoma’s First District. Obamacare: Stopping Obamacare is one of my top priorities in Congress. In March 2010, then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said of Obamacare, “we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what’s in it.” Unfortunately, she was right. Democrats blindly passed Obamacare, and now Americans are suffering the consequences every day. Defense & National Security: Congress’s number one job is to protect American national security. The Constitution invests the Federal government with the responsibility to “provide for the common defense.” Article I, Section 8 gives Congress the enumerated power to fund our military. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), I see my responsibility as ensuring our military has the necessary resources to deter enemies and prevail in conflict. As a combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, I have particular insight and appreciation for our troops and the sacrifices they make along with their families. Spending Cuts & Debt: I believe free markets, economic mobility, and equal opportunity are the drivers of innovation, entrepreneurship, and capital formation. Every piece of legislation should be considered in light of the impact on these drivers. Energy: Reliable, affordable energy is at the heart of nearly every aspect of modern American life. Business and the economy are dependent on abundant energy, and energy issues critically impact U.S. foreign and domestic affairs. American energy policy should be a true all-of-the-above strategy to promote energy security.	”
—Jim Bridenstine's campaign website, http://jimbridenstine.com/issues/

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Jim Bridenstine campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2016	U.S. House, Oklahoma District 1	Won	$921,820	N/A**
2014	U.S. House (Oklahoma, District 1)	Won	$721,036	N/A**
2012	U.S. House Oklahoma District 1	Won	$781,233	N/A**
Grand total			$2,424,089	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Personal Gain Index

See also: Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)

The Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress) is a two-part measurement that illustrates the extent to which members of the U.S. Congress have prospered during their tenure as public servants.
It consists of two different metrics:

• Changes in Net Worth
• The Donation Concentration Metric

PGI: Change in net worth

See also: Changes in Net Worth of U.S. Senators and Representatives (Personal Gain Index) and Net worth of United States Senators and Representatives

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Bridenstine's net worth as of 2012 was estimated between $-174,145 to $129,849. That averages to $-22,148, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican House members in 2012 of $7,614,097.96. Bridenstine ranked as the 422nd most wealthy representative in 2012. Between 2011 and 2012, Bridenstine's calculated net worth decreased by an average of 157 percent per year. Between 2004 and 2012, the average annual percentage increase for a member of Congress was 15.4 percent.

Jim Bridenstine Yearly Net Worth
Year	Average Net Worth
2011	$38,788
2012	$−22,148
Growth from 2011 to 2012:	−157%
Average annual growth:	−157%
Comparatively, the American citizen experienced a median yearly decline in net worth of -0.94%.

The data used to calculate changes in net worth may include changes resulting from assets gained through marriage, inheritance, changes in family estates and/or trusts, changes in family business ownership, and many other variables unrelated to a member's behavior in Congress.

PGI: Donation Concentration Metric

See also: The Donation Concentration Metric (U.S. Congress Personal Gain Index)

Filings required by the Federal Election Commission report on the industries that give to each candidate. Using campaign filings and information calculated by OpenSecrets.org, Ballotpedia calculated the percentage of donations by industry received by each incumbent over the course of his or her career (or 1989 and later, if elected prior to 1988). Bridenstine received the most donations from individuals and PACs employed by the Oil & Gas industry. Comparatively, the top industry employer in Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District was Educational services, and health care and social assistance, according to a 2012 U.S. Census survey.

From 2011-2014, 33.53 percent of Bridenstine's career contributions came from the top five industries as listed below.

Jim Bridenstine Campaign Contributions
Total Raised	$1,342,996
Total Spent	$1,036,756
Top industry in the district	Educational services, and health care and social assistance
Top five industries that contributed to campaign committee
Health Professionals	$130,215
Oil & Gas	$121,100
Retired	$100,850
Leadership PACs	$53,500
Republican/Conservative	$44,688
% total in top industry	9.7%
% total in top two industries	18.71%
% total in top five industries	33.53%

Analysis

Ideology and leadership

See also: GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Bridenstine was a moderate Republican follower as of July 2014.

Like-minded colleagues

The website OpenCongress tracks the voting records of each member to determine with whom he or she votes most and least often. The results include a member from each party.

Bridenstine most often voted with:

• Steve Chabot
• Jim Matheson

Bridenstine least often voted with:

• Chris Gibson
• Janice Schakowsky

Lifetime voting record

See also: Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives

According to the website GovTrack, Bridenstine missed 18 of 1,752 roll call votes from January 2013 to September 2015. This amounted to 1 percent, which was lower than the median of 2.2 percent among representatives as of September 2015.

National Journal vote ratings

See also: National Journal vote ratings

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Click the link above for the full ratings of all members of Congress.

2013

Bridenstine ranked 115th in the conservative rankings in 2013.

Voting with party

The website OpenCongress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus.

2014

Bridenstine voted with the Republican Party 91.8 percent of the time, which ranked 187th among the 233 House Republican members as of July 2014.

2013

According to the website, Bridenstine has voted with the Republican Party 89.0% of the time. This ranked 226th among the 233 House Republicans as of June 2013.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Bridenstine and his wife, Michelle, have three children.

See also

• United States House of Representatives
• United States congressional delegations from Oklahoma
• Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District elections, 2014
• Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by John Sullivan	U.S. House of Representatives - Oklahoma, District 1 2013-2018	Succeeded by Kevin Hern (R)

[show]

Oklahoma's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

James Lankford (R)

Markwayne Mullin (R)

Representatives

District 1

Kevin Hern (R)

District 2

Josh Brecheen (R)

District 3

Frank Lucas (R)

District 4

Tom Cole (R)

District 5

Stephanie Bice (R)

Republican Party (7)