Dean Heller

Dean Heller

Republican Party

Prior offices

U.S. Senate Nevada

Successor: Jacky Rosen

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Nevada State Assembly

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Nevada Secretary of State

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U.S. House Nevada District 2

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Compensation

Net worth

(2012) $3,059,840

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 14, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

University of Southern California, 1985

Personal

Birthplace

Castro Valley, Calif.

Religion

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Personal LinkedIn

Dean Heller (Republican Party) was a member of the U.S. Senate from Nevada. He left office on January 3, 2019.

Heller (Republican Party) ran for election for Governor of Nevada. He lost in the Republican primary on June 14, 2022.

Prior to his appointment to the U.S. Senate in 2011 and subsequent election in 2012, Heller served in the United States House of Representatives and the Nevada State Assembly and as the Secretary of State in Nevada.

Biography

Dean Heller was born in Castro Valley, California, and lives in Smith Valley, Nevada. Heller graduated from Carson High School. He earned a B.S. from the University of Southern California in 1985.

Elections

2022

See also: Nevada gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of Nevada

Joe Lombardo defeated incumbent Steve Sisolak, Brandon Davis, and Edward Bridges II in the general election for Governor of Nevada on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joe Lombardo (R)	48.8	497,377
		Steve Sisolak (D)	47.3	481,991
		Brandon Davis (L)	1.5	14,919
		Edward Bridges II (Independent American Party)	1.0	9,918
		Other/Write-in votes	1.5	14,866

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,019,071
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Bradley Beck (Independent)
• Monique Richardson (Independent)
• Austin Billings (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Nevada

Incumbent Steve Sisolak defeated Tom Collins in the Democratic primary for Governor of Nevada on June 14, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Steve Sisolak	89.5	157,283
		Tom Collins	6.9	12,051
		Other/Write-in votes	3.6	6,340

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 175,674
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Nevada

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Nevada on June 14, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Joe Lombardo	38.4	87,761
		Joey Gilbert	27.0	61,738
		Dean Heller	14.0	32,087
		John J. Lee	7.8	17,846
		Guy Nohra	3.7	8,348
		Fred Simon Jr.	3.0	6,856
		Tom Heck	1.9	4,315
		Eddie Hamilton	0.6	1,293
		Amber Whitley	0.5	1,238
		William Walls	0.4	833
	Submit photo	Gary Evertsen	0.2	558
		Seven Achilles Evans	0.2	475
	Submit photo	Edward O'Brien	0.2	422
		Barak Zilberberg	0.2	352
		Stan Lusak	0.1	229
		Other/Write-in votes	1.8	4,219

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 228,570
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Michele Fiore (R)

2018

Did Sen. Dean Heller change his position on funding for Planned Parenthood?

February 5, 2018: Businessman Danny Tarkanian, who is challenging U.S. Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) in the Republican primary on June 12, 2018, said Heller “completely flipped” on his previous opposition to federal funding for abortion providers when he “promised on film that he would protect the funding of Planned Parenthood.”
Is Tarkanian correct that Heller changed his position on funding for Planned Parenthood?

Read Ballotpedia's fact check »

See also: United States Senate election in Nevada, 2018

See also: United States Senate election in Nevada (June 12, 2018 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Nevada

Jacky Rosen defeated incumbent Dean Heller, Barry Michaels, Tim Hagan, and Kamau Bakari in the general election for U.S. Senate Nevada on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jacky Rosen (D)	50.4	490,071
		Dean Heller (R)	45.4	441,202
		Barry Michaels (Independent)	1.0	9,269
		Tim Hagan (L)	0.9	9,196
		Kamau Bakari (Independent American Party)	0.7	7,091
		Other/Write-in votes	1.6	15,303

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 972,132 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Richard Charles (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Nevada

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Nevada on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jacky Rosen	82.9	110,567
		David Drew Knight	4.8	6,346
		Allen Rheinhart	3.6	4,782
		Jesse Sbaih	3.4	4,540
		Bobby Mahendra	2.9	3,835
	Submit photo	Daniel Burleigh	2.4	3,244

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 133,314
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Nevada

Incumbent Dean Heller defeated Tom Heck, Sherry Brooks, Sarah Gazala, and Vic Harrell in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Nevada on June 12, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dean Heller	73.0	99,509
		Tom Heck	19.3	26,296
	Submit photo	Sherry Brooks	3.8	5,145
		Sarah Gazala	2.9	4,011
	Submit photo	Vic Harrell	0.9	1,282

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 136,243
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Danny Tarkanian (R)

Did Dean Heller change his policy positions in order to accommodate Donald Trump?
June 29, 2018: Former Nevada Congresswoman Shelley Berkely (D) claimed that Nevada Senator Dean Heller (R) changed policy positions in order to accommodate Donald Trump.
Does Heller's legislative record support this claim? Read Ballotpedia's fact check »

2012

See also: United States Senate elections in Nevada, 2012

U.S. Senate, Nevada, General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Shelley Berkley	44.7%	446,080
	Republican	Dean Heller Incumbent	45.9%	457,656
	Independent American Party of Nevada	David Lory VanderBeek	4.9%	48,792
	N/A	None of these candidates	4.5%	45,277
Total Votes				997,805
Source: Nevada Secretary of State "U.S. Senate Results"

2011

Heller was appointed to the United States Senate by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval on May 9, 2011, after Senator John Ensign resigned.

2010

On November 2, 2010, Heller was re-elected to the United States House of Representatives for a third term as the representative from Nevada's 2nd Congressional District. He defeated Nancy Price (D) and Russell Best (Independent American).

U.S. House, Nevada, District 2 General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Dean Heller Incumbent	63.3%	169,458
	Democratic	Nancy Price	32.7%	87,421
	Independent American	Russell Best	4%	10,829
Total Votes				267,708

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Dean Heller did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Heller's campaign website stated the following:

“	Jobs and Economy As Governor, Dean will veto any new or increased taxes, period. Democrats in Carson City are always looking for new ways to raise taxes, but Dean will always look for new ways to increase your take-home pay. Pro Life Dean Heller is a 100% pro-life conservative. As a father, and a grandfather, Dean knows first hand that each and every life is a precious gift from God. Supporting Law Enforcement The radical left wants to defund the police and put criminals back on the streets. Not on Dean’s watch. Our brave men and women in law enforcement put their lives on the line every single day for us, and they deserve our full support. Police must have all the resources they need to keep us safe. Fighting Illegal Immigration Nevadans need safety and security for their families. As Governor, Dean Heller will lead the fight to crack down on illegal immigration, end catch and release, ensure that Nevada police fully cooperate with ICE, and oppose sanctuary cities. Safe and Secure Elections The 2020 election was a mess. Nevadans need to have faith that their elections are safe and secure. As the former Secretary of State of Nevada, Dean Heller knows a thing or two about fighting voter fraud. As Secretary of State, he was the first in Nevada history to conduct a forensic audit of an election and dismissed election officials who were failing to do their jobs. As Governor, Dean Heller will push to eliminate ballot harvesting, require citizens to present an ID to vote, end universal mail-in ballots, and veto any proposal from the radical far left to further destabilize our elections. No Lockdowns or Mandates The coronavirus pandemic hit Nevada hard. Under Governor Sisolak, Nevada citizens faced endless lockdowns, constant mask mandates, and saw businesses all across the state close their doors. Kids had to play soccer games in masks. It’s time to reopen Nevada’s economy, end the lockdowns, end the mandates, and get Nevadans back to work. Education Dean’s plan for education is simple: Reopen schools now. For far too long, the teacher unions have taken our kids out of the classroom and put them on Zoom. At the same time, schools have been teaching our kids Critical Race Theory. These kinds of reckless policies hurt our children and their long-term potential. We also need to provide Nevadans with more educational choices. That means increased school choice, increased funding for charter schools, and increased funding for vocational schools. Not everyone needs a lifetime of debt from a liberal university to get a job. Nevadans need to have the choice to learn a trade, become a coder, welder, or mechanic. When Dean is Governor, every Nevadan will have that choice. Second Amendment As a lifelong gun owner, Dean knows the importance of the Second Amendment. Liberal elites think that the Second Amendment is all about hunting. While hunting is important, the Second Amendment is so much more than that: It’s about defending our homes and our families from criminals and defending our freedoms from those who would take them away. As your Governor, Dean will veto any legislation that restricts your right to defend yourself, including assault weapons bans, magazine size restrictions, and support Constitutional Carry.	”
—Dean Heller's campaign website (2022)

2018

Campaign website

The following were found on Heller's campaign website.

“	Tax Reform Americans need a robust economic plan that not only reforms the federal tax code, but also reins in government spending, supports all-of-the-above energy policies, and stops federal overregulation. As one of the Senators that helped write the tax reform bill, I made sure we repealed the Individual Mandate, doubled the Child Tax Credit (to $2,000), and passed other measures that benefit small businesses and entrepreneurs. The IRS should have never been involved in healthcare and the government should never require citizens to pay for something they can’t afford. As you know, our bill is already providing tax cuts to Nevada’s middle-class families, boosting job creation, and spurring economic growth. But we’re not done yet. That’s why I’m fighting for additional job-creating legislation that will provide relief to small businesses and families, and keep our economy growing. My goal has always been to make sure that Americans keep more of their hard-earned money. Lower tax rates will allow businesses to hire, invest, and expand — creating jobs in our communities and boosting growth around our state and across the country. The Obama-era mindset of increasing taxes and over regulating small businesses stifled job growth in Nevada and impeded our nation’s ability to provide businesses and workers the tools they need to compete in a global marketplace. But that era is over. Now, we’re heading in a direction that is better for Nevadans and Americans across the nation, and although we’ve made significant progress, there is still more work to do. Veterans Over 300,000 of our nation’s veterans call Nevada home. These are our bravest heroes who have faithfully served our country and chose to put everything on the line to defend America’s freedom. I believe these men and women deserve our gratitude, and in the Senate, I have worked tirelessly on their behalf. As a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the Co-Chair of the Senate VA Backlog Working Group, I have made it a priority to eliminate the VA disability claims in Nevada. In Nevada’s VA Regional Office alone, we have seen a reduction of the backlog of claims from 4,328 in 2013 to 1,235 today. That’s over 3,000 cases and a 40% decrease. When I started my work, the average days to complete a VA claim in Nevada took over a year, 433 days to be exact, but today it’s 124 days. The remaining backlog in Nevada is still unacceptable, which is why I am proud the Senate passed my comprehensive legislation in 2016 to overhaul the claims process so it works better for veterans. I am also working with the Department of Veterans Affairs to begin addressing the growing number of appeals for veterans who believe the VA’s decision on their claim is wrong. In addition to reducing the VA claims backlog, I’ve focused on achieving accountability at the VA. If performance isn’t up to par, I support granting the VA Secretary the ability to fire VA officials responsible for poor performance. These officials should be held accountable for failing to meet the important responsibility of serving our nation’s heroes. Our veterans shouldn’t have to suffer poor or untimely care due to their inefficiencies. I’ve advocated for better care for our nation’s veterans. Whether you’re talking about modernizing VA care by offering more services for women veterans at VA medical facilities or offering tele-health services for rural veterans, I’ve fought to ensure America’s veterans are not forgotten. That’s why in 2016, I was proud to see years of labor come to fruition with the grand opening of the VA’s Pahrump Community Based Outpatient Clinic. Veterans in Nye County finally have a VA clinic that can meet the demands of its fast-growing veteran population. This was a concrete deliverable I was proud to be part of and one that my colleagues on the Senate Veterans’ Committee knew was a priority for me. Veterans in southern Nevada benefit directly from this clinic and deserve it. I’m also proud to have successfully led the effort in Congress to authorize an important construction project at the VA medical facility in Reno to ensure the safety of veterans and VA employees at this facility, as well as to improve the quality and availability of care for veterans in Reno. Nevada’s veterans face many struggles ranging from high unemployment, a struggling housing market, and too often, homelessness. Congress has an obligation to partner with both the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans have the resources they need to succeed. As your voice in Washington, I hope every veteran in Nevada knows I am fighting every single day to repay the debt our nation owes your for your sacrifice and courage to defend freedom. Border Security and Immigration While Nevada does not border another nation, we are without a doubt a border state. Immigration affects our economy and our people. For years, I have worked to reform our nation’s broken immigration system in a way that upholds our nation’s proud history of immigration while securing our borders first. It’s up to Congress to come up with solutions to the problems that face this broken system today. In 2013, I supported an immigration bill that would have made significant reforms to our system while ensuring that those who want to participate in the American Dream can do so. I also worked tirelessly to ensure that Nevada has a seat at the table in any type of federally created border commission. As I have long said though any type of reform must include securing our borders first. This is why in the past I have helped author legislation that would double the amount of Customs and Border Patrol Officers at the border as well as double the amount of fencing. Last Congress I also cosponsored the Secure Our Border First Act. While we are a nation of immigrants we are also a nation of laws. Tourism Nearly 53 million visitors came to Nevada in 2016 alone, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. Travelers spend nearly 60 billion in Nevada annually, accounting for about 13 percent of the state’s annual GDP. The impact tourism has on Nevada cannot be underestimated; it is a lifeline for our economy. My time in the Senate is focused on promoting tourism, improving travel efficiency, and facilitating growth opportunities. As a cochair of the Senate Caucus on Tourism, I am one of the leading voices in the Congress for policies that improve our nation’s tourism opportunities. I have worked in a bipartisan manner to advance some of the most important travel legislation enacted into law over the past six years, such as investments in infrastructure and reforms to the TSA designed to improve efficiency and safety for travelers. Second Amendment Our Founders envisioned a government where the people have a right to defend themselves, their home, and their family. As someone who understands the importance of upholding and protecting Nevadans’ constitutional rights, I am an unwavering advocate for our Second Amendment. I know these are Nevada’s values. My record in Washington, D.C., has been crystal clear: I support Nevadans’ ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights. Earlier this year, I voted to end a last-minute Obama Administration gun grab hidden in the Social Security Administration’s policies. This provision unfairly targeted seniors, denying them their Second Amendment rights without due process. Prior to that, I have consistently opposed efforts by the extreme left in Congress to limit law-abiding Americans’ right to bear arms including comprehensive gun control. As a gun owner and sportsman, Nevada can always count on me to protect our values. Health Care From Pioche to Battle Mountain families have expressed unbearable struggles with the massive increases in premiums and a total loss of options for healthcare and it has to be remedied to give the relief Nevadans deserve and need to thrive. Under Obamacare, rates have gone up and harsh regulations and overbearing penalties were introduced that hurt Nevada families and crushed small businesses. We need a free-market free option that works for Nevada’s most vulnerable. Obamacare clearly isn’t the answer — but doing nothing isn’t the answer either. I have been working with colleagues on commonsense solutions that would improve our health care system by guaranteeing that Americans with preexisting conditions will have health care coverage, that gives more power back to states, and more — all regardless of how our judicial system rules on the future of Obamacare. As I mentioned before, health care itself isn’t the only issue with Obamacare. Regulations and overbearing penalties were introduced that hurt Nevada families and small businesses. I have fought every step of the way to stop the Health Care Tax (or Cadillac Tax), one that would be particularly devastating in Nevada for the 1.3 million workers who have employer-sponsored health insurance plans including union workers, public employees, service industry workers, and small business owners and retirees. Across America, 54% of employers and almost 151 million workers who currently enjoy employer sponsored health care benefits would see their benefits cut or their health costs go up. I fought against the Health Care Tax and succeeded in stopping it, not just once but twice. First from going into effect in 2018, and then successfully prevented its implementation again in 2020. But the fight isn’t over. Democrats want to keep this onerous tax, and we need to keep standing up against them to prevent this tax from becoming a harsh reality for Nevadans and for Americans across the nation. My opponent, Jacky Rosen, voted not once, but TWICE against stopping the 40% tax on working class Nevadans’ health insurance plans and overall has a ZERO record on health care. Israel My support for Israel is unwavering and constant. While America’s relationship with Israel became strained under the previous Administration, my undivided loyalty to one of our most important allies grew stronger. That’s why I introduced legislation to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Israel’s undivided capital. I questioned the previous Administration on its inability to hold Iran, a significant threat to Israel in the region, accountable for its nefarious activities, including sponsoring terrorism against Israel. I remain concerned about Israel’s safety and security with Iran’s latest aggression to test a ballistic missile and have introduced legislation to impose sanctions against Iran for these ballistic missile tests. In addition, I believe the Iran Nuclear Deal negotiated by the previous Administration has only emboldened this state sponsor of terrorism, and I have opposed this terrible agreement because it does nothing to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. As one of our top allies and promoters of democracy in the Middle East, Israel must have no doubt America will be there to defend it against all foes. Federal Spending & Deficit For years, our national debt has continued to grow because Washington refused to get serious about spending and continues to be a pain free zone. As a result, Americans are working harder and harder to get ahead but are falling behind. I have long opposed excessive spending by our federal government from the Wall Street Bailout to former President Obama’s stimulus plan. I believe it is essential that we rein in spending, address these yearly deficits, and get the national debt under control. Under the Obama Administration, our national debt exploded by $9 trillion dollars. That’s unacceptable. I am not just talking about solving the problem, I am actively pushing a solution. One of the fundamental responsibilities of Congress is to budget and pay its spending bills on time. Year after year under this past Administration Congress just kicked the spending can down the road. Just as Nevadans have to pay their bills on time so too should Congress. This is why I introduced my No Budget, No Pay Act, which would eliminate pay for Members of Congress unless they passed a budget and its spending bills on time each year. My legislation is simple. If you don’t do your job you don’t get paid. I have also pushed for a Balanced Budget Amendment that would ultimately force Washington to live within its means – something Nevada’s households do every single day.	”
—Dean Heller's 2018 campaign website

Campaign advertisements

The following is an example of an ad from Heller's 2018 election campaign.

"24/7 to Get the Job Done" - Heller campaign ad, released November 3, 2017

2012

Campaign website

On his campaign website, Heller listed the following nine issues:

• Growing the Economy

• "Government debt has grown exponentially for far too long and this reckless spending is having a direct negative impact on our nation's economy. The key to turning our economy around is to remove impediments that have caused economic stagnation and the inability of businesses to create new jobs. Not continue with business as usual."

• Fiscal Responsibility

• "Dean believes that increasing taxes to pay for bigger government makes little sense. Instead, Congress should cut spending, reduce the size of government and provide tax breaks for America's working middle class."

• Housing and Foreclosures

• "Heller believes that private capital, not the federal government, as the primary source of mortgage financing housing market is essential to long-term stability. As a conservative, Dean supports financial regulatory reforms that stop taxpayer-funded bailouts and addresses the growing liabilities of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."

• Energy Independence

• "Dean also believes that our nation needs a forward-thinking all of the above energy strategy that meets our short- and long-term energy needs through conservation, encouraging renewable energy and developing our own natural resources."

• Healthcare Reform

• "Congress should work to curb frivolous lawsuits and runaway jury rewards that only serve to fatten the pockets of trial lawyers. Heller believes the current health care law should be replaced with market based reforms that bring down the cost of health care, increases access, and provides the consumer with more choices."

• Immigration Reform

• Heller proposed a three-step plan: 1) Start by enforcing existing immigration laws. 2) Fine businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants. 3) Construct a border wall and provide the border patrol with the resources necessary to end the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States.

• Independence

• "Dean is a staunch conservative that shares our values of hard work, family and the fiercely independent spirit of his fellow Nevadans. That's why he bucked his party, President Bush, and then presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain as the only member of the Nevada delegation to vote against the Wall Street bailout."

• Israel

• "Dean is a strong supporter of the state of Israel and believes that the United States must provide staunch and endearing political support for Israel. Violence against Israel committed by extremist groups is relentless, and demonstrates the need for the United States to provide security assistance to our friend and ally. Israel is the front line in the struggle between free, Western societies and violent extremists like al-Qaeda, the Taliban, the Iranian regime, Hezbollah and Hamas. The same extremists, who seek Israel's destruction, also seek the destruction of the United States."

Committee assignments

U.S. Senate

2017-2018

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

• Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
• Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
• Committee on Finance
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs

2015-2016

Heller served on the following committees:

• Special Committee on Aging
• Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
  • Subcommittee on Economic Policy, Chairman
  • Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection
• Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  • Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
  • Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
  • Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance
  • Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
• Finance Committee
  • Subcommittee on Health Care
  • Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight
  • Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy, Chairman
• Veterans' Affairs Committee

2013-2014

Heller served on the following Senate committees:

• Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development
• Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
  • Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
  • Subcommittee on Science and Space
  • Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance
  • Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
  • Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection Members
• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Water and Power
  • Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining
  • Subcommittee on Energy
• Special Committee on Aging
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs

2011-2012

Heller served on the following committees:

• Special Committee on Aging
• Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

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)

  Voted Yea on: First Step Act of 2018 (S 756)

   Motion Agreed to (87-12) on December 18, 2018

  Proposed making changes to the criminal justice system.

  Voted Yea on: Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (HR 2)

   Conference Report Agreed to (87-13) on December 11, 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.

  Voted Yea on: "Brett M. Kavanaugh, of Maryland, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States" (PN2259)

   Nomination Confirmed (50-48) on October 6, 2018

  Brett M. Kavanaugh, of Maryland, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

  Voted Yea on: "Brett M. Kavanaugh, of Maryland, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States" (PN2259)

   Cloture Motion Agreed to (51-49) on October 5, 2018

  Brett M. Kavanaugh, of Maryland, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

  Voted Nay on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (HR 2)

   Bill Passed (86-11, 3/5 majority required) on June 28, 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.

  Voted Yea on: Immigration reform proposal from Sen. Chuck Grassley and the Trump administration (S Amdt 1959 to HR 2579)

   Cloture Motion Rejected (39-60, 3/5 majority required) on February 15, 2018

  Proposed providing a path to citizenship for 1.8 million individuals brought into the U.S. without legal permission as children, $25 billion for border security, limits on chain migration or family-based migration, and eliminating the visa lottery system.

  Voted Nay on: Immigration reform proposal from the Common Sense Coalition (S Amdt 1958 to HR 2579)

   Cloture Motion Rejected (54-45, 3/5 majority required) on February 15, 2018

  Proposed providing a path to citizenship for individuals brought into the U.S. without legal permission as children, $25 billion for border security, and limitations on chain or family-based immigration.

  Voted Yea on: Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act amendment (S Amdt 1948 to S Amdt 1959)

   Cloture Motion Rejected (54-45, 3/5 majority required) on February 15, 2018

  Proposed withholding funding from sanctuary jurisdictions for not cooperating with federal immigration officials.

  Voted Nay on: Coons-McCain immigration plan (S Amdt 1955 to S Amdt 1958)

   Cloture Motion Rejected (52-47, 3/5 majority required) on February 15, 2018

  Proposed providing a path to citizenship for individuals brought into the U.S. without legal permission as children and conducting a study to determine what border security measures were needed. It also proposed requiring the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to secure the U.S.-Mexico border by 2021.

  Voted Yea on: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (S 2311)

   Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected (51-46, 3/5 majority required) on January 29, 2018

  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 proposed providing 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: An amendment to repeal the requirements for individuals to enroll in health insurance and for employers to offer it—"Skinny bill" (S Amdt 667 to S Amdt 267 to HR 1628 the American Health Care Act of 2017)

   Amendment Rejected (49-51) on July 28, 2017

  The amendment proposed repealing the requirements for individuals to enroll in health insurance and for employers to offer it.

  Voted Nay on: An amendment to repeal the ACA, including Paul amendment (No. 271) (S Amdt 271 to S Amdt 267 to HR 1628)

   Amendment Rejected (45-55) on July 26, 2017

  An amendment to repeal the ACA, including Paul amendment (No. 271)

  Voted Nay on: Motion to advance the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, including Cruz and Portman amendments (S Amdt 270 to S Amdt 267 to HR 1628)

   Motion Rejected (43-57, 3/5 majority required) on July 25, 2017

  A procedural vote to advance the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (BCRA), including the Cruz and Portman amendments.

  Voted Yea on: Motion to begin debate on the American Health Care Act of 2017 (HR 1628)

   Motion to Proceed Agreed to (50-50, Vice President voted Yea) on July 25, 2017

  Proposed providing for reconciliation pursuant to title II of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2017.

  Voted Yea on: Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (PN55(4)—confirmation vote)

   Nomination Confirmed (54-45) on April 7, 2017

  Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States—confirmation vote.

  Voted Yea on: Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (PN55(3))

   Cloture Motion Agreed to (55-45) on April 6, 2017

  Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States—second vote to end debate and move to a vote on Gorsuch's nomination under the new precedent requiring only a simple majority to pass.

  
  

  Voted Nay on: Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (PN55(2))

   Decision of Chair Not Sustained (48-52) on April 6, 2017

  Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States—a vote to keep the Senate precedent of requiring 60 votes to close debate on Supreme Court nominations.

  Voted Yea on: Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (PN55)

   Cloture Motion Rejected (55-45, 3/5 majority required) on April 6, 2017

  Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States—initial vote to end debate and move to a vote on Gorsuch's nomination.

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

  Voted Yea on: "Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019" (HR 6157)

   Conference Report Agreed to (93-7) on September 18, 2018

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

  Voted Yea on: "Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019" (HR 5895)

   Conference Report Agreed to (92-5) on September 12, 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.

  Voted Yea on: "Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019" (HR 6157)

   Bill Passed (85-7) on August 23, 2018

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

  Voted Yea on: "Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019" (HR 5895)

   Bill Passed (86-5) on June 25, 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.

  Voted Yea on: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1625)

   Motion Agreed to (65-32) on March 23, 2018

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

  Voted Yea on: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (HR 1892)

   Motion Agreed to (71-28) on February 9, 2018

  Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through March 23, 2018

  Voted Yea on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 695)

   Cloture Motion Rejected (55-44, 3/5 majority required) on February 8, 2018

  Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through March 23, 2018.

  Voted Yea on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 195)

   Motion Agreed to (81-18) on January 22, 2018

  Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 8, 2018.

  Voted Yea on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 195)

   Cloture Motion Agreed to (81-18, 3/5 majority required) on January 22, 2018

  Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 8, 2018.

  Voted Yea on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 195)

   Cloture Motion Rejected (50-49, 3/5 majority required) on January 19, 2018

  Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through January 19, 2018.

  Voted Yea on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1370)

   Motion Agreed to (66-32, 3/5 majority required) on December 21, 2017

  Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through January 19, 2018.

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

   Motion Agreed to (51-48) on December 20, 2017

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

  Voted Yea on: "A joint resolution making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes." (HJ Res 123)

   Joint Resolution Passed (81-14) on December 7, 2017

  Proposed funding the government until December 22, 2017.

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

   Bill Passed (51-49) on December 2, 2017

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

  Voted Yea on: A concurrent resolution 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)

   Concurrent Resolution Agreed to (51-49) on October 19, 2017

  Proposed 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.

  Voted Yea on: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 (Included amendments to suspend the debt ceiling and fund the government) (HR 601)

   Motion Agreed to (80-17) on September 7, 2017

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

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

   Motion Agreed to (79-18) on May 4, 2017

  The $1.2 trillion budget bill proposed funding the government through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2017.

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

  Did not vote on: "A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress." (SJ Res 54)

   Joint Resolution Passed (56-41) on December 13, 2018

  Proposed removing United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that were not authorized by Congress.

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

   Bill Passed (89-8) on September 18, 2017

  Proposed authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, and to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes. On November 15, 2017, the Senate passed the defense policy bill by voice vote. This bill was the result of compromises made in the conference report. For more information on the compromise bill, click here.

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

   Bill Passed (98-2) on July 27, 2017

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

  Voted Yea on: Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017 (S 722)

   Bill Passed (98-2) on June 15, 2017

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

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. The Senate confirmed 18,117 out of 21,815 executive nominations received (83 percent). For more information pertaining to Heller'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 On May 22, 2015, the Senate passed HR 1314, which was used as a legislative vehicle for trade legislation with the titles "Trade Act of 2015" and the "Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015," by a vote of 62-37. The bill proposed giving the president trade promotion authority (TPA). TPA, also known as fast track authority, allows the president to negotiate trade deals that cannot be amended by Congress. Congress casts a simple up or down vote on a trade agreement, and the legislation only requires a simple majority for approval. The bill also included a statement of trade priorities and provisions for trade adjustment assistance. Heller voted with 47 other Republican senators to approve the bill. Trade promotion authority On June 24, 2015, by a vote of 60-38, the Senate approved trade promotion authority (TPA) as part of HR 2146 - Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act. Heller was one of 47 Republicans to vote in favor of the bill. After, Senate Republican leadership honored a pledge to support trade adjustment assistance (TAA) by passing the measure as part of HR 1295 - Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 by voice vote. The House passed HR 1295 the following day, on June 25, 2015, and both TPA and TAA were signed into law on June 29, 2015. 2016 Budget proposal On May 5, 2015, the Senate voted to approve SConRes11, a congressional budget proposal for fiscal year 2016, by a vote of 51-48. The non-binding resolution will be used to create 12 appropriations bills to fund the government. The vote marked the first time since 2009 that Congress approved a joint budget resolution. All 44 Democrats voted against the resolution. Heller voted with 50 other Republican senators to approve the bill. Defense spending authorization On November 10, 2015, the Senate passed S 1356 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 by a vote of 91-3. 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. Heller and five Republicans did not vote. On November 5, 2015, the House passed the bill by a vote of 370-58, and President Barack Obama signed it into law on November 25, 2015. On June 18, 2015, the Senate passed HR 1735 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 by a vote of 71-25. 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." Heller voted with 48 Republicans, 21 Democrats and one Independent to approve the bill. The House passed the bill on May 15, 2015. President Barack Obama vetoed the bill on October 22, 2015. 2015 budget On October 30, 2015, the Senate passed HR 1314 - Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 by a vote of 64-35. The bill increased military and domestic spending levels and suspended the debt ceiling until March 2017. Heller voted with 34 Republicans against the bill. It passed the House on October 28, 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 7, 2015, the Senate voted to approve HR 1191 - A bill to provide for congressional review and oversight of agreements relating to Iran's nuclear program, and for other purposes, by a vote of 98-1. 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. Heller voted with 52 other Republican senators to approve the bill. Senator Tom Cotton (Ark.) was the only Republican who voted against the bill. Hire More Heroes Act of 2015 On September 10, 2015, the Senate voted to filibuster the measure to disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal by a vote of 58-42. Sixty votes were needed to proceed to HJ Res 61 - the Hire More Heroes Act of 2015, the legislative vehicle the Senate was expected to use to disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal. Heller voted with 53 other Republicans and four Democrats to proceed to the measure of disapproval. Hire More Heroes Act of 2015 follow up votes On September 15, 2015, the Senate voted for a second time to filibuster the measure to disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal by a vote of 56-42. Sixty votes were needed to proceed to HJ Res 61 - the Hire More Heroes Act of 2015, the legislative vehicle the Senate was expected to use to disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal. Heller voted with 51 Republicans and four Democrats to proceed to the measure of disapproval. The legislation was voted on for a third time on September 17, and it failed for a third time by a vote of 56-42. Hire More Heroes Act of 2015 fourth vote On September 17, 2015, the Senate voted to filibuster a vote on S.Amdt.2656 to S.Amdt.2640 by a vote of 53-45. The amendment proposed prohibiting "the President from waiving, suspending, reducing, providing relief from, or otherwise limiting the application of sanctions pursuant to an agreement related to the nuclear program of Iran." Heller voted with 51 Republicans and one Democrat to proceed to the amendment. Domestic USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 On June 2, 2015, the Senate 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 67-32. The legislation revised HR 3199 - the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 by terminating 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." Heller voted with 22 Republicans, 43 Democrats and one Independent to approve the legislation. It became law on June 2, 2015. Loretta Lynch AG nomination On April 23, 2015, the Senate voted to confirm Loretta Lynch as United States Attorney General by a vote of 56-43. All 44 Democratic senators voted to confirm Lynch. Heller voted with 42 other Republican senators against Lynch's confirmation. Cyber security On October 27, 2015, the Senate passed S 754 - the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 by a vote of 74-21. The bill proposed procedures that would allow federal agencies and private entities to share information about cyber threats. Heller voted with five Republicans, 14 Democrats and one independent against the bill. Immigration On October 20, 2015, the Senate voted against proceeding to a vote on S 2146 - the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act by a vote of 54-45. The bill proposed withholding federal funding from "sanctuary jurisdictions" that violate the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 and other federal immigration laws. In addition, the bill proposed increasing "penalties for individuals who illegally reenter the United States after being removed" and providing "liability protection for State and local law enforcement who cooperate with Federal law enforcement." Heller voted with 51 Republicans and two Democrats in favor of proceeding to 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. The Senate confirmed 13,949 out of 18,323 executive nominations received (76.1 percent). For more information pertaining to Heller's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections. National security John Brennan CIA nomination Heller voted against the confirmation of John Brennan as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The nomination was confirmed by the Senate on March 7, 2013, with a vote of 63 - 34. Most Democrats supported the nomination, while Republicans were somewhat divided with roughly one-third supporting the nomination. Drones filibuster See also: Rand Paul filibuster of John Brennan's CIA Nomination in March 2013 On March 6, 2013, Senator Rand Paul (R) led a 13-hour filibuster of President Obama's CIA Director nominee, John Brennan. Paul started the filibuster in order to highlight his concerns about the administration's drone policies. In particular, Paul said he was concerned about whether a drone could be used to kill an American citizen within the United States border, without any due process involved. Paul and other civil liberties activists criticized President Obama for not offering a clear response to the question. A total of 14 senators joined Paul in the filibuster -- 13 Republicans and one Democrat. Heller was one of 30 Republican senators who did not support the filibuster. The day after the filibuster, Attorney General Eric Holder sent a letter to Paul, responding to the filibuster. Holder wrote, "Does the president have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on U.S. soil? The answer to that is no." Economy Paul Ryan Budget Proposal In March 2013 the U.S. Senate soundly rejected a balanced budget plan by House Budget Committee chair Paul Ryan (R). Five Republicans joined every Democrat present to kill the measure, which failed on a 40-59 vote. Heller was one of the five Senate Republicans who voted against Ryan's budget proposal. The proposed budget would have cut about $5 trillion over the next decade and aimed to balance the budget by the end of the 10-year period. Some tea party members of the GOP opposed the measure because of its reliance on $600 billion-plus in tax revenues on the wealthy enacted in January 2013, in order to balance the budget. Others in the Senate opposed the Ryan plan because of cuts from safety net programs for the poor and the inclusion of a plan to turn the Medicare program for the elderly into a voucher-like system for future beneficiaries born in 1959 or later. No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 Heller voted for H.R.325 -- No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013. The bill passed the Senate on January 31, 2013, with a vote of 64 - 34. The purpose of the bill was to temporarily suspend the debt ceiling and withhold the pay of members of Congress until a budget could be passed. The vote largely followed party lines with Democrats overwhelmingly supporting it and many Republicans in opposition to the bill. Government shutdown See also: United States budget debate, 2013 During the shutdown in October 2013, the Senate rejected, down party lines, every House-originated bill that stripped the budget of funding for the Affordable Care Act. A deal was reached late on October 16, 2013, just hours before the debt ceiling deadline. The bill to reopen the government, H.R. 2775, 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 final vote on H.R. 2775 was 81-18, with all 18 votes against the bill from Republican members. Heller voted with the Republican Party against the bill. Immigration Mexico-U.S. border Heller voted for Senate Amendment 1197 -- Requires the Completion of the Fence Along the United States-Mexico Border. The amendment was rejected by the Senate on June 18, 2013, with a vote of 39 - 54. The purpose of the amendment was to require the completion of 350 miles of fence described in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 before registered provisional immigrant status may be granted. It would also require 700 miles of fence be completed before the status of registered provisional immigrants may be changed to permanent resident status. The vote followed party lines. Social issues Violence Against Women (2013) Heller voted for S.47 -- Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. The bill was passed by the Senate on February 12, 2013, with a vote of 78 - 22. The purpose of the bill was to combat violence against women, from domestic violence to international trafficking in persons. All 22 dissenting votes were cast by Republicans. Previous congressional sessions Fiscal Cliff Heller voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. The bill was passed in the Senate by an 89 - 8 vote on January 1, 2013.

Issues

National security

Letter to Iran

On March 9, 2015, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) wrote a letter to Iran's leadership, warning them that signing a nuclear deal with the Obama administration without congressional approval constituted only an executive agreement. The letter also stated that "The next president could revoke such an executive agreement with the stroke of a pen and future Congresses could modify the terms of the agreement at any time." The letter was signed by 47 Republican members of the Senate. Heller was one of the 47 who signed the letter. No Democrats signed it.

Members of the Obama administration and of Congress reacted to the letter. Vice President Joe Biden said of the letter, "In thirty-six years in the United States Senate, I cannot recall another instance in which senators wrote directly to advise another country — much less a longtime foreign adversary — that the president does not have the constitutional authority to reach a meaningful understanding with them."

Political positions

Healthcare

Heller released a statement in August 2013 regarding the unemployment numbers in his district and the effects of the Affordable Care Act. He said, "This month’s decline in Nevada’s unemployment rate is promising, but it doesn’t change the fact that many job creators in the Silver State will walk into the office this morning worried about the toll ObamaCare is taking on their business. The delays in implementing portions of this law show just how flawed it is. Since the Affordable Care Act was passed, many employers have been forced to cut workers' hours or stop hiring altogether. Nevadans don’t need laws that discourage job creation; they need policies that will encourage growth and innovation.”

2016 presidential endorsement

✓ Heller endorsed Marco Rubio for the Republican primary in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

See also: Endorsements for Marco Rubio

2012

See also: Endorsements by state officials of presidential candidates in the 2012 election

Dean Heller endorsed Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election.

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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Dean Heller campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2022	Governor of Nevada	Lost primary	$1,006,804	$0
2018	U.S. Senate Nevada	Lost general	$15,516,789	$15,577,377
2012	U.S. Senate (Nevada)	Won	$9,417,811	N/A**
2010	U.S. House (Nevada, District 2)	Won	$1,487,453	N/A**
Grand total			$27,428,857	$15,577,377
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, Heller's net worth as of 2012 was estimated between $2,865,961 and $3,683,950. That averages to $3,276,455.50, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican senators in 2012 of $6,956,438.47. Heller ranked as the 42nd most wealthy senator in 2012. Between 2006 and 2012, Heller's calculated net worth increased by an average of 1 percent per year. Between 2004 and 2012, the average annual percentage increase for a member of Congress was 15.4 percent.

Dean Heller Yearly Net Worth
Year	Average Net Worth
2006	$3,086,749
2012	$3,276,455
Growth from 2006 to 2012:	6%
Average annual growth:	1%
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). Heller received the most donations from individuals and PACs employed by the Leadership PACs industry.

From 2005-2014, 22.81 percent of Heller's career contributions came from the top five industries as listed below.

Dean Heller Campaign Contributions
Total Raised	$14,889,126
Total Spent	$13,853,540
Top five industries that contributed to campaign committee
Leadership PACs	$769,091
Retired	$734,967
Real Estate	$686,140
Casinos/Gambling	$672,495
Securities & Investment	$533,665
% total in top industry	5.17%
% total in top two industries	10.1%
% total in top five industries	22.81%

Analysis

Ideology and leadership

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

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Heller was a centrist Republican as of July 2014. Heller was rated as a "rank-and-file Republican" in July 2013.

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.

Heller most often votes with:

• Chuck Grassley
• Joe Manchin

Heller least often votes with:

• Susan Collins
• Ben Cardin

Lifetime voting record

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

According to the website GovTrack, Heller missed 48 of 1,346 roll call votes from January 2011 to September 2015. This amounts to 3.6 percent, which is worse than the median of 1.6 percent among current senators as of September 2015.

Congressional staff salaries

See also: Staff salaries of United States Senators and Representatives

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Heller paid his congressional staff a total of $625,167 in 2011. He ranked first on the list of the lowest paid Republican senatorial staff salaries and ranked first overall of the lowest paid senatorial staff salaries in 2011. Overall, Nevada ranked 42nd in average salary for senatorial staff. The average U.S. Senate congressional staff was paid $2,529,141.70 in fiscal year 2011.

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

Heller ranked 21st in the conservative rankings in 2013.

2012

Heller ranked 41st in the conservative rankings in 2012.

2011

Heller ranked 28th in the conservative rankings in 2011.

Voting with party

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

2014

Heller voted with the Republican Party 80.9 percent of the time, which ranked 39th among the 45 Senate Republican members as of July 2014.

2013

Heller voted with the Republican Party 84.0 percent of the time, which ranked 33rd among the 46 Senate Republican members as of June 2013.

See also

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by John Ensign	United States Senate - Nevada 2011–2019	Succeeded by Jacky Rosen
Preceded by Jim Gibbons	United States House of Representatives - District 2 2007–2011	Succeeded by Mark Amodei
Preceded by Cheryl Lau	Nevada Secretary of State 1995–2006	Succeeded by Ross Miller
Preceded by '	Nevada Assembly 1990–1994	Succeeded by '