Courts, Rights and Civil Liberties

Voting Rights Act protections

72 public statements from 2026 candidates

§1The range of views

Why this matters: It affects how voting rules such as polling locations, ID requirements and district maps can be challenged or blocked as racially discriminatory.

Drafted by AI, then checked for neutral wording in a separate AI review. It describes the question and the main positions, not any candidate's view. Facts link to their sources.

The federal law against racial discrimination in voting, including whether places with a history of discrimination should again need federal approval to change voting rules, as they did until a 2013 Supreme Court ruling, and how far it reaches district maps, which a 2026 ruling limited to cases with strong evidence of intentional discrimination.1,2

  1. Restore and widen protections by law, such as federal approval of voting changes in places with a history of discrimination (for example, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act)
  2. Keep current law, as the Supreme Court read it in 2026, without the federal approval requirement
  3. Stop applying the law to how district maps are drawn

These options describe policies, not people. The order is not a ranking.

§2What candidates have said

Why this matters: Statements candidates made publicly, summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Candidates who haven't spoken publicly on this issue aren't listed.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Restore and widen protections by law, such as federal approval of voting changes in places with a history of discrimination (for example, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act) (66)

  • Amanda N. Pusczek AL-4
    Her campaign website says she supports passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore federal preclearance of voting changes in states with histories of discrimination.3
  • Terri Sewell AL-7
    Her campaign website says she wrote the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore and expand the protections of the Voting Rights Act.4
  • Mai Vang CA-7
    Her campaign website says she will champion the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.5
  • John Garamendi CA-8
    His campaign website says that after the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act, he called on Congress to restore it.6
  • Connie Chan CA-11
    Her campaign website says she would restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act and cosponsor the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.7
  • Scott Wiener CA-11
    His campaign website says he would pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.8
  • Lateefah Simon CA-12
    Her campaign website says she supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and automatic voter registration.9
  • Sam Liccardo CA-16
    His campaign website says he supports the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and that Congress should restore federal preclearance of new state voting restrictions.10
  • Marni von Wilpert CA-48
    Her campaign website says Congress must pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the For the People Act to protect elections and expand access to the ballot.11
  • Mike Levin CA-49
    His campaign website says he signed on to legislation to restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965.12
  • Melat Kiros CO-1
    Her platform supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, along with automatic and same-day voter registration.13
  • Joe Neguse CO-2
    His campaign website says he supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.14
  • Jason Crow CO-6
    His campaign website says he cosponsored the Voting Rights Advancement Act.15
  • Sarah McBride DE-AL
    Her campaign website says she cosponsored the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.16
  • Angie Nixon FL Senate special
    Her campaign website says she supports restoring and expanding the Voting Rights Act.17
  • Gay Valimont FL-1
    Her campaign website says she will work to strengthen the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and oppose tactics that make voting harder.18
  • Amanda Marie Green FL-2
    Her campaign website says she will work to restore and strengthen federal voting rights protections.19
  • Mike Sell FL-4
    His campaign's platform calls for restoring federal preclearance of voting changes in places with a record of voter suppression and supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.20,21
  • James Pericola FL-11
    His campaign website says he will work to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.22
  • Kimberly Overman FL-12
    Her campaign platform says she supports strengthening the Voting Rights Act, including through the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.23,24,25
  • Matthew Montavon FL-17
    His campaign website calls on Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act immediately.26
  • Lois Frankel FL-23
    Her campaign website says she backed federal bills, among them the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, meant to strengthen safeguards against voter discrimination and widen ballot access.27
  • Amanda Hollowell GA-1
    Her 10 Point Affordability Agenda calls for restoring and strengthening the Voting Rights Act.28
  • Nikema Williams GA-5
    An earlier issues page still on her campaign website says she will keep demanding that the Senate pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.29
  • Caitlyn Gegen GA-9
    Her campaign website says she will support legislation like the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and fight to make Election Day a federal holiday.30
  • Dave Dawson IA-4
    His campaign website says he supports restoring the full strength of the Voting Rights Act after recent Supreme Court rulings, including federal legislation to ensure every American has equal access to the ballot.31
  • Jonathan L. Jackson IL-1
    His campaign website says he supports voting rights legislation including the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, to enhance voter access and counteract voter suppression.32
  • Donna Miller IL-2
    Her campaign website says she will fight to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.33
  • Sean Casten IL-6
    His campaign website lists cosponsoring the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which it says would restore and strengthen parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Voting Rights Enhancement Act, which it says would update the formula for which states have shown a pattern of voting rights violations.34
  • La Shawn K. Ford IL-7
    His campaign website says he will fight to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and support national standards that make voting accessible and secure.35
  • Daniel Biss IL-9
    His campaign website says he will fully restore the Voting Rights Act, including federal review of new voting laws in states with histories of voter suppression, and pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.36,37
  • Bill Foster IL-11
    His campaign website says he voted for the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 and will continue supporting legislation that makes it easier for Americans to vote.38
  • Juliana Stratton IL Senate
    Her campaign website says she would pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.39
  • Sharice L. Davids KS-3
    Her campaign website says she voted for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to protect access to the ballot box.40
  • Christopher Campbell KY Senate
    His campaign website says that amendment should strengthen protection of voting rights on the issues covered by the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.41
  • Morgan McGarvey KY-3
    His campaign website says Congress must pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to guarantee access to the ballot for all Americans.42
  • Lauren Jewett LA-1
    Her campaign website says she will co-sponsor the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, and says the country must commit to restoring federal protections that it says the Supreme Court gutted.43
  • Conrad Cable LA-4
    His campaign website says it supports national standards to end partisan gerrymandering and protect voting rights, including fair maps, automatic registration and restored protections under the Voting Rights Act.44
  • "Matt" Gromlich LA-4
    His campaign website lists the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025, which it says modernizes the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and creates a new framework to determine preclearance, among legislation he will support on day one.45
  • Patrick "Pat" Forbes LA-6
    His campaign website says he will work to restore the Voting Rights Act, saying Congress can rewrite the law with a standard that does not depend on who sits on the Supreme Court.46
  • Katherine M. Clark MA-5
    Her campaign website lists championing House passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act among her accomplishments.47
  • Sarah Elfreth MD-3
    Her campaign website says she is a cosponsor of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act and is committed to protecting voting rights.48
  • Adrian Boafo MD-5
    His campaign website says he would pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to ban discriminatory voting practices and guarantee equal access to voting.49
  • April McClain Delaney MD-6
    Her campaign website says she strongly supports the John Lewis Act, which it says would restore voting rights.50
  • Troy D. Jackson ME Senate
    His campaign website says he would support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to strengthen federal voting-rights protections.51
  • LaVeta Davenport MI-1
    The Green Party of Michigan 2026 platform text on her campaign website, which says she fully aligns with it, calls for restoring voter protections that were lost after courts struck down parts of the Voting Rights Act.52,53
  • Christian Vukasovich MI-5
    His campaign website says he supports restoring federal protections against discriminatory voting rules.54
  • Christina Bertrand Hines MI-10
    Her money in politics topic page says she will support passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act, and the Freedom to Vote Act.55
  • Jeremy Moss MI-11
    His campaign website says he would work to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and that protecting voting rights is the most important task for a new majority.56
  • Lydia Christensen MI Senate
    Her campaign website says she would restore federal preclearance through the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.57
  • Peggy Flanagan MN Senate
    Her campaign website says she supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.58
  • Wesley Bell MO-1
    His campaign website says he strongly backs enacting the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to counter voter suppression and protect every eligible voter's access to the ballot.59
  • Bethany E Mann MO-3
    Her campaign website says Congress must pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.60
  • Jordan Herrera MO-4
    His campaign website says he supports passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and strong federal protections against racial discrimination in voting.61
  • Missi Hesketh MO-7
    Her Protect Our Kids’ Future page says she would pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, along with the Freedom to Vote Act.62
  • Alani Bankhead MT Senate
    Her campaign website says she would vote to restore the parts of the Voting Rights Act the Supreme Court struck down in 2013, as the John Lewis Act would.63
  • Alma S. Adams NC-12
    Her campaign website says Congress should restore the Voting Rights Act, including by reworking Section 4 so that Section 5 can apply again, and says she supports passage of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.64
  • Donald Norcross NJ-1
    His campaign website says he wants to safeguard voting rights and restore the protections of the Voting Rights Act.65
  • Herb Conaway NJ-3
    His campaign website says he supports passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which it describes as strengthening and restoring parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that the Supreme Court limited in Shelby v. Holder.66
  • Rachel Peace NJ-4
    Her campaign website says she supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.67
  • Frank Pallone Jr. NJ-6
    The About page says he regards the right to vote as the foundation of democracy and has supported legislation to counter voter suppression and bring back the strength of the Voting Rights Act.68
  • Adam Hamawy NJ-12
    His campaign website says he supports restoring and strengthening the Voting Rights Act and protecting and expanding the right to vote.69
  • Winston Jordan NJ-12
    His policy platform website lists strengthening the Voting Rights Act and restoring its protections.70
  • Gabriel Vasquez NM-2
    His campaign website lists support for the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, intended to protect citizens' right to vote, among his accomplishments.71
  • Jeff Merkley OR Senate
    His campaign website calls for reinstating and strengthening the Voting Rights Act to stop voter suppression and intimidation.72
  • James Talarico TX Senate
    His campaign website says he supports passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.73

Statements that don't match one option (6)

  • Adam Withrow CO Senate
    His campaign website says the Voting Rights Act should be restored and expanded, consistent with Supreme Court rulings, to protect against voter discrimination.74
  • Jim Himes CT-4
    His campaign website says he has cosponsored several voting rights bills and will keep working to restore voting rights protections.75
  • LaShonda "L.J." Holloway FL-4
    Her campaign website says voting rights should be protected so every eligible citizen can vote freely, securely and without barriers.76
  • Dan Schwartz MD-1
    His campaign website lists protecting the Voting Rights Act among his priorities.77
  • Ilhan Omar MN-5
    It also says the Voting Rights Act should be protected.78
  • Michael Dublin NC Senate
    His campaign website says he would protect and expand voting rights and work to end voter suppression.79