John Neely Kennedy

Republican junior Senator of Louisiana

Senator
Louisiana
January 3, 2017 - January 3, 2023
Senator
Louisiana
January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2029

202-224-4623

@SenJohnKennedy

kennedy.senate.gov

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Congresses Served

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