Senate Approval Ratings Polling conducted by Morning Consult using online, opt-in surveys June 2, 2016 Producer: Justin C. Brown Edited by: Katharine Conlon Director: Afzal Bari

OH WV VA PA NY ME NC SC GA TN KY IN MI WI MN IL LA TX OK ID NV OR WA CA AZ NM CO WY MT ND SD IA UT FL AR MO MS AL NE KS AK Four States Place Both Senators in Top 10, Sanders Retains #1 Spot Following 2016 Primaries SENATE APPROVAL RATINGS June 2, 2016 | Justin C. Brown ■ One Senator in Top 10 ■ Both Senators in Top 10 States With High Approval Ratings of Their Senators SenatorYes-No 1Bernie Sanders (VT-I) Susan Collins (ME-R) John Hoeven (ND-R) Angus King (ME-I) Patrick Leahy (VT-D) Thomas Carper (DE-D) Amy Klobuchar (MN-D) John Barrasso (WY-R) Al Franken (MN-D) Chris Coons (DE-D)63-24 Despite a contentious primary season, Bernie Sanders remains the most popular senator among his own constituents. A total of 7 of the 10 senators remained in the top 10 between November and May. 1 Sources: Reid Wilson, “The Most (And Least Popular Senators in America,” Morning Consult, May 2016; Reid Wilson, “Bernie Sanders is the Most Popular Senator in America,” Morning Consult, November 24, 2015.

OH WV VA PA NY ME NC SC GA TN KY IN MI WI MN IL LA TX OK ID NV OR WA CA AZ NM CO WY MT ND SD IA UT FL AR MO MS AL NE KS AK No State Places Both Senators in Bottom 10, McConnell Still Most Disliked By Own Constituents SENATE APPROVAL RATINGS June 2, 2016 | Justin C. Brown ■ Senator in Bottom 10 States With Low Approval Ratings of Their Senators SenatorYes-No 1Mitch McConnell (KY-R) Pat Roberts (KS-R) John McCain (AZ-R) Orrin Hatch (UT-R) Harry Reid (NV-D) Marco Rubio (FL-R) David Vitter (LA-R) Jon Tester (MT-D) Claire McCaskill (MO-D) Tammy Baldwin (WI-D)43-37 McConnell polled better in the more recent survey than the previous one released in June but still retained his spot at the bottom. 7 of the 10 senators at the bottom remained in the bottom 10 in the most recent survey. 2 Sources: Reid Wilson, “The Most (And Least Popular Senators in America,” Morning Consult, May 2016; Reid Wilson, “Bernie Sanders is the Most Popular Senator in America,” Morning Consult, November 24, 2015.

SENATE APPROVAL RATINGS 3 Some Senators Face a Potential Anonymity Problem In Upcoming Elections Least Known Senators up for Re-election in 2016 June 2, 2016 | Justin C. Brown Sources: Paul Kane, “Vulnerable Republican Senators Have a Big Problem: Voters Don’t Know Who They Are,” The Washington Post, May 26, 2016; Reid Wilson, “The Most (And Least Popular Senators in America,” Morning Consult, May 2016; Reid Wilson, “Bernie Sanders is the Most Popular Senator in America,” Morning Consult, November 24, SenatorFirst Elected% of Voters with No Opinion 1Rob Portman (R-OH)201132% 2Tim Scott (R-SC)201331% 3Mark Kirk (R-IL)201029% 4John Boozman (R-AR)201128% 5Michael F. Bennet (D-CO)200928% 6Jerry Moran (R-KS)201128% 7Richard Burr (R-NC)200528% 8Johnny Isakson (R-GA)200527% 9Patrick J. Toomey (R-PA)201127% 10Ron Johnson (R-WI)201125% Analysis A Pew Research Center study found that at least 21 states do not have a single dedicated reporter covering Congress which could have a chilling effect on legislators’ public perception outside of election years. Many senators believe that their anonymity will fade with political advertising. The leader of the list, Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) believes, “by the time people go to vote, it’s not an issue.” “We go six years with no coverage. So it’s like you weren’t here for six years. Your name ID drops into the 40s. Run $5 million in ads and it pops right back up to the 80s.” -Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), highlighting the effect of political advertising

SENATE APPROVAL RATINGS 4 Presidential Candidates See Only Slight Change in Opinion Following the 2016 Primaries Home-State Approval Ratings of Senators Running in the 2016 Pres. Election June 2, 2016 | Justin C. Brown Sanders (VT-I) Rubio (FL- R) Cruz (TX- R) ■ Approve ■ Disapprove ■ Don’t Know/No Opinion Sources: Reid Wilson, “The Most (And Least Popular Senators in America,” Morning Consult, May 2016; Reid Wilson, “Bernie Sanders is the Most Popular Senator in America,” Morning Consult, November 24, Rubio saw the biggest change following his campaign, gaining 8 points in disapproval among his constituents.