John Neely Kennedy

Republican junior Senator of Louisiana

  • Senator

    Louisiana

    January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2029

4

Congresses Served

2

Senate Terms

January 1, 1951 (74 years old)

Birthday

  • Served as the junior United States senator from Louisiana since 2017
  • Previously served as the Louisiana State Treasurer from 2000 to 2017
  • Served as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue from 1996 to 1999
  • Served as special counsel and cabinet member to Governor Buddy Roemer from 1988 to 1992
  • Graduated from Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia School of Law; also attended Oxford University
  • Unsuccessfully ran for state attorney general in 1991 as a Democrat
  • Unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 2004 and 2008
  • Switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in 2007
  • Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016, defeating Democrat Foster Campbell in the runoff
  • Objected to the certification of Arizona’s electors in the 2020 presidential election
  • Reelected to the U.S. Senate in 2022, defeating 12 opponents in the first round
  • Advocated for tax code changes and taxpayer rights as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue
  • Implemented initiatives to return unclaimed property to Louisiana residents
  • Advocated for debt refinance and anti-corruption efforts as Louisiana State Treasurer
  • Opposed the appointment of three of Trump’s U.S. District Court judicial nominees due to qualifications concerns
  • Voted to confirm Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court
  • Introduced legislation aimed at animal welfare and rural business investment
  • Voted against the First Step Act, a criminal justice reform bill
  • Introduced legislation related to small business disaster loans and the National Flood Insurance Program
  • Worked with Senator Joe Manchin on the Justice Against Corruption on K Street (JACK) Act
  • Introduced the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which was signed into law
  • Opposed President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan
  • Advocated for school choice and has served as a volunteer substitute teacher
  • Warned against allowing Chinese investors into American markets without safeguards
  • Opposed illegal immigration and advocated for stronger border security
  • Supported legal immigration and emphasized its benefits to the country
  • Strongly opposed to abortion and supported the overturning of Roe v. Wade
  • Introduced legislation related to greenhouse emissions and supported the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act
  • Had an “A+” rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund in 2022
  • Opposed the First Step Act and introduced legislation related to criminal justice reform and prosecution
  • Introduced a bill to prohibit companies from blocking or throttling web content, supporting net neutrality
  • Criticized Biden’s conduct of the withdrawal from Afghanistan and has been hawkish on China
  • Advocated for aid to Ukraine and proposed a bill to install a special inspector general to track U.S. aid to Ukraine