Michael “Mike” Simpson, Representative for Idaho's 2nd Congressional District

Simpson is the representative for Idaho’s 2^nd congressional district (view map) and is a Republican. He has served since Jan 6, 1999. Simpson is next up for reelection in 2022 and serves until Jan 3, 2023.

Simpson is among the Republican legislators whose attempt to disenfranchise Democratic states in the 2020 presidential election was a part of the months-long attempted coup that included the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol. Shortly after the 2020 election, Simpson joined a case before the Supreme Court calling for all the votes for president in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — states that were narrowly won by Democrats — to be discounted based on lies, conspiracy theories, and a preposterous legal argument which the Supreme Court rejected. Following the rejection of several related cases before the Supreme Court, another legislator who joined the case called for violence.

Photo of Rep. Michael “Mike” Simpson [R-ID2]

Analysis

Legislative Metrics

Read our 2020 Report Card for Simpson.

Ideology–Leadership Chart

Simpson is shown as a purple triangle ▲ in our ideology-leadership chart below. Each dot is a member of the House of Representatives positioned according to our ideology score (left to right) and our leadership score (leaders are toward the top).

The chart is based on the bills Simpson has sponsored and cosponsored from Jan 3, 2017 to Nov 26, 2021. See full analysis methodology.

Ratings from Advocacy Organizations

United States Chamber of Commerce: 100% The Club for Growth: 53% The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws: D League of Conservation Voters: 9% Human Rights Campaign: 7% Planned Parenthood Action Fund: 0%

Committee Membership

Michael “Mike” Simpson sits on the following committees:

House Committee on Appropriations
- Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies subcommittee Ranking Member
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies subcommittees

Enacted Legislation

Simpson was the primary sponsor of 21 bills that were enacted. The most recent include:

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Does 21 not sound like a lot? Very few bills are ever enacted — most legislators sponsor only a handful that are signed into law. But there are other legislative activities that we don’t track that are also important, including offering amendments, committee work and oversight of the other branches, and constituent services.

We consider a bill enacted if one of the following is true: a) it is enacted itself, b) it has a companion bill in the other chamber (as identified by Congress) which was enacted, or c) if at least about half of its provisions were incorporated into bills that were enacted (as determined by an automated text analysis, applicable beginning with bills in the 110^th Congress).

Bills Sponsored

Issue Areas

Simpson sponsors bills primarily in these issue areas:

Public Lands and Natural Resources (57%) Law (29%) Economics and Public Finance (14%)

Recent Bills

Some of Simpson’s most recently sponsored bills include...

View All » | View Cosponsors »

Voting Record

Key Votes

Simpson voted Yea

H.Res. 758: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3) to establish a fair price negotiation program, protect the Medicare …

Passed 222/190 on Dec 11, 2019.

Simpson voted Aye

H.R. 823: Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act

Passed 227/182 on Oct 31, 2019.

Simpson voted Yea

H.R. 7: Paycheck Fairness Act

Passed 242/187 on Mar 27, 2019.

Simpson voted Yea

H.R. 2048: Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring Act of 2015

Passed 338/88 on May 13, 2015.

The USA Freedom Act (H.R. 2048, Pub.L. 114–23) is a U.S. law enacted on June 2, 2015 that restored in modified form several provisions of …

Simpson voted Yea

H.R. 83 (113th): Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015

Passed 219/206 on Dec 11, 2014.

This bill became the vehicle for passage of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 [pdf], which was approved by the House on December …

Simpson voted Aye

H.J.Res. 124 (113th): Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015

Passed 319/108 on Sep 17, 2014.

Simpson voted No

H.J.Res. 117 (112th): Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013

Passed 329/91 on Sep 13, 2012.

Simpson voted No

H.R. 3523 (112th): Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act

Passed 248/168 on Apr 26, 2012.

Simpson voted No

H.R. 3521 (112th): Expedited Legislative Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2012

Passed 254/173 on Feb 8, 2012.

Simpson voted Aye

H.R. 1249 (112th): Leahy-Smith America Invents Act

Passed 304/117 on Jun 23, 2011.

The Leahy–Smith America Invents Act (AIA) is a United States federal statute that was passed by Congress and was signed into law by President Barack …

Simpson voted Yea

H.R. 31 (111th): Lumbee Recognition Act

Passed 240/179 on Jun 3, 2009.

Simpson voted Aye

H.Res. 116 (110th): Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 20) making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal …

Passed 225/191 on Jan 31, 2007.

Missed Votes

From Jan 1999 to Nov 2021, Simpson missed 524 of 14,861 roll call votes, which is 3.5%. This is worse than the median of 2.1% among the lifetime records of representatives currently serving. The chart below reports missed votes over time.

We don’t track why legislators miss votes, but it’s often due to medical absenses and major life events.

Show the numbers...

Time Period	Votes Eligible	Missed Votes	Percent	Percentile
1999 Jan-Mar	77	0	0.0%	0^th
1999 Apr-Jun	184	12	6.5%	85^th
1999 Jul-Sep	204	5	2.5%	70^th
1999 Oct-Nov	146	1	0.7%	24^th
2000 Jan-Mar	95	0	0.0%	0^th
2000 Apr-Jun	277	0	0.0%	0^th
2000 Jul-Sep	130	1	0.8%	30^th
2000 Oct-Dec	101	1	1.0%	12^th
2001 Jan-Mar	75	3	4.0%	71^st
2001 Apr-Jun	135	2	1.5%	35^th
2001 Jul-Sep	149	0	0.0%	0^th
2001 Oct-Dec	153	1	0.7%	21^st
2002 Jan-Mar	79	1	1.3%	32^nd
2002 Apr-Jun	203	12	5.9%	84^th
2002 Jul-Sep	141	3	2.1%	51^st
2002 Oct-Nov	61	1	1.6%	39^th
2003 Jan-Mar	94	3	3.2%	66^th
2003 Apr-Jun	239	14	5.9%	88^th
2003 Jul-Sep	193	3	1.6%	46^th
2003 Oct-Dec	151	1	0.7%	22^nd
2004 Jan-Mar	104	2	1.9%	30^th
2004 Apr-Jun	221	0	0.0%	0^th
2004 Jul-Sep	161	3	1.9%	32^nd
2004 Oct-Dec	58	1	1.7%	42^nd
2005 Jan-Mar	90	8	8.9%	85^th
2005 Apr-Jun	272	5	1.8%	44^th
2005 Jul-Sep	146	1	0.7%	23^rd
2005 Oct-Dec	163	3	1.8%	36^th
2006 Jan-Mar	81	2	2.5%	63^rd
2006 Apr-Jun	276	4	1.4%	39^th
2006 Jul-Sep	159	0	0.0%	0^th
2006 Nov-Dec	27	9	33.3%	97^th
2007 Jan-Mar	213	9	4.2%	79^th
2007 Apr-Jun	393	17	4.3%	83^rd
2007 Jul-Sep	317	13	4.1%	82^nd
2007 Oct-Dec	263	26	9.9%	90^th
2008 Jan-Mar	149	15	10.1%	85^th
2008 Apr-Jun	321	5	1.6%	33^rd
2008 Jul-Sep	205	11	5.4%	75^th
2008 Oct-Dec	15	0	0.0%	0^th
2009 Jan-Mar	174	8	4.6%	81^st
2009 Apr-Jun	303	6	2.0%	45^th
2009 Jul-Sep	268	9	3.4%	69^th
2009 Oct-Dec	246	7	2.8%	52^nd
2010 Jan-Mar	195	7	3.6%	56^th
2010 Apr-Jun	219	10	4.6%	65^th
2010 Jul-Sep	151	6	4.0%	73^rd
2010 Nov-Dec	99	9	9.1%	77^th
2011 Jan-Mar	212	3	1.4%	53^rd
2011 Apr-Jun	281	5	1.8%	60^th
2011 Jul-Sep	247	2	0.8%	30^th
2011 Oct-Dec	208	5	2.4%	55^th
2012 Jan-Mar	151	3	2.0%	54^th
2012 Apr-Jun	299	2	0.7%	31^st
2012 Jul-Sep	152	4	2.6%	64^th
2012 Nov-Dec	51	7	13.7%	91^st
2013 Jan-Jan	5	0	0.0%	0^th
2013 Jan-Mar	89	2	2.2%	52^nd
2013 Apr-Jun	215	7	3.3%	64^th
2013 Jul-Sep	200	5	2.5%	68^th
2013 Oct-Dec	137	3	2.2%	55^th
2014 Jan-Mar	148	5	3.4%	65^th
2014 Apr-Jun	219	1	0.5%	25^th
2014 Jul-Sep	147	4	2.7%	68^th
2014 Nov-Dec	49	0	0.0%	0^th
2015 Jan-Mar	144	3	2.1%	46^th
2015 Apr-Jun	244	0	0.0%	0^th
2015 Jul-Sep	139	3	2.2%	63^rd
2015 Oct-Dec	177	6	3.4%	77^th
2016 Jan-Mar	137	8	5.8%	66^th
2016 Apr-Jun	204	13	6.4%	82^nd
2016 Jul-Sep	232	3	1.3%	52^nd
2016 Nov-Dec	48	1	2.1%	65^th
2017 Jan-Mar	208	12	5.8%	86^th
2017 Apr-Jun	136	5	3.7%	76^th
2017 Jul-Sep	199	0	0.0%	0^th
2017 Oct-Dec	167	13	7.8%	88^th
2018 Jan-Mar	129	6	4.7%	74^th
2018 Apr-Jun	184	18	9.8%	91^st
2018 Jul-Sep	102	10	9.8%	92^nd
2018 Nov-Dec	85	6	7.1%	80^th
2019 Jan-Mar	136	3	2.2%	63^rd
2019 Apr-Jun	294	7	2.4%	68^th
2019 Jul-Sep	125	3	2.4%	80^th
2019 Oct-Dec	146	3	2.1%	61^st
2020 Jan-Mar	102	25	24.5%	98^th
2020 Apr-Jun	31	0	0.0%	0^th
2020 Jul-Sep	80	14	17.5%	96^th
2020 Oct-Dec	40	9	22.5%	90^th
2021 Jan-Mar	97	9	9.3%	96^th
2021 Apr-Jun	107	14	13.1%	95^th
2021 Jul-Sep	108	6	5.6%	94^th
2021 Oct-Nov	74	6	8.1%	95^th

Primary Sources

The information on this page is originally sourced from a variety of materials, including:

unitedstates/congress-legislators, a community project gathering congressional information
The House and Senate websites, for committee membership and voting records
GPO Member Guide for the photo
GovInfo.gov, for sponsored bills

Rep. Michael “Mike” Simpson

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Analysis

Legislative Metrics

Ideology–Leadership Chart

Ratings from Advocacy Organizations

Committee Membership

Enacted Legislation

Bills Sponsored

Issue Areas

Recent Bills

Voting Record

Key Votes

Simpson voted Yea

Simpson voted Aye

Simpson voted Yea

Simpson voted Yea

Simpson voted Yea

Simpson voted Aye

Simpson voted No

Simpson voted No

Simpson voted No

Simpson voted Aye

Simpson voted Yea

Simpson voted Aye

Missed Votes

Primary Sources