Mark Pocan

Mark Pocan

Democratic Party

Candidate, U.S. House Wisconsin District 2

U.S. House Wisconsin District 2

Tenure

2013 - Present

Term ends

2025

Years in position

11

Prior offices

Wisconsin State Assembly

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Compensation

Base salary

$174,000

Net worth

(2012) $766,002

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 8, 2022

Next election

August 13, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1986

Personal

Profession

Owner, Budget Signs and Specialties

Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Official Twitter

Official Instagram

Official YouTube

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Mark Pocan (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2013. His current term ends on January 3, 2025.

Pocan (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on August 13, 2024.

Click here to see Pocan's key votes in Congress.

In Congress, Pocan has been assigned to the Budget Committee, the Education and the Workforce Committee, and the Committee on Appropriations—to which he was reassigned in 2019-2020.

Pocan served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1999 to 2013. He was a member of the Dane County Board of Supervisors from 1991 to 1996.

Biography

Pocan was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 78th District from 1999 to 2013. He won election to the U.S. House to represent the 2nd Congressional District of Wisconsin in 2012. Pocan also previously served on the Dane County Board of Supervisors from 1991 to 1996.

Pocan is the owner of Budget Signs and Specialties. He is a member of a number of organizations, including 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, Action Wisconsin, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Clean Wisconsin, Colombia Support Network/Apartadó Sister City Organization, Midwest States Center, Painters and Allied Trades Union - American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and Wisconsin Environmental Decade.

In February 2012, the grassroots organization Democracy for America, founded by Howard Dean, named Pocan one of the top 10 progressive candidates in the 2012 U.S. House races.

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of Pocan's academic, professional, and political career:

• 2015-Present: U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District
• 1999-2013: Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
• 1991-1996: Member of the Dane County board of supervisors
• 1986: Graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a B.A.

Committee assignments

U.S. House

2023-2024

Pocan was assigned to the following committees:^[Source]

• House Committee on Appropriations
• Financial Services and General Government
• Labor, Health and Human Services, Education

2021-2022

Pocan was assigned to the following committees:

• Joint Economic Committee
• House Committee on Appropriations
• Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
• Financial Services and General Government
• Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
• Committee on Education and the Workforce
• Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee

2019-2020

Pocan was assigned to the following committees:^[Source]

• House Committee on Appropriations

2017-2018

At the beginning of the 115th Congress, Pocan was assigned to the following committees:

• Committee on Appropriations

2015-2016

Pocan served on the following committees:

• Budget Committee
• Education and the Workforce Committee
  • Subcommittee on Workforce Protections
  • Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions

2013-2014

Pocan served on the following committees:

• Committee on Budget
• Committee on Education and the Workforce
  • Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Job Creation, and Regulatory Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Government Operations

Wisconsin State Assembly

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 Wisconsin legislative session, Pocan served on these committees:

• Health Committee
• Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Pocan served on these committees:

• Audit Committee
• Finance Committee (Chair)
• Audit Committee, Wisconsin State Legislature
• Finance Committee, Wisconsin State Legislature (Co-Chair)
• Employment Relations Committee, Wisconsin State Legislature
• Joint Legislative Council Committee, Wisconsin State Legislature

Key votes

See also: Key votes

Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here.

Key votes: 117th Congress, 2021-2023

The 117th United States Congress began on January 3, 2021 and ended on January 3, 2023. At the start of the session, Democrats held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (222-213), and the U.S. Senate had a 50-50 makeup. Democrats assumed control of the Senate on January 20, 2021, when President Joe Biden (D) and Vice President Kamala Harris (D), who acted as a tie-breaking vote in the chamber, assumed office. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 117th Congress, 2021-2023
Vote	Bill and description	Status
Yea	Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act   The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684) was a federal infrastructure bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on November 15, 2021. Among other provisions, the bill provided funding for new infrastructure projects and reauthorizations, Amtrak maintenance and development, bridge repair, replacement, and rehabilitation, clean drinking water, high-speed internet, and clean energy transmission and power infrastructure upgrades. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House. Click here to read more.	Passed (228-206)
Yea	American Rescue Plan Act of 2021   The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on March 11, 2021, to provide economic relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Key features of the bill included funding for a national vaccination program and response, funding to safely reopen schools, distribution of $1,400 per person in relief payments, and extended unemployment benefits. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House. Click here to read more.	Passed (220-210)
Yea	Inflation Reduction Act of 2022   The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (H.R. 5376) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on August 16, 2022, to address climate change, healthcare costs, and tax enforcement. Key features of the bill included a $369 billion investment to address energy security and climate change, an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, allowing Medicare to negotiate certain drug prices, a 15% corporate minimum tax, a 1% stock buyback fee, and enhanced Internal Revenue Service (IRS) enforcement, and an estimated $300 billion deficit reduction from 2022-2031. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House. Click here to read more.	Passed (220-207)
Yea	Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act   The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act (H.R. 3617) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to decriminalize marijuana, establish studies of legal marijuana sales, tax marijuana imports and production, and establish a process to expunge and review federal marijuana offenses. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (220-204)
Yea	For the People Act of 2021   The For the People Act of 2021 (H.R. 1) was a federal election law and government ethics bill approved by the House of Representatives. The Congressional Research Service said the bill would "expand voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting). It [would also limit] removing voters from voter rolls. ... Further, the bill [would address] campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, requiring additional disclaimers regarding certain political advertising, and establishing an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices." The bill required a simple majority vote in the House. Click here to read more.	Passed (220-210)
Yea	Assault Weapons Ban of 2022   The Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808) was a bill passed by the House of Representatives that sought to criminalize the knowing import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons (SAW) or large capacity ammunition feeding devices (LCAFD). The bill made exemptions for grandfathered SAWs and LCAFDs. It required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (217-213)
Nay	National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022   The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (S. 1605) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 27, 2021, authorizing Department of Defense acitivities and programs for fiscal year 2022. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (363-70)
Nay	James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023   The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (H.R. 7776) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 23, 2022, authorizing Department of Defense activities and programs for fiscal year 2023. The bill required a 2/3 majority in the House to suspend rules and pass the bill as amended.	Passed (350-80)
Yea	American Dream and Promise Act of 2021   The American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 (H.R. 6) was an immigration bill approved by the House of Representatives that proposed a path to permanent residence status for unauthorized immigrants eligible for Temporary Protected Status or Deferred Enforced Departure, among other immigration-related proposals. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (228-197)
Yea	Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022   The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (S. 3373) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on August 10, 2022, that sought to address healthcare access, the presumption of service-connection, and research, resources, and other matters related to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (342-88)
Yea	Chips and Science Act   The Chips and Science Act (H.R. 4346) was a bill approved by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on August 9, 2022, which sought to fund domestic production of semiconductors and authorized various federal science agency programs and activities. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (243-187)
Yea	Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021   The Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755) was a bill passed by the House of Representatives. The bill proposed prohibiting governmental restrictions on the provision of and access to abortion services and prohibiting governments from issuing some other abortion-related restrictions. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (218-211)
Yea	SAFE Banking Act of 2021   The SAFE Banking Act of 2021 (H.R. 1996) was a bill passed by the House of Representatives that proposed prohibiting federal regulators from penalizing banks for providing services to legitimate cannabis-related businesses and defining proceeds from such transactions as not being proceeds from unlawful activity, among other related proposals. Since the House moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill in an expedited process, it required a two-thirds majority vote in the House.	Passed (321-101)
Yea	Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022   The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on March 15, 2022, providing for the funding of federal agencies for the remainder of 2022, providing funding for activities related to Ukraine, and modifying or establishing various programs. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (260-171)
Yea	Equality Act   The Equality Act (H.R. 5) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that proposed prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system, among other related proposals. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (224-206)
Yea	Respect for Marriage Act   The Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 8404) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 13, 2022. The bill codified the recognition of marriages between individuals of the same sex and of different races, ethnicities, or national origins, and provided that the law would not impact religious liberty or conscience protections, or provide grounds to compel nonprofit religious organizations to recognize same-sex marriages. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House. Click here to read more.	Passed (258-169)
Yea	Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023   The Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 6833) was a bill approved by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on September 30, 2022. It provided for some fiscal year 2023 appropriations, supplemental funds for Ukraine, and extended several other programs and authorities. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (230-201)
Yea	Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act   The Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act (H.R. 7688) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to prohibit individuals from selling consumer fuels at excessive prices during a proclaimed energy emergency. It would have also required the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether the price of gasoline was being manipulated. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (217-207)
Yea	Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021   The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021 (H.R. 8) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to prohibit the transfer of firearms between private parties unless a licensed firearm vendor conducted a background check on the recipient. The bill also provided for certain exceptions to this requirement. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.	Passed (227-203)
Yea	Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act   The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act was a federal elections bill approved by the House of Representatives and voted down by the Senate in a failed cloture vote that sought to, among other provisions, make Election Day a public holiday, allow for same-day voter registration, establish minimum early voting periods, and allow absentee voting for any reason, restrict the removal of local election administrators in federal elections, regulate congressional redistricting, expand campaign finance disclosure rules for some organizations, and amend the Voting Rights Act to require some states to obtain clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice before implementing new election laws. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House. Click here to read more.	Passed (220-203)
Yea	Bipartisan Safer Communities Act   The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938) was a firearm regulation and mental health bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on June 25, 2022. Provisions of the bill included expanding background checks for individuals under the age of 21, providing funding for mental health services, preventing individuals who had been convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor or felony in dating relationships from purchasing firearms for five years, providing funding for state grants to implement crisis intervention order programs, and providing funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House. Click here to read more.	Passed (234-193)
Yea	Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.   This was a resolution before the 117th Congress setting forth an article of impeachment saying that Donald Trump (R) incited an insurrection against the government of the United States on January 6, 2021. The House of Representatives approved the article of impeachment, and the Senate adjudged that Trump was not guilty of the charges. The article of impeachment required a simple majority vote in the House. Click here to read more.	Passed (232-197)
Yea	Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022   The Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act was a bill passed by the 117th Congress in the form of an amendment to a year-end omnibus funding bill that was signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 23, 2022. The bill changed the procedure for counting electoral votes outlined in the Electoral Count Act of 1887. Elements of the bill included specifying that the vice president's role at the joint session of congress to count electoral votes is ministerial, raising the objection threshold at the joint session of congress to count electoral votes to one-fifth of the members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, identifying governors as the single official responsible for submitting the certificate of ascertainment identifying that state’s electors, and providing for expedited judicial review of certain claims about states' certificates identifying their electors. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House. Click here to read more.	Passed (225-201)

Key votes: Previous sessions of Congress

Key votes (click "show" to expand or "hide" to contract)

Key votes: 116th Congress, 2019-2020 Key votes: 115th Congress, 2017-2018 For detailed information about each vote, click here. Votes on domestic policy (click to expand) Voted Yea on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (Conference report) (HR 2)  Bill Passed (369-47) on December 12, 2018 Proposed providing funding for commodity support, conservation, trade and international food aid, nutrition assistance, farm credit, rural development, research and extension activities, forestry, horticulture, and crop insurance through fiscal year 2023. Voted Nay on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (HR 2 (second vote))  Bill Passed (213-211) on June 21, 2018 Proposed providing funding for commodity support, conservation, trade and international food aid, nutrition assistance, farm credit, rural development, research and extension activities, forestry, horticulture, and crop insurance. It also proposed modifying the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously known as the food stamp program. Voted Nay on: Securing America’s Future Act of 2018 (HR 4760)  Bill Failed (193-231) on June 21, 2018 Proposed funding a border wall, limiting legal immigration, a mandatory worker verification program, allowing DACA recipients to apply for legal status, and preventing separation of families at the border. Voted Yea on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (HR 2)  Bill Passed (369-47) on December 12, 2018 Reauthorizes through FY2023 and modifies some Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. Voted Nay on: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (HR 36)  Bill Passed (237-189) on October 3, 2017 Proposed amending the federal criminal code to make it a crime for any person to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus was 20 weeks or more. The bill provided exceptions for an abortion: (1) that was necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, or (2) when the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. Voted Nay on: Kate's Law (HR 3004)  Bill Passed (257-167) on June 29, 2017 Proposed increasing criminal penalties for individuals in the country illegally who were convicted of certain crimes, deported, and then re-entered the U.S. illegally. Voted Nay on: No Sanctuary for Criminals Act (HR 3003)  Bill Passed (228-195) on June 29, 2017 Proposed withholding federal funds from states and localities that chose not to follow federal immigration laws. Voted Nay on: American Health Care Act of 2017 (HR 1628)  Bill passed (217-213) on May 4, 2017 Proposed modifying the budgetary and fiscal provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. Votes on economic affairs and regulations (click to expand) Voted Yea on: Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (Conference report) (HR 6157)  Bill Passed (361-61) on September 26, 2018 Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education. Voted Yea on: Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019 (Conference report) (HR 5895)  Bill Passed (377-20) on September 13, 2018 Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Department of Energy, water resources, the legislative branch, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, among other programs. Voted Nay on: Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (HR 6157)  Bill Passed (359-49) on June 28, 2018 Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education. Voted Nay on: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 (HR 5895)  Bill Passed (235-179) on June 8, 2018 Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Department of Energy, water resources, the legislative branch, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, among other programs. Voted Nay on: Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S 2155)  Bill Passed (258-159) on May 22, 2018 Proposed exempting some banks from the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act Voted Nay on: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1625)  Bill Passed (256-167) on March 22, 2018 Proposed providing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes. Voted Nay on: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (HR 1892)  Bill Passed (240-186) on February 9, 2018 Proposed providing appropriations through March 23, 2018. Voted Nay on: Further Extension Of Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1892)  Bill Passed (245-182) on February 6, 2018 Proposed providing appropriations through March 23, 2018. Voted Nay on: Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. (HR 195)  Bill Passed (266-150) on January 22, 2018 Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 8, 2018. Voted Nay on: Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. (HR 195)  Bill Passed (230-197) on January 18, 2018 Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 16, 2018. Did not vote on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1370)  Bill Passed (231-188) on December 21, 2017 Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through January 19, 2018. Did not vote on: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1)  Bill Passed (227-203) on December 19, 2017 Proposed providing for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018. Did not vote on: Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes (HJ Res 123)  Bill Passed (235-193) on December 7, 2017 Proposed funding the government until December 22, 2017. Did not vote on: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1)  Bill Passed (227-205) on November 16, 2017 Proposed amending the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates and modify policies, credits, and deductions for individuals and businesses. Voted Nay on: Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. (H Con Res 71)  Bill Passed (216-212) on October 26, 2017 Proposed establishing the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2018 and setting forth budgetary levels for FY2019-FY2027. (This bill proposed adopting the Senate's budget resolution.) Voted Nay on: Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. (H Con Res 71)  Bill Passed (219-206) on October 5, 2017 Proposed establishing the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2018 and setting forth budgetary levels for FY2019-FY2027. Voted Nay on: Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 3354)  Bill Passed (211-198) on September 14, 2017 Proposed providing FY2018 appropriations for the federal government. It combined 12 appropriations bills. Voted Yea on: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 (Included amendments to suspend the debt ceiling and fund the government) (HR 601)  Bill Passed (316-90) on September 8, 2017 Proposed suspending the debt ceiling and funding the government until December 8, 2017, and providing funding for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma relief efforts. Voted Yea on: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 (HR 601)  Bill Passed (419-3) on September 6, 2017 Proposed providing $7.85 billion for disaster relief requirements, including response and recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey. Voted Nay on: Financial CHOICE Act of 2017 (HR 10)  Bill passed (233-186) on June 8, 2017 Proposed amending the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, among other acts. Voted Yea on: Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 (HR 244)  Bill passed (309-118) on May 3, 2017 Proposed a $1.2 trillion budget to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2017. Votes on foreign policy and national security issues (click to expand) Voted Nay on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (HR 5515)  Bill Passed (351-66) on May 24, 2018 Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities Voted Nay on: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 695)  Bill Passed (250-166) on January 30, 2018 Proposed providing appropriations for military functions administered by the Department of Defense and for other purposes, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018. Did not vote on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018—Conference report (HR 2810)  Bill Passed (356-70) on November 14, 2017 Proposed authorizing FY2018 appropriations and setting forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. Voted Nay on: Make America Secure Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 3219)  Bill Passed (235-192) on July 27, 2017 Proposed making appropriations for defense, military construction, Veterans Affairs, the Legislative Branch, energy and water development, and for other purposes for the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2018. Voted Yea on: Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (HR 3364)  Bill Passed (419-3) on July 25, 2017 Proposed providing congressional review and measures to counter aggression by the governments of Iran, the Russian Federation, and North Korea, and for other purposes. Voted Nay on: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 3180, second vote)  Bill Passed (380-35) on July 28, 2017 Proposed authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes. Voted Nay on: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 3180)  Bill Failed (241-163) on July 24, 2017 Proposed authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes. Voted Nay on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 2810)  Bill Passed (344-81) on July 14, 2017 Proposed authorizing fiscal year 2018 appropriations and setting forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It did not provide budget authority. Voted Nay on: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017 (HR 1301)  Bill passed (371-48) on March 8, 2017 The $577.9 billion fiscal year 2017 defense spending bill proposed $516.1 billion in base budget funding and $61.8 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism funding. 114th Congress The first session of the 114th Congress enacted into law six out of the 2,616 introduced bills (0.2 percent). Comparatively, the 113th Congress had 1.3 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the first session. In the second session, the 114th Congress enacted 133 out of 3,159 introduced bills (4.2 percent). Comparatively, the 113th Congress had 7.0 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session. For more information pertaining to Pocan's voting record in the 114th Congress, please see the below sections. Economic and fiscal Trade Act of 2015 See also: The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, 2015 Trade adjustment assistance On June 12, 2015, the House rejected the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) measure in HR 1314—the Trade Act of 2015—by a vote of 126-302. Trade adjustment assistance (TAA) is a federal program providing American workers displaced by foreign trade agreements with job training and services. The measure was packaged with trade promotion authority (TPA), also known as fast-track authority. TPA is a legislative procedure that allows Congress to define "U.S. negotiating objectives and spells out a detailed oversight and consultation process for during trade negotiations. Under TPA, Congress retains the authority to review and decide whether any proposed U.S. trade agreement will be implemented," according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Pocan was one of 144 Democrats to vote against the bill. Trade promotion authority On June 12, 2015, the House passed the trade promotion authority (TPA) measure in HR 1314—the Trade Act of 2015 —by a vote of 219-211. TPA gives the president fast-track authority to negotiate trade agreements sent to Congress without the opportunity for amendment or filibuster. Although the House approved TPA, it was a largely symbolic vote given the measure was part of a package trade bill including trade adjustment assistance (TAA), which was rejected earlier the same day. Pocan was one of 157 Democrats to vote against the measure. Trade promotion authority second vote After the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) and trade promotion authority (TPA) did not pass the House together on June 12, 2015, representatives voted to authorize TPA alone as an amendment to HR 2146—the Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act—on June 18, 2015. The amendment passed by a vote of 218-208, with all voting members of the House maintaining his or her original position on TPA except for Ted Yoho (R-Fla.). Pocan was one of 158 Democrats to vote against the amendment. Trade adjustment assistance second vote The House passed HR 1295—the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015—on June 25, 2015, by a vote of 286-138. The Senate packaged trade adjustment assistance (TAA) in this bill after the House rejected the TAA measure in HR 1314—the Trade Act of 2015. Along with trade promotion authority (TPA), which Congress passed as part of HR 2146—the Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act—TAA became law on June 29, 2015. Pocan was one of 175 Democrats to vote in favor of HR 1295. Defense spending authorization On May 15, 2015, the House passed HR 1735—the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016—by a vote of 269-151. The bill "authorizes FY2016 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It does not provide budget authority, which is provided in subsequent appropriations legislation." Pocan voted with 142 other Democrats and eight Republicans against the bill. The Senate passed the bill on June 18, 2015, by a vote of 71-25. President Barack Obama vetoed the bill on October 22, 2015. On November 5, 2015, the House passed S 1356—the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016—by a vote of 370-58. The second version of the $607 billion national defense bill included $5 billion in cuts to match what was approved in the budget and language preventing the closure of the Guantanamo Bay military prison. Pocan voted with 48 other Democrats and nine Republicans against the bill. On November 10, 2015, the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 91-3, and President Barack Obama signed it into law on November 25, 2015. 2016 Budget proposal On April 30, 2015, the House voted to approve SConRes11, a congressional budget proposal for fiscal year 2016, by a vote of 226-197. The non-binding resolution was designed to create 12 appropriations bills to fund the government. All 183 Democrats who voted, including Pocan, voted against the resolution. 2015 budget On October 28, 2015, the House passed HR 1314—the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015—by a vote of 266-167. The bill increased military and domestic spending levels and suspended the debt ceiling until March 2017. Pocan voted with 186 Democrats and 79 Republicans in favor of the bill. It passed the Senate on October 30, 2015. President Barack Obama signed it into law on November 2, 2015. Foreign Affairs Iran nuclear deal See also: Iran nuclear agreement, 2015 On May 14, 2015, the House approved HR 1191—the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015—by a vote of 400-25. The bill required President Barack Obama to submit the details of the nuclear deal with Iran for congressional review. Congress had 60 days to review the deal and vote to approve, disapprove, or take no action on the deal. During the review period, sanctions on Iran could not be lifted. Pocan voted with 176 Democrats to approve the bill. Approval of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action On September 11, 2015, the House rejected HR 3461—To approve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed at Vienna on July 14, 2015, relating to the nuclear program of Iran—by a vote of 162-269. The legislation proposed approving the nuclear agreement with Iran. Pocan voted with 161 Democrats for the bill. Suspension of Iran sanctions relief On September 11, 2015, the House approved HR 3460—To suspend until January 21, 2017, the authority of the President to waive, suspend, reduce, provide relief from, or otherwise limit the application of sanctions pursuant to an agreement related to the nuclear program of Iran—by a vote of 247-186. HR 3460 prohibited "the President, prior to January 21, 2017, from: limiting the application of specified sanctions on Iran or refraining from applying any such sanctions; or removing a foreign person (including entities) listed in Attachments 3 or 4 to Annex II of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) from the list of designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Asset Control of the Department of the Treasury." Pocan voted with 185 Democrats against the bill. Presidential non-compliance of section 2 On September 10, 2015, the House passed H Res 411—Finding that the President has not complied with section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015—by a vote of 245-186. Section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 required the president to submit all materials related to the nuclear agreement for congressional review. House Republicans introduced the resolution because two agreements between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran were not submitted to Congress. Pocan voted with 185 Democrats against the resolution. Export-Import Bank On October 27, 2015, the House passed HR 597—the Export-Import Bank Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2015—by a vote of 313-118. The bill proposed reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank and allowing it to resume offering assistance in the form of loans and insurance to foreign companies that wanted to buy U.S. goods. Pocan voted with 185 Democrats and 127 Republicans in favor of the bill. Domestic USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 On May 13, 2015, the House passed HR 2048—the Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring Act of 2015 or the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015—by a vote of 338-88. The legislation revised HR 3199—the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005—by ending the bulk collection of metadata under Sec. 215 of the act, requiring increased reporting from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, and requiring the use of "a specific selection term as the basis for national security letters that request information from wire or electronic communication service providers, financial institutions, or consumer reporting agencies." Pocan voted with 40 Democrats and 47 Republicans against the legislation. It became law on June 2, 2015. Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act On May 13, 2015, the House passed HR 36—the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act—by a vote of 242-184. The bill proposed prohibiting abortions from being performed after a fetus was determined to be 20 weeks or older. The bill proposed exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. Pocan voted with 179 Democrats against the bill. Cyber security On April 23, 2015, the House passed HR 1731—the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act of 2015—by a vote of 355-63. The bill proposed creating an information sharing program that would allow federal agencies and private entities to share information about cyber threats. It also proposed including liability protections for companies. Pocan voted with 43 Democrats and 19 Republicans against the bill. On April 22, 2015, the House passed HR 1560—the Protecting Cyber Networks Act—by a vote of 307-116. The bill proposed procedures that would allow federal agencies and private entities to share information about cyber threats. Pocan voted with 78 Democrats and 37 Republicans against the bill. Immigration On November 19, 2015, the House passed HR 4038—the American SAFE Act of 2015—by a vote of 289-137. The bill proposed instituting additional screening processes for refugees from Iraq and Syria who applied for admission to the U.S. Pocan voted with 134 Democrats and two Republicans against the bill. 113th Congress The second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 224 out of the 3215 introduced bills (7 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session. For more information pertaining to Pocan's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections. National security NDAA Pocan voted against HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote. DHS Appropriations Pocan voted against HR 2217 - the DHS Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 that was largely along party lines. Keystone Pipeline Amendment Pocan voted for House Amendment 69, which would have amended HR 3 to "require that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, conduct a study of the vulnerabilities of the Keystone XL pipeline to a terrorist attack and certify that necessary protections have been put in place." The amendment failed on May 22, 2013, with a vote of 176 - 239 and was largely along party lines. CISPA (2013) Pocan voted against HR 624 - the CISPA (2013). The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill permitted federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities. The bill was largely supported by Republicans, but divided the Democratic Party. Economy Farm bill On January 29, 2014, the U.S. House approved the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, H.R. 2642, known as the Farm Bill. The bill passed by a vote of 251-166. The nearly 1,000-page bill provides for the reform and continuation of agricultural and other programs of the Department of Agriculture through 2018. The $1 trillion bill expanded crop insurance for farmers by $7 billion over the next decade and created new subsidies for rice and peanut growers that would kick in when prices drop. However, cuts to the food stamp program cut an average of $90 per month for 1.7 million people in 15 states. Pocan voted with 102 other Democratic representatives against the bill. 2014 Budget On January 15, 2014, the Republican-run House approved H.R. 3547, a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September 30, 2014. The House voted 359-67 for the 1,582 page bill, with 64 Republicans and three Democrats voting against the bill. The omnibus package included 12 annual spending bills to fund federal operations. It included a 1 percent increase in the paychecks of federal workers and military personnel, a $1 billion increase in Head Start funding for early childhood education, reduced funding to the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency, and the protection of the Affordable Care Act from any drastic cuts. Pocan joined with the majority of the Democratic party and voted in favor of the bill. Government shutdown See also: United States budget debate, 2013 On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201. At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. Harry Reid rejected the call to conference. Pocan voted against the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate. The shutdown ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the Senate. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies. The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from Republican members. Pocan voted for HR 2775. Immigration Morton Memos Prohibition Pocan voted against House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain individuals residing in the United States without legal status. The vote largely followed party lines. Healthcare Healthcare Reform Rules Pocan voted against House Amendment 450 - Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The amendment was adopted by the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 227-185. The amendment requires that all changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act be approved by Congress before taking effect. The vote was largely along party lines. Social issues Abortion Pocan voted against HR 1797 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The resolution passed the House on June 18, 2013, with a vote of 228 - 196 that largely followed party lines. The purpose of the bill was to ban abortions that would take place 20 or more weeks after fertilization.

Issues

American response in Syria

See also: United States involvement in Syria

On August 29, 2013, 53 House Democrats signed a letter written by California Rep. Barbara Lee that called for a congressional resolution on strikes and cautioned that the situation in Syria "should not draw us into an unwise war—especially without adhering to our constitutional requirements." The letter also called on the Obama administration to work with the U.N. Security Council “to build international consensus” condemning the alleged use of chemical weapons. Pocan was one of the 53 Democrats in the House to sign the letter.

SNAP challenge

See also: United States Farm Bill 2013

In June 2013, more than two dozen House Democrats, including Pocan, took part in a SNAP challenge, feeding themselves for a week on the average benefit level of a SNAP recipient. Participants agreed to eat all meals from a limited food budget comparable to that of a SNAP participant, approximately $1.50 per meal, or $4.50 a day.

Fast food worker strikes

In December 2013, Pocan tweeted his support for raising the minimum wage for fast food workers. He tweeted, "#MinimumWage in 1968 was $10.60 in 2013 dollars. Today it is $7.25. Past time we #raisethewage."

Elections

2024

See also: Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024

General election

The primary will occur on August 13, 2024. The general election will occur on November 5, 2024. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2

Incumbent Mark Pocan is running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2 on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate
		Mark Pocan

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2

Charity Barry and Erik Olsen are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2 on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate
		Charity Barry
		Erik Olsen

---

	There are no incumbents in this race.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2022

See also: Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2

Incumbent Mark Pocan defeated Erik Olsen and Douglas Alexander in the general election for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Pocan (D)	71.0	268,740
		Erik Olsen (R)	26.9	101,890
		Douglas Alexander (Independent)	2.0	7,689
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	218

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 378,537
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2

Incumbent Mark Pocan advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2 on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Pocan	99.8	106,595
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	198

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 106,793
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2

Erik Olsen defeated Charity Barry in the Republican primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2 on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Erik Olsen	49.8	21,774
		Charity Barry	49.7	21,711
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	225

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 43,710
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020

Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (August 11 Republican primary)

Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020 (August 11 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2

Incumbent Mark Pocan defeated Peter Theron in the general election for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Pocan (D)	69.7	318,523
		Peter Theron (R)	30.3	138,306
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	376

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 457,205
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Bradley Burt (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2

Incumbent Mark Pocan advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2 on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Pocan	99.6	120,353
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4	488

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 120,841
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2

Peter Theron advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2 on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Peter Theron	99.7	18,812
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	50

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 18,862
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jeffery Heller (R)

2018

See also: Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2

Incumbent Mark Pocan won election in the general election for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Pocan (D)	100.0	309,116
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	38

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 309,154
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2

Incumbent Mark Pocan advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Wisconsin District 2 on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Pocan	100.0	115,246

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 115,246
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

See also: Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Mark Pocan (D) defeated Peter Theron (R) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Neither candidate faced a primary opponent in August.

U.S. House, Wisconsin District 2 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Mark Pocan Incumbent	68.8%	273,537
	Republican	Peter Theron	31.2%	124,044
Total Votes				397,581
Source: Wisconsin Elections Commission

2014

See also: Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District elections, 2014

Pocan won re-election to the U.S. House to represent Wisconsin's 2nd District on November 4, 2014. Pocan did not face a primary challenger.

U.S. House, Wisconsin District 2 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Mark Pocan Incumbent	68.4%	224,920
	Republican	Peter Theron	31.5%	103,619
	N/A	Scattering	0.1%	308
Total Votes				328,847
Source: Wisconsin Government Accountability Board

2012

See Also: United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin, 2012

Pocan sought election to represent Wisconsin's 2nd District in the United States House of Representatives in 2012. He defeated Kelda Helen Roys, Matt Silverman and Dennis Hall in the August 14 Democratic primary. He defeated Republican Chad Lee in the general election.

U.S. House, Wisconsin District 2 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Mark Pocan	67.9%	265,422
	Republican	Chad Lee	31.9%	124,683
	Independent	Joe Kopsick	0%	6
	Miscellaneous	N/A	0.2%	787
Total Votes				390,898
Source: "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Mark Pocan	72.2%	43,091
Kelda Roys	21.9%	13,051
Matt Silverman	4%	2,359
Dennis Hall	1.9%	1,159
Total Votes		59,660

2010

See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2010

Pocan was re-elected to Wisconsin State Assembly District 78. He was unopposed in the primary election and in the general election on November 2, 2010.

Wisconsin State Assembly, District 78 Democratic primary (2010)
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Mark Pocan(D)		3,243	99.6%

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mark Pocan has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Mark Pocan asking him to fill out the survey. If you are Mark Pocan, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 15,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

You can ask Mark Pocan to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing mark@pocanforcongress.com.

2022

Mark Pocan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Mark Pocan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage and endorsements scopes.

Notable endorsements by Mark Pocan

Endorsee	Election	Stage	Outcome
Barbara Lee  source  (D)	U.S. Senate California (2024)	Primary	–
Janet Claire Protasiewicz  source  (Nonpartisan)	Wisconsin Supreme Court (2023)	General	Won General
Andy Levin  source  (D)	U.S. House Michigan District 11 (2022)	Primary	Lost Primary
Bernie Sanders  source  (D)	President of the United States (2020)	Primary	Withdrew in Convention

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor history

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Mark Pocan campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions
2024	U.S. House Wisconsin District 2	Candidacy Declared primary	$320,040
2022	U.S. House Wisconsin District 2	Won general	$1,143,752
2020	U.S. House Wisconsin District 2	Won general	$1,293,769
2018	U.S. House Wisconsin District 2	Won general	$1,106,553
2016	U.S. House, Wisconsin District 2	Won general	$1,039,310
2014	U.S. House (Wisconsin, District 2)	Won general	$1,031,014
2012	U.S. House Wisconsin District 2	Won general	$1,143,296
Grand total raised			$7,077,735
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission * This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

2018

U.S. House Wisconsin District 2 2018 election - Campaign Contributions
Top industry contributors to Mark Pocan's campaign in 2018
Labor	$246,213.00
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate	$134,755.00
Health	$97,719.00
Government Agencies/Education/Other	$50,684.72
Lawyers & Lobbyists	$41,661.11
Total Raised in 2018	$0.00
Total Spent	$930,709.98
Source: Follow the Money

2020

U.S. House Wisconsin District 2 2020 election - Campaign Contributions
Top individual contributors to Mark Pocan's campaign in 2020
Unitemized	$394,076.00
National Assn of Letter Carriers	$10,000.00
American Crystal Sugar	$10,000.00
Machinists/Aerospace Workers Union	$10,000.00
United Food & Commercial Workers Union	$10,000.00
National Rural Electric Cooperative Assn	$10,000.00
National Electrical Contractors Assn	$10,000.00
National Education Assn	$10,000.00
Air Line Pilots Assn	$10,000.00
Service Employees International Union	$10,000.00
Total Raised in 2020	$1,261,043.50
Total Spent	$1,017,815.48
Source: Follow the Money

2018

U.S. House Wisconsin District 2 2018 election - Campaign Contributions
Top individual contributors to Mark Pocan's campaign in 2018
SALUTZ, ANN S	$5,400.00
MILLER, JOHN W	$5,400.00
ROGERS, JOEL E	$5,400.00
BAKKEN, MARK E	$5,400.00
CONROY, KEVIN T	$5,400.00
Total Raised in 2018	$0.00
Total Spent	$930,709.98
Source: Follow the Money

2016

Pocan won re-election to the U.S. House in 2016. During that election cycle, Pocan's campaign committee raised a total of $1,039,310 and spent $792,360. This is less than the average $1.46 million spent by U.S. House winners in 2016.

Cost per vote

Pocan spent $2.9 per general election vote received in 2016.

U.S. House, Wisconsin District 2, 2016 - Mark Pocan Campaign Contributions

Total Raised	$1,039,310
Total Spent	$792,360
Total Raised by Election Runner-up	$38,162
Total Spent by Election Runner-up	$38,194
Top contributors to Mark Pocan's campaign committee
University of Wisconsin	$13,287
American Bankers Assn	$10,500
National Education Assn	$10,200
Air Line Pilots Assn	$10,000
American Crystal Sugar	$10,000
Top 5 industries that contributed to campaign committee
Insurance	$85,055
Public Sector Unions	$66,200
Building Trade Unions	$65,500
Health Professionals	$57,175
Industrial Unions	$57,000
Source: Open Secrets

2014

Pocan won re-election to the U.S. House in 2014. During that election cycle, Pocan's campaign committee raised a total of $1,031,014 and spent $896,400. This is less than the average $1.45 million spent by House winners in 2014.

Cost per vote

Pocan spent $3.99 per general election vote received in 2014.

U.S. House, Wisconsin District 2, 2014 - Mark Pocan Campaign Contributions

Total Raised	$1,031,014
Total Spent	$896,400
Total Raised by Election Runner-up	$27,233
Total Spent by Election Runner-up	$25,733
Top contributors to Mark Pocan's campaign committee
Service Employees International Union	$15,000
National Education Assn	$11,200
Operating Engineers Union	$11,000
National Assn of Realtors	$10,250
American Federation of Teachers	$10,000
Top 5 industries that contributed to campaign committee
Building Trade Unions	$75,000
Public Sector Unions	$69,700
Industrial Unions	$50,000
Insurance	$45,300
Lawyers/Law Firms	$38,288
Source: Open Secrets

To view the breakdown of campaign funding by type click [show] to expand the section.
Breakdown of the source of Pocan's campaign funds before the 2014 election.

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Pocan's reports.

Mark Pocan (2014) Campaign Finance Reports
Report	Date Filed	Beginning Balance	Total Contributions for Reporting Period	Expenditures	Cash on Hand
April Quarterly	April 15, 2013	$52,936.10	$100,629.25	$(68,095.08)	$85,470.27
July Quarterly	July 15, 2013	$85,470.27	$156,065.09	$(109,497.73)	$132,037.63
October Quarterly	October 15, 2013	$132,037.63	$126,627.87	$(75,424.25)	$183,241.25
Year-end	January 31, 2014	$183,241	$129,269	$(87,359)	$225,251
April Quarterly	April 15, 2014	$225,251.35	$76,778.03	$(68,675.16)	$233,354.22
July Quarterly	July 25, 2014	$233,354.22	$167,821.85	$(98,676.18)	$302,499.89
October Quarterly	October 15, 2014	$309,874.85	$166,499.40	$(283,283.96)	$193,090.29
			Running totals
			$923,690.49	$(791,011.36)

2012

Pocan won re-election to the U.S. House in 2012. During that re-election cycle, Pocan's campaign committee raised a total of $1,143,420 and spent $1,087,264.

Cost per vote

Pocan spent $4.10 per vote received in 2012.

U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin, 2nd District, 2012 - Mark Pocan Campaign Contributions
Total Raised	$1,143,420
Total Spent	$1,087,264
Total Raised by Election Runner-up	$91,144
Total Spent by Election Runner-up	$90,316
Top contributors to Mark Pocan's campaign committee
University of Wisconsin	$12,000
American Assn for Justice	$11,500
National Assn of Realtors	$11,000
National Education Assn	$10,700
LGBTQ Victory Fund	$10,500
Top 5 industries that contributed to campaign committee
Building Trade Unions	$79,000
Public Sector Unions	$68,450
Health Professionals	$55,450
Retired	$48,100
Lawyers/Law Firms	$41,600

To view the breakdown of campaign funding by type click [show] to expand the section.
Breakdown of the source of Pocan's campaign funds before the 2012 election.

2010

In 2010, Pocan received $15,710 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.

Wisconsin State Assembly 2010 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Mark Pocan's campaign in 2010
Capital Area Uniserv North	$1,000
Wisconsin Pipe Trades	$500
Wisconsin Health & Hospital Association	$500
Service Employees Local 150	$500
Federation Of Teachers Local 212	$500
Total Raised in 2010	$15,710

2008

The top five donors to Pocan's 2008 campaign were professional and labor organizations. Here are Pocan's top five donors:

Donor	Amount
Managed Health Services Insurance Corp	$500
Northwestern Mutual Life	$500
Sprinkler Fitters Local 183	$500
School Administrators Alliance	$500
WI Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Assoc	$500

Personal Gain Index

See also: Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)

The Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress) is a two-part measurement that illustrates the extent to which members of the U.S. Congress have prospered during their tenure as public servants.
It consists of two different metrics:

• Changes in Net Worth
• The Donation Concentration Metric

PGI: Change in net worth

See also: Changes in Net Worth of U.S. Senators and Representatives (Personal Gain Index) and Net worth of United States Senators and Representatives

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Pocan's net worth as of 2012 was estimated between $467,005 to $1,064,999. That averages to $766,002, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic House members in 2012 of $5,700,168.36. Pocan ranked as the 231st most wealthy representative in 2012. Between 2011 and 2012, Pocan‘s calculated net worth increased by an average of 30 percent per year. Between 2004 and 2012, the average annual percentage increase for a member of Congress was 15.4 percent.

Mark Pocan Yearly Net Worth
Year	Average Net Worth
2011	$589,963
2012	$766,002
Growth from 2011 to 2012:	30%
Average annual growth:	30%
Comparatively, the American citizen experienced a median yearly decline in net worth of -0.94%.

The data used to calculate changes in net worth may include changes resulting from assets gained through marriage, inheritance, changes in family estates and/or trusts, changes in family business ownership, and many other variables unrelated to a member's behavior in Congress.

PGI: Donation Concentration Metric

See also: The Donation Concentration Metric (U.S. Congress Personal Gain Index)

Filings required by the Federal Election Commission report on the industries that give to each candidate. Using campaign filings and information calculated by OpenSecrets.org, Ballotpedia calculated the percentage of donations by industry received by each incumbent over the course of his or her career (or 1989 and later, if elected prior to 1988). Pocan received the most donations from individuals and PACs employed by the Building Trade Unions industry. Comparatively, the top industry employer in Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District was Educational services, and health care and social assistance , according to a 2012 U.S. Census survey.

From 2011-2014, 26.69 percent of Pocan's career contributions came from the top five industries as listed below.

Mark Pocan Campaign Contributions
Total Raised	$1,919,774
Total Spent	$1,609,899
Top industry in the district	Educational services, and health care and social assistance
Top five industries that contributed to campaign committee
Building Trade Unions	$148,000
Public Sector Unions	$129,650
Health Professionals	$83,450
Industrial Unions	$78,500
Retired	$72,770
% total in top industry	7.71%
% total in top two industries	14.46%
% total in top five industries	26.69%

Analysis

Ideology and leadership

See also: GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Pocan was a rank-and-file Democrat as of July 2014.

Like-minded colleagues

The website OpenCongress tracks the voting records of each member to determine with whom he or she votes most and least often. The results include a member from each party.

Pocan most often votes with:

• Paul Tonko
• Chris Gibson

Pocan least often votes with:

• Jim Matheson
• George Holding

Lifetime voting record

See also: Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives

According to the website GovTrack, Pocan missed 15 of 1,736 roll call votes from January 2013 to September 2015. This amounted to 0.9 percent, which was lower than the median of 2.2 percent among representatives as of September 2015.

National Journal vote ratings

See also: National Journal vote ratings

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Click the link above for the full ratings of all members of Congress.

2013

Pocan ranked 8th in the liberal rankings in 2013.

Voting with party

The website OpenCongress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus.

2014

Mark Pocan voted with the Democratic Party 95.1 percent of the time, which ranked 30th among the 204 House Democratic members as of July 2014.

2013

Mark Pocan voted with the Democratic Party 94.8 percent of the time, which ranked 90th among the 201 House Democratic members as of June 2013.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Pocan married his partner, Phil, in 2006 in Canada. They reside in Madison.

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	U.S. House Wisconsin District 2 2013-Present	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	Wisconsin State Assembly 1999-2013	Succeeded by -

[show]

Wisconsin's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Tammy Baldwin (D)

Ronald Johnson (R)

Representatives

District 1

Bryan Steil (R)

District 2

Mark Pocan (D)

District 3

Derrick Van Orden (R)

District 4

Gwen Moore (D)

District 5

Scott Fitzgerald (R)

District 6

Glenn Grothman (R)

District 7

Tom Tiffany (R)

District 8

Mike Gallagher (R)

Republican Party (7)

Democratic Party (3)