- Tammy Baldwin is a strongly progressive Democrat, emphasizing social equality, access to healthcare, and climate action. With three failed fact checks in the last 5 years, she scores “Mixed” on factual reliability. Her policy record places her firmly on the left, particularly for her leadership on LGBTQ+ rights and consumer protections.
Senator Tammy Baldwin
State: Wisconsin
Title and Term: U.S. Senator (January 3, 2013 – Present)
Political Party: Democratic
Bias Rating: Left (-6.25)
Factual Rating: MIXED (3.0)
Career & Background
Education & Early Career: Baldwin earned a B.A. from Smith College and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. She served on the Dane County Board of Supervisors before entering state politics.
Senate Milestones: First openly gay U.S. Senator, elected in 2012; reelected in 2018. Serves on Senate Appropriations, Commerce, and HELP Committees.
Other Offices/Milestones: Served in Wisconsin State Assembly (1986–1999) and U.S. House (1999–2013).
Political Affiliation / Issue Positions
- Abortion & Reproductive Rights: Strongly pro-choice; supports codifying Roe v. Wade protections.
- Economy & Housing: Advocates for affordable housing, middle-class tax relief, and stricter Wall Street regulation.
- Civil Rights & LGBTQ+ Issues: Champion of LGBTQ+ rights; co-led the Respect for Marriage Act in 2022.
- Crime & Policing: Supports police accountability measures and funding for community-based safety programs.
- Workers’ Rights: Strong union supporter; backs raising the federal minimum wage.
- Climate & Energy: Supports transitioning to renewable energy and rejoining international climate agreements.
- Immigration: Backs pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought as children (DACA).
- Foreign Policy & National Security: Favors diplomacy-first approaches, critical of military overreach.
- Healthcare & Social Programs: Advocate of ACA expansion and public option; supports Medicare/Medicaid protections.
- Education & Infrastructure: Supports increased federal education funding and broadband expansion in rural areas.
Interest-Group Ratings
Gun Rights: Consistently rated low by NRA (F rating).
Marijuana Policy: High ratings from NORML and MPP for supporting decriminalization and legalization reforms.
Failed Fact Checks & Controversies
Political Alignment (Calculated)
Economic System: −5 (Democratic Socialist leanings: support for unions, public option, strong regulation)
Social Progressive vs. Traditional: −7.5 (Progressive Liberalism: LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive rights)
Composite Score: (−5 + −7.5) / 2 = −6.25 → Left
Factual Rating (Calculated)
Failed Fact Checks (IFCN-approved outlets): 3 → Mixed
Overall Rating
Tammy Baldwin is a strongly progressive Democrat, emphasizing social equality, access to healthcare, and climate action. With three failed fact checks in the last 5 years, she scores “Mixed” on factual reliability. Her policy record places her firmly on the left, particularly for her leadership on LGBTQ+ rights and consumer protections.
Sources
(Scoring method per MBFC Methodology.)
Last Updated on August 25, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check