Jack Reed

**John Francis Reed** (born November 12, 1949) is an American Democratic politician and lawyer serving as the senior United States Senator from Rhode Island since 1995. Reed is the Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, a position he has held twice from 2007 until 2015 and since 2023.

Reed was first elected to the U.S. House in 1990. Despite a strong Republican wave, he flipped the seat for the Democrats as incumbent Republican Claudine Schneider retired. Reed won a Senate election in 1994; an ever stronger year for Republicans, and became the state's senior Senator when long-time Senator John Chaffee died. Reed won re-election in 2000, 2006, 2012 and 2018, and is seeking re-election to a sixth term in 2024.

Reed was a finalist for Vice President in 2008, making it to Barack Obama's shortlist. Reed turned down the offer, and the role went to former Washington Governor Gary Locke. Reed was mentioned as a Secretary of Defense pick in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016, each time being Obama's announced nominee before turning down the role.

During the 2014 nomination, Ted Nesi of WPRI-TV cited his "safe seat", his status as one of the most popular politicians in the state, his fondness for working in the Senate and his passion for housing policy as reasons for his disinterest in the position, despite the fact that his nomination's success was considered a "foregone conclusion". Nesi stated "no matter how many times Reed's aides privately groan about another flareup of defense secretary speculation, they surely appreciate that each recurrence is a sign of the senator's positive reputation in Washington and Obama's esteem for him."

## Political positions

### Abortion and civil rights

Reed is one of the most pro-choice politicians in the Senate, opposing bans on late-term abortions, ban such procedures from occurring on military installations, and deny minors the right to cross state lines to obtain abortions. He supports affirmative action.

#### LGBTQ Rights

Reed has a strong record supporting LGBTQ rights; voting against a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and in favor of measures that prevent job discrimination and hate crimes against LGBTQ people.

Reed supports transgender rights. He opposes a ban in the military that prevents military recruits and transgender troops from transitioning to another sex.

### Trade

Reed has generally supported fair trade policies over similar ones advocating free trade. He has also been a strong supporter of unionizing workers, and has criticized government and business interference with these groups. Reed supports increasing the minimum wage and unemployment compensation.

### Gun rights

Reed supports gun control. He supports a national assault weapon ban. Reed has voted against limiting lawsuits on gun manufacturers and has favored expanding gun control. He voted against loosening background checks at gun shows.

### Healthcare

Reed has been an advocate of preventive healthcare. Like many other Democrats, he supports increasing Medicare funding, enrolling more Americans into programs that help the uninsured, allowing prescription drugs to be imported from Canada, and negotiating bulk medication purchases for Medicare in order to lower costs. Reed does not support Medicare for All. Instead, in 2019 he proposed the Choose Medicare Act, which he claims increases "access, competition, and choice."