John Neely Kennedy
Republican junior Senator of Louisiana
Senator
Louisiana
January 3, 2017 - January 3, 2023
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