Share
United States House of Representatives
Vern Buchanan
US Representative · (retiring · seat open 2026)
Republican
RESOLUTE Citizen Score
64
/ 100
D
Raw: 28 of 44 dynamic max
· 22 of 50 answered
·
-10
foreign-influence adjustment
Last verified: · from claim evidence
✝ God First
30/ 60
🇺🇸 America First
8/ 40
National Rank
#4,110 of 9,024 · top 45.5% among candidates with at least one scored answer
See the full rankings →Score adjustments
Foreign-lobby money compromises America First. The U.S. has no formal mutual-defense treaty with Israel; AIPAC operates a super-PAC (United Democracy Project) that spent over $100M during the 2024 cycle on independent expenditures against U.S. candidates who criticize Israeli government policy. A candidate who has accepted that money has, in their own revealed preference, accepted a foreign-policy filter on their congressional vote. The same logic covers China-linked donations, where federal law also prohibits CCP members from contributing.
For every candidate with a documented donor record, two things happen: (1) the specific category question is marked False (foreign_policy_restraint[q4] for AIPAC + China; economic_stewardship[q5] — the WEF/ESG/Davos capture question — for Soros-network donors), so the per-category subscore drops by 2 points; (2) an additional dollar-bracket adjustment is applied to the total, making the penalty proportional to the magnitude of the funding. Both impacts are visible on this page.
Base score 38/100 → Adjusted 28/100
- AIPAC / pro-Israel-lobby contributions-10TrackAIPAC career-total report shows $81,481 from AIPAC and pro-Israel-lobby PACs.AIPAC operates a super-PAC (United Democracy Project) that spent over $100M during the 2024 cycle on independent expenditures targeting U.S. candidates who criticize Israeli government policy. The U.S. has no formal mutual-defense treaty with Israel. RESOLUTE Citizen treats documented AIPAC contributions as a failure on foreign_policy_restraint/q4 (the foreign-lobby question) AND applies a dollar-bracket adjustment to the total score.
Contact This Official
Call202-225-5015Send MessageOfficial PageX / Twitter@VernBuchananFacebook/CongressmanBuchananYouTubeChannel
📍 Local district offices (3)
Brandon, FL · 813-657-1013 · 510 Vonderburg Drive, Suite 303 33511
Bradenton, FL · 941-951-6643 · 8433 Enterprise Circle, Suite 210 34202
Longboat Key, FL · 941-951-6643 · 5370 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Suite 210 34228
Reach out directly. Your voice matters. Proverbs 29:2 — When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.
Next Election
November 3, 2026
General · Seat up at next election
— until
Registration deadline: 2026-10-05
Early voting: 2026-10-22 – 2026-11-01
State elections office: (850) 245-6200
Voter status: Check registration
State elections site: Florida Division of Elections
Official Profile
Religion: Baptist (Pew religious-composition survey of Congress)
Background: US Representative since 2007 (FL-13, then FL-16). Vice Chair, Ways & Means; Chair, W&M Health Subcommittee. Businessman. Announced Jan 27, 2026 he will not seek reelection — FL-16 open in 2026.
X / Twitter: @VernBuchanan
[2026-06 RESOLUTE refinement, federal tier] RETIRING: announced 1/27/2026 he will not seek reelection; serving out his term (FL-16 open seat). Business-Republican moderate — Heritage Action lifetime 64% (as low as 41% in the 115th). Solid pro-life restriction votes (Nay WHPA x2, Yea Born-Alive 2025, Nay embryonic stem-cell 2007) but never a Life at Conception cosponsor in 3 straight Congresses. Nay on Respect for Marriage Act BOTH votes (July + Dec 2022), Nay Equality Act. KEY CROSS-PARTY DEVIATIONS (guns): Yea on HR 8 universal background checks in 2019 AND 2021 (one of only 8 Republicans in 2021); 2019 letter to McConnell urging passage of background checks and consideration of red-flag laws; early bump-stock-ban advocate; NRA grade dropped A to B by 2020 — yet held the line Nay on the 2022 AWB, federal ERPO, and Safer Communities Act. Also: Yea on the \$61B Ukraine supplemental; voted to certify the 2020 election (Nay on both Jan 6 objections); Balanced Budget Amendment is his first bill every Congress since 2007.
Category Breakdown
Candidate affirms life begins at conception and personhood from conception
TRUE (+2)[1]
Candidate has voted for or actively advocates abortion abolition (not merely restrictions)
Candidate opposes embryonic stem-cell research, IVF embryo discard, and chimeric experimentation
TRUE (+2)[4]
Candidate opposes euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, and quality-of-life rationing
TRUE (+2)
1 claim
Cosponsored the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act in the 117th Congress (H.R.619, joined July 9, 2021) and again in the 118th Congress (H.R.26, 2023), requiring healthcare providers to give life-saving care to infants born alive after a failed abortion — a direct anti-euthanasia position protecting born children from passive death-by-omission.
- Congress.govOfficial
- Congress.govOfficial
FEC / OpenSecrets search found no Planned Parenthood, NARAL, EMILY's List, or abortion-industry PAC contributions (as of the cited search date)
Not yet verified[5]
Candidate affirms marriage as exclusively the lifelong union of one man and one woman as instituted by God
Not yet verified
Candidate opposes all forms of same-sex marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships in law
Candidate rejects transgender ideology and affirms biological sex (male/female) as immutable and God-given
Candidate supports no-fault divorce reform and policies that strengthen the marriage covenant
Not yet verified
Candidate supports universal school choice, homeschool freedom, and opposes compulsory public-school attendance
TRUE (+2)[12]
Candidate supports parental notification and consent on all medical, mental-health, and gender-related interventions for minors
TRUE (+2)[13]
Candidate opposes CRT, SOGI, "comprehensive sex ed," and gender-ideology curricula in K-12 public schools
Not yet verified
Candidate supports age-verification on pornographic content and criminal penalties for sexualized content marketed to minors
Not yet verified[14]
Candidate supports faith-based adoption/foster agencies and opposes placement of children with same-sex couples
Not yet verified
Candidate affirms the right to publicly profess Christ in all spheres (workplace, military, public office, schools)
Not yet verified[15]
Candidate supports conscience exemptions for Christian medical professionals, business owners, adoption agencies, and educators
TRUE (+2)[16]
Candidate opposes compelled speech against Christian conviction (pronoun mandates, gospel-proclamation hate-speech laws)
Not yet verified
Candidate supports public-square Christian symbols, prayer in public bodies, and Sabbath/Sunday closure protections
Not yet verified
Candidate opposes state-funded promotion of non-Christian religious displays, curricula, or holidays in public institutions
Not yet verified
Candidate opposes a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and supports cash and decentralized crypto as legal tender
TRUE (+2)[17]
Candidate supports sound-money policies including gold/silver as constitutional money and audit/abolition of the Federal Reserve
TRUE (+2)[18]
Candidate opposes deficit spending and supports a balanced-budget constitutional amendment
Candidate supports usury limits, anti-debt-slavery protections, and tithe-friendly tax structures
Not yet verified
Candidate opposes WEF/ESG/Davos economic capture and supports anti-trust action against monopolistic financial cartels
TRUE (+2)[21]
Candidate supports hand-counted paper ballots and opposes electronic voting machines
Not yet verified
Candidate supports single-day in-person voting with absentee only for verified medical/military exceptions
Not yet verified
Candidate opposes mass mail-in voting, drop boxes, and ballot harvesting
TRUE (+2)[24]
Candidate opposes private election funding ("Zuckerbucks") and foreign-government election interference
Not yet verified[25]
Candidate supports completed physical border barrier and active military border presence
TRUE (+2)[26]
Candidate supports mandatory deportation of all illegal aliens, including those who entered as minors
TRUE (+2)
1 claim
Voted yes with the Republican House majority on H.R.2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, which passed 219–213 on May 11, 2023, with virtually all Republican support; the bill mandated expedited removal (mandatory deportation) for illegal border crossers and restored the Title 42-era enforcement posture — consistent with Buchanan's documented pro-enforcement scores and his co-support for companion border measures in the 118th Congress.
- GovTrack.usReference
- Congress.govOfficial
Candidate opposes sanctuary city/state policies and supports federal preemption against them
Not yet verified
Candidate opposes birthright citizenship for children of illegal aliens, tourist births, and opposes foreign ownership of U.S. farmland
Not yet verified[28]
Candidate supports constitutional carry without permit requirements
Not yet verified[29]
Candidate opposes red-flag laws, magazine limits, "assault weapons" bans, and gun registries
Candidate supports repeal of the National Firearms Act (NFA), Gun Control Act (GCA), and other federal gun regulations
Not yet verified
Candidate supports castle doctrine and stand-your-ground laws with full civil immunity for lawful defense
Not yet verified
Candidate opposes ATF overreach, citizen disarmament initiatives, and U.N. small-arms treaty participation
Not yet verified[33]
Candidate supports Article I congressional war-powers requirement before any U.S. military action
Not yet verified
Candidate supports immediate withdrawal from forever wars and repeal of standing AUMFs
FALSE (0)[34]
Candidate opposes foreign aid to nations hostile to U.S. interests or actively persecuting Christians
FALSE (0)[35]
TrackAIPAC / FEC / OpenSecrets search found no AIPAC, pro-Israel-lobby, or foreign-linked PAC contributions (as of the cited search date)
Not yet verified[36]
Candidate opposes U.S. participation in WHO, U.N. governance overreach, NATO expansion, and supranational governance
Not yet verified
Candidate opposes pharmaceutical mandates of any kind (COVID, childhood, employer-required) and supports informed consent
Candidate supports repeal of pharma liability shields (1986 NCVIA, PREP Act) and restoration of tort accountability
Not yet verified
Candidate opposes Big Ag consolidation (Bayer/Monsanto/Cargill) and supports anti-trust action against agricultural cartels
Not yet verified
Candidate supports raw-milk freedom, small-farm protections, and opposes USDA / EPA overreach against family farms
Not yet verified
Candidate supports defense-contractor accountability, completion of Pentagon audits, and ending revolving-door appointments
Not yet verified
Sources & Evidence
2 Center4 Right4 Official1 Reference2 Other
Official House PageOfficial
Ballotpedia ProfileCenter
Congress.gov — Official RecordOfficial
Heritage Action ScorecardRight Advocacy
Official House PageOfficial
Heritage Action ScorecardRight Advocacy
Official House PageOfficial
Ballotpedia ProfileCenter
Heritage Action ScorecardRight Advocacy
sbaprolife.org/representative/vern-buchananRight Advocacy
thegunwriter.substack.com/p/et-tu-vernUnclassified
OpenSecrets — Campaign FinanceReference
Bias ratings sourced from AllSides and Ad Fontes Media. Classifications for government, reference, and advocacy domains are maintained by U.S.M.C. Ministries; see source_bias.json.
References & footnotes
Every answer above with a [n] marker corresponds to one of the footnotes below. Wayback-archive links preserve the page as it read at our access date so a reader can verify the citation even if the original URL changes or disappears.
- [1]Self-stated: 'I am pro-life. I will work hard to defend life from conception to natural death.' Unclassified
Self-stated: 'I am pro-life. I will work hard to defend life from conception to natural death.'
- [2]Restrictions record only (Nay WHPA Rolls 295-2021/360-2022; Yea Born-Alive HR 21 Roll 27-2025; Yea 20-week ban 2015) — never a Life at Conception Act cosponsor (117th/118th/119th checked); no abolition advocacy found. Reference
Restrictions record only (Nay WHPA Rolls 295-2021/360-2022; Yea Born-Alive HR 21 Roll 27-2025; Yea 20-week ban 2015) — never a Life at Conception Act cosponsor (117th/118th/119th checked); no abolition advocacy found.
- [3]Restrictions record only (Nay WHPA Rolls 295-2021/360-2022; Yea Born-Alive HR 21 Roll 27-2025; Yea 20-week ban 2015) — never a Life at Conception Act cosponsor (117th/118th/119th checked); no abolition advocacy found. Reference
Restrictions record only (Nay WHPA Rolls 295-2021/360-2022; Yea Born-Alive HR 21 Roll 27-2025; Yea 20-week ban 2015) — never a Life at Conception Act cosponsor (117th/118th/119th checked); no abolition advocacy found.
- [4]Nay on Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (embryonic stem-cell funding), Roll 443, 6/7/2007. No IVF position found. Official
Nay on Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (embryonic stem-cell funding), Roll 443, 6/7/2007. No IVF position found.
- [5]No abortion-industry money surfaced, but FEC/OpenSecrets detail could not be verified this pass — left null. Reference
No abortion-industry money surfaced, but FEC/OpenSecrets detail could not be verified this pass — left null.
- [6]Nay on Respect for Marriage Act both times (Roll 373 July 2022, Roll 513 Dec 2022 — verified in Clerk XML); Nay Equality Act (Roll 39-2021); No on ENDA (2007). Official
Nay on Respect for Marriage Act both times (Roll 373 July 2022, Roll 513 Dec 2022 — verified in Clerk XML); Nay Equality Act (Roll 39-2021); No on ENDA (2007).
- [7]Nay on Respect for Marriage Act both times (Roll 373 July 2022, Roll 513 Dec 2022 — verified in Clerk XML); Nay Equality Act (Roll 39-2021); No on ENDA (2007). Official
Nay on Respect for Marriage Act both times (Roll 373 July 2022, Roll 513 Dec 2022 — verified in Clerk XML); Nay Equality Act (Roll 39-2021); No on ENDA (2007).
- [8]Yea on Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (Roll 192-2023) and Yea + cosponsor of HR 28 (Roll 12-2025). Official
Yea on Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (Roll 192-2023) and Yea + cosponsor of HR 28 (Roll 12-2025).
- [9]Yea on Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (Roll 192-2023) and Yea + cosponsor of HR 28 (Roll 12-2025). Official
Yea on Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (Roll 192-2023) and Yea + cosponsor of HR 28 (Roll 12-2025).
- [10]Nay Equality Act (2021), Nay 2016 Maloney SOGI contractor amendment, No ENDA. Mild deviation: Yes on 2013 VAWA reauth containing LGBT provisions. Official
Nay Equality Act (2021), Nay 2016 Maloney SOGI contractor amendment, No ENDA. Mild deviation: Yes on 2013 VAWA reauth containing LGBT provisions.
- [11]Nay Equality Act (2021), Nay 2016 Maloney SOGI contractor amendment, No ENDA. Mild deviation: Yes on 2013 VAWA reauth containing LGBT provisions. Unclassified
Nay Equality Act (2021), Nay 2016 Maloney SOGI contractor amendment, No ENDA. Mild deviation: Yes on 2013 VAWA reauth containing LGBT provisions.
- [12]Cosponsor, Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 (HR 833). Reference
Cosponsor, Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 (HR 833).
- [13]Aye on HR 5 Parents Bill of Rights (Roll 161, 3/24/2023). Official
Aye on HR 5 Parents Bill of Rights (Roll 161, 3/24/2023).
- [14]Not a SCREEN Act cosponsor; no age-verification position found. Reference
Not a SCREEN Act cosponsor; no age-verification position found.
- [15]Baptist affiliation documented, but no public profession/advocacy statement found. Unclassified
Baptist affiliation documented, but no public profession/advocacy statement found.
- [16]Aye on Freedom for Health Care Workers Act (repealing the CMS worker vaccine mandate — medical-conscience protection), Roll 98, 1/31/2023. Official
Aye on Freedom for Health Care Workers Act (repealing the CMS worker vaccine mandate — medical-conscience protection), Roll 98, 1/31/2023.
- [17]Aye on HR 5403 CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act (Roll 230, 5/23/2024). Official
Aye on HR 5403 CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act (Roll 230, 5/23/2024).
- [18]Cosponsored the Federal Reserve Transparency Act (Audit the Fed, HR 24) in the 114th Congress; NOT a cosponsor in the 118th/119th — older alignment, noted. Reference
Cosponsored the Federal Reserve Transparency Act (Audit the Fed, HR 24) in the 114th Congress; NOT a cosponsor in the 118th/119th — older alignment, noted.
- [19]Balanced Budget Amendment is his first-filed bill every Congress since 2007 (H.J.Res.2 in the 119th). Heritage lifetime 64% reflects moderate spending votes elsewhere — noted. Official
Balanced Budget Amendment is his first-filed bill every Congress since 2007 (H.J.Res.2 in the 119th). Heritage lifetime 64% reflects moderate spending votes elsewhere — noted.
- [20]Balanced Budget Amendment is his first-filed bill every Congress since 2007 (H.J.Res.2 in the 119th). Heritage lifetime 64% reflects moderate spending votes elsewhere — noted. Official
Balanced Budget Amendment is his first-filed bill every Congress since 2007 (H.J.Res.2 in the 119th). Heritage lifetime 64% reflects moderate spending votes elsewhere — noted.
- [21]Yea on H.J.Res.30 disapproving the DOL ESG retirement-investing rule (Roll 124, 2/28/2023). Official
Yea on H.J.Res.30 disapproving the DOL ESG retirement-investing rule (Roll 124, 2/28/2023).
- [22]Aye on SAVE Act (Roll 345, 7/10/2024) and Yea on HR 22 (Roll 102, 4/10/2025) — proof of citizenship to vote. Official
Aye on SAVE Act (Roll 345, 7/10/2024) and Yea on HR 22 (Roll 102, 4/10/2025) — proof of citizenship to vote.
- [23]Aye on SAVE Act (Roll 345, 7/10/2024) and Yea on HR 22 (Roll 102, 4/10/2025) — proof of citizenship to vote. Official
Aye on SAVE Act (Roll 345, 7/10/2024) and Yea on HR 22 (Roll 102, 4/10/2025) — proof of citizenship to vote.
- [24]Nay on HR 1 'For the People Act' (federalized mass mail-in/automatic registration), Roll 62, 3/3/2021. Official
Nay on HR 1 'For the People Act' (federalized mass mail-in/automatic registration), Roll 62, 3/3/2021.
- [25]No Zuckerbucks position found. Context: voted to certify the 2020 election (Nay on both AZ/PA objections, Rolls 10-11, Jan 2021). Official
No Zuckerbucks position found. Context: voted to certify the 2020 election (Nay on both AZ/PA objections, Rolls 10-11, Jan 2021).
- [26]Yea on HR 2 Secure the Border Act (wall construction), Roll 209, 5/11/2023. Official
Yea on HR 2 Secure the Border Act (wall construction), Roll 209, 5/11/2023.
- [27]Yea on HR 2 (mandatory E-Verify); Yea on Laken Riley Act (HR 29 Roll 6-2025 and final S.5 Roll 23-2025). Official
Yea on HR 2 (mandatory E-Verify); Yea on Laken Riley Act (HR 29 Roll 6-2025 and final S.5 Roll 23-2025).
- [28]Not a Birthright Citizenship Act cosponsor; no farmland position found. Reference
Not a Birthright Citizenship Act cosponsor; no farmland position found.
- [29]Original cosponsor of HR 38 concealed-carry reciprocity (permit-based, 2025); Aye on 2017 reciprocity (Roll 663). No permitless-carry position found. Reference
Original cosponsor of HR 38 concealed-carry reciprocity (permit-based, 2025); Aye on 2017 reciprocity (Roll 663). No permitless-carry position found.
- [30]CROSS-PARTY DEVIATION: Yea on HR 8 universal background checks 2019 (Roll 99) AND 2021 (Roll 75, one of 8 Rs); 2019 letter urging McConnell to pass background checks and consider red-flag laws like Florida's; early bump-stock-ban advocate; NRA grade fell A to B. Did vote Nay on the 2022 AWB (Roll 410), federal ERPO (Roll 255), and Safer Communities (Roll 299) — mixed record, scored on the documented red-flag/background-check advocacy. Official
CROSS-PARTY DEVIATION: Yea on HR 8 universal background checks 2019 (Roll 99) AND 2021 (Roll 75, one of 8 Rs); 2019 letter urging McConnell to pass background checks and consider red-flag laws like Florida's; early bump-stock-ban advocate; NRA grade fell A to B. Did vote Nay on the 2022 AWB (Roll 410), federal ERPO (Roll 255), and Safer Communities (Roll 299) — mixed record, scored on the documented red-flag/background-check advocacy.
- [31]CROSS-PARTY DEVIATION: Yea on HR 8 universal background checks 2019 (Roll 99) AND 2021 (Roll 75, one of 8 Rs); 2019 letter urging McConnell to pass background checks and consider red-flag laws like Florida's; early bump-stock-ban advocate; NRA grade fell A to B. Did vote Nay on the 2022 AWB (Roll 410), federal ERPO (Roll 255), and Safer Communities (Roll 299) — mixed record, scored on the documented red-flag/background-check advocacy. Unclassified
CROSS-PARTY DEVIATION: Yea on HR 8 universal background checks 2019 (Roll 99) AND 2021 (Roll 75, one of 8 Rs); 2019 letter urging McConnell to pass background checks and consider red-flag laws like Florida's; early bump-stock-ban advocate; NRA grade fell A to B. Did vote Nay on the 2022 AWB (Roll 410), federal ERPO (Roll 255), and Safer Communities (Roll 299) — mixed record, scored on the documented red-flag/background-check advocacy.
- [32]CROSS-PARTY DEVIATION: Yea on HR 8 universal background checks 2019 (Roll 99) AND 2021 (Roll 75, one of 8 Rs); 2019 letter urging McConnell to pass background checks and consider red-flag laws like Florida's; early bump-stock-ban advocate; NRA grade fell A to B. Did vote Nay on the 2022 AWB (Roll 410), federal ERPO (Roll 255), and Safer Communities (Roll 299) — mixed record, scored on the documented red-flag/background-check advocacy. Unclassified
CROSS-PARTY DEVIATION: Yea on HR 8 universal background checks 2019 (Roll 99) AND 2021 (Roll 75, one of 8 Rs); 2019 letter urging McConnell to pass background checks and consider red-flag laws like Florida's; early bump-stock-ban advocate; NRA grade fell A to B. Did vote Nay on the 2022 AWB (Roll 410), federal ERPO (Roll 255), and Safer Communities (Roll 299) — mixed record, scored on the documented red-flag/background-check advocacy.
- [33]No ATF-overreach vote found this pass; his bump-stock-ban advocacy is captured in q1. Unclassified
No ATF-overreach vote found this pass; his bump-stock-ban advocacy is captured in q1.
- [34]Nay on HR 256 repealing the 2002 Iraq AUMF (Roll 172, 6/17/2021) — against AUMF retrenchment. Official
Nay on HR 256 repealing the 2002 Iraq AUMF (Roll 172, 6/17/2021) — against AUMF retrenchment.
- [35]Yea on the \$61B Ukraine Security Supplemental (HR 8035, Roll 151, 4/20/2024). Also Yea Israel supplemental (Roll 152) and Indo-Pacific package. Official
Yea on the \$61B Ukraine Security Supplemental (HR 8035, Roll 151, 4/20/2024). Also Yea Israel supplemental (Roll 152) and Indo-Pacific package.
- [36]Track AIPAC lists him as AIPAC-funded, but dollar amounts could not be verified against FEC/OpenSecrets this pass — held to null. Reference
Track AIPAC lists him as AIPAC-funded, but dollar amounts could not be verified against FEC/OpenSecrets this pass — held to null.
- [37]Aye on repealing the healthcare-worker COVID vaccine mandate (HR 497 Roll 98-2023); Yea ending the COVID national emergency (H.J.Res.7 Roll 104) and Pandemic is Over Act (Roll 100). Official
Aye on repealing the healthcare-worker COVID vaccine mandate (HR 497 Roll 98-2023); Yea ending the COVID national emergency (H.J.Res.7 Roll 104) and Pandemic is Over Act (Roll 100).
Have Information About This Official?
Help us improve this scorecard. If you have evidence of this official's positions — voting records, social media posts, public statements, or corrections — submit it below and we'll review and update the profile.