Biography
Overview
Jack Reed is a Democrat and senior U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, serving since 1996. He is a former Army officer and lawyer who previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 1997. Reed graduated from West Point and Harvard University, and served on active duty in the Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division before transitioning to law and politics. He has been the dean of Rhode Island's congressional delegation since 1999.
Career
Reed has been a consistent voice on defense and armed services issues throughout his Senate career. He voted against the 2002 Iraq War authorization, calling it a flawed strategy, and supported President Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan. He initially supported Saudi-backed operations in Yemen but reversed his position by 2019. Reed has championed housing policy and worked on education and healthcare issues. He has proposed frameworks for managing artificial intelligence risks and co-sponsored the DREAM Act regarding immigration. According to a Morning Consult poll from April 2024, he was rated among the Top 10 most popular senators.
Prior political experience
Reed was first elected to the House in 1990 with 59% of the vote. He won reelection to the House in 1992 (71%) and 1994 (68%). In 1996, he won the Democratic primary with 86% of the vote and defeated Republican Nancy Mayer 63% to 35% in his first Senate election. He has won all subsequent reelections by large margins: 2002 (78% to 22%), 2008 (73% to 27%), 2014 (71% to 29%), and 2020 (67% to 33%). He was unopposed in Democratic primaries in 2002, 2008, and 2014. In February 2025, Reed expressed intent to run for a sixth term in 2026.
Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ideology
Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)
Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)
Campaigns targeting Jack Reed
No active campaigns target Jack Reed right now.
Start a campaign targeting Jack ReedOfficeholding history
| Term | Seat | Term dates | Termination | Predecessor | Successor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | U.S. Senate RI Class 2 | 2021–present | In progress | Jack Reed | — |
| 4th | U.S. Senate RI Class 2 | 2015–2021 | Term ended | Jack Reed | Jack Reed |
| 3rd | U.S. Senate RI Class 2 | 2009–2015 | Term ended | Jack Reed | Jack Reed |
| 2nd | U.S. Senate RI Class 2 | 2003–2009 | Term ended | Jack Reed | Jack Reed |
| 1st | U.S. Senate RI Class 2 | 1997–2003 | Term ended | — | Jack Reed |
| 3rd | U.S. House RI-2 | 1995–1997 | Term ended | Jack Reed | Seth Magaziner |
| 2nd | U.S. House RI-2 | 1993–1995 | Term ended | Jack Reed | Jack Reed |
| 1st | U.S. House RI-2 | 1991–1993 | Term ended | — | Jack Reed |
Committee assignments
- SenateRanking Member· 2021–present
- Financial Services and General GovernmentSenateRanking Member· 2021–present
- Securities, Insurance, and InvestmentSenate· 2021–present
- Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related AgenciesSenate· 2021–present
- Financial Institutions and Consumer ProtectionSenate· 2021–present
- Senate· 2021–present
- Economic PolicySenate· 2021–present
- Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related AgenciesSenate· 2021–present
- Senate· 2021–present
- Department of DefenseSenate· 2021–present
- Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related AgenciesSenate· 2021–present
- Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related AgenciesSenate· 2021–present
- CybersecuritySenateEx Officio· 2021–present
- PersonnelSenateEx Officio· 2021–present
- Readiness and Management SupportSenateEx Officio· 2021–present
- SeapowerSenateEx Officio· 2021–present
- Strategic ForcesSenateEx Officio· 2021–present
- AirlandSenateEx Officio· 2021–present
- Emerging Threats and CapabilitiesSenateEx Officio· 2021–present
- SenateEx Officio· 2021–present
Current term legislation
Bills sponsored this term10
- S. 2338
Strengthening Local Food Security Act of 2025
Jul 17, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 1904
Ending Taxpayer Support for Big Egg Producers Act
May 22, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 1903
A bill to prohibit changes to Medicare and Medicaid in reconciliation.
May 22, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 1576
Stop Subsidizing Multimillion Dollar Corporate Bonuses Act
May 1, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 1467
Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act
Apr 10, 2025INTRODUCED - S. 1400
Adult Education WORKS Act
Apr 9, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 1342
Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act of 2025
Apr 8, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 1152
Rhode Island Fishermen's Fairness Act of 2025
Mar 26, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 1120
Unity through Service Act of 2025
Mar 25, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 1062
Suicide Prevention Act
Mar 13, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Bills cosponsored this term10
- S. 2514
Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2025
Jul 29, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2523
John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
Jul 29, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2524
Restoring Essential Healthcare Act
Jul 29, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2461
Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act of 2025
Jul 24, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2429
Stop the Scammers Act
Jul 24, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2398
Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act
Jul 23, 2025INTRODUCED - S. 2402
First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act of 2025
Jul 23, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2350
Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act of 2025
Jul 17, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2300
A bill to amend section 2112 of title 44, United States Code, to appropriately limit donations to Presidential Libraries and Centers.
Jul 16, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2298
Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act of 2025
Jul 16, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Elections
| Year | Seat | Result | Vote share | Field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | Pending | — | — |