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Candidate

Emanuel Cleaver II

Democrat · Incumbent

U.S. Representative, Missouri's 5th District

Emanuel Cleaver II has represented Missouri's 5th District since he was elected in 2004 and is the Democratic nominee for re-election13. Before Congress he was elected Kansas City's first Black mayor in 1991, serving eight years, after 12 years on the city council; he is also a United Methodist pastor23. His record includes votes for the Inflation Reduction Act22, the Women's Health Protection Act11 and the Assault Weapons Ban14, and cosponsorship of Medicare for All4 and the Raise the Wage Act7.

Where they stand 24 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

  • HealthcareGovernment-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)medium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Cosponsored the Medicare for All Act of 2021 (H.R. 1976, 117th Congress). Also an original cosponsor of H.R. 3421 (2023-05-17) and H.R. 3069 (2025-04-29); one action. (2021-03-17) source
    • Voted against the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, a private-market bill on association health plans and PBM transparency. (2025-12-17) source
    • Voted for restoring the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits for three years. (2026-01-08) source
  • Minimum wageRaise it higher and tie it to the cost of livingmedium
    Official action · medium confidence
    • Cosponsored the Raise the Wage Act of 2021 (H.R. 603, 117th Congress). Also an original cosponsor of H.R. 4889 (2023-07-25) and H.R. 2743 (2025-04-08); one action. (2021-01-28) source
  • Paid leaveCreate a national paid family and medical leave program plus paid sick daysmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Cosponsored the FAMILY Act (H.R. 804, 117th Congress). Also an original cosponsor of H.R. 3481 (2023-05-18) and H.R. 5390 (2025-09-16); one action. (2021-02-04) source
    • Voted for the Build Back Better Act, which created a national paid family and medical leave program. (2021-11-19) source
  • Safety net programsExpand help for childcare, housing and paid family leavemedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted for the Build Back Better Act, which expanded aid for childcare, housing and paid family leave. (2021-11-19) source
    • Voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which added Medicaid work requirements and expanded SNAP work requirements. (2025-07-03) source
  • Childcare and pre-KOffer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aidmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted for the Build Back Better Act, which funded free universal pre-K and expanded childcare aid. (2021-11-19) source
  • AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)medium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Cosponsored the Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755, 117th Congress). Also an original cosponsor of H.R. 12 in the 118th (2023-03-30) and 119th (2025-06-24) Congresses; one action. (2021-06-08) source
    • Voted for the Women's Health Protection Act, which would protect abortion access nationwide before viability and later when a patient's life or health is at risk. (2021-09-24) source
    • Voted for the Women's Health Protection Act of 2022, which would protect abortion access nationwide before viability and later when a patient's life or health is at risk. (2022-07-15) source
  • GunsAll of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazinesmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Cosponsored the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021 (H.R. 8, 117th Congress). Supporting evidence only. (2021-03-08) source
    • Cosponsored the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 117th Congress). Also cosponsored the 2023 and 2025 versions (H.R. 698, 2023-02-01; H.R. 3115, 2025-09-02); one action. (2021-04-14) source
    • Voted for the Assault Weapons Ban of 2022, which would ban the sale of many semi-automatic assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. (2022-07-29) source
  • ImmigrationTighter border security plus a path to legal status for long-time residentsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Cosponsored the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 (H.R. 6, 117th Congress). Also cosponsored H.R. 16 (2023-09-14) and H.R. 1589 (2025-02-26); one action. (2021-03-16) source
    • Voted for the American Dream and Promise Act, which offered a path to citizenship for Dreamers and some long-time TPS holders. (2021-03-18) source
    • Voted for the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which offered legal status to long-time farmworkers and required E-Verify in agriculture. (2021-03-18) source
    • Voted against the Secure the Border Act, which funded border wall construction and tightened asylum rules. (2023-05-11) source
    • Voted against the Secure America Act, which provides about $70 billion for immigration enforcement and border security. (2026-06-09) source
  • Income taxesRaise taxes on the highest earners and corporations to pay for programsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, which set a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a tax on stock buybacks to help pay for energy and health programs. (2022-08-12) source
    • Voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which made the 2017 individual tax cuts permanent at every income level. (2025-07-03) source
  • Drug pricesNegotiate more drugs and extend the insulin and yearly cost caps to private insurancemedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted for the Affordable Insulin Now Act, which would cap insulin costs at $35 a month for people with Medicare and private insurance. (2022-03-31) source
  • MarijuanaLegalize it and clear past convictionsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted for the MORE Act, which would remove marijuana from federal drug schedules and clear past federal marijuana convictions. (2022-04-01) source
    • Cosponsored the MORE Act (H.R. 5601, 118th Congress). Also cosponsored H.R. 5068 (2025-08-29); one action. (2023-09-20) source
  • RedistrictingIndependent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted for the For the People Act, which would require independent commissions to draw congressional maps and ban partisan gerrymandering. (2021-03-03) source
  • Campaign financeOverturn Citizens United by amendment and add public financing of campaignsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted for the For the People Act, which created small-donor public matching funds, required disclosure of big donors and called for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. (2021-03-03) source
    • Cosponsored the constitutional amendment on campaign contributions and spending (H.J.Res. 13, 118th Congress). (2023-01-20) source
  • Qualified immunityNo, end it for police so officers or departments can be sued for rights violationsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Cosponsored the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 (H.R. 1280, 117th Congress). Also cosponsored the 2024 and 2025 versions; one action. (2021-02-24) source
    • Voted for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would end qualified immunity for police officers in civil rights lawsuits. (2021-03-03) source
  • Supreme Court reformAdd term limits and ethics rules, and expand the Court beyond nine seatsmedium
    Official action · medium confidence
    • Cosponsored the Judiciary Act of 2021 (H.R. 2584, 117th Congress). Also an original cosponsor of H.R. 3422 (2023-05-17); one action. (2021-12-02) source
  • Death penaltyAbolish it and use life without parole insteadmedium
    Official action · medium confidence
    • Cosponsored the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act (H.R. 262, 117th Congress). Also cosponsored the Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act (H.R. 97, 2021-06-11; H.R. 1124, 2023-02-21) and the Prohibition Act again in 2023 and 2026. (2021-01-11) source
  • Aid to IsraelKeep full aid without new conditionsmedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted for the $26 billion Israel security supplemental with no new conditions on weapons use. (2024-04-20) source
  • Aid to UkraineRestore strong U.S. aid and add tougher sanctions on Russiamedium
    Voted · medium confidence
    • Voted for the $40 billion Ukraine aid package in May 2022. (2022-05-10) source
    • Voted for the $61 billion Ukraine security supplemental in April 2024. (2024-04-20) source
    • Voted for the Ukraine Support Act, which provides military aid and loans to Ukraine and new sanctions on Russia. (2026-06-04) source
  • E-Verify mandateNo single answer fitslow
    Voted · low confidence
    • Voted against the Secure the Border Act, which would require all employers to use E-Verify. (2023-05-11) source
  • Energy and climateNo single answer fitslow
    Voted · low confidence
    • Voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, which used tax credits and incentives to speed a shift to cleaner energy. (2022-08-12) source
  • Politicians trading stocksNo single answer fitslow
    Voted · low confidence
    • Voted against the Stop Insider Trading Act, a stock purchase ban for members that also carried voter ID provisions. (2026-07-22) source
  • Transgender athletesNo single answer fitslow
    Voted · low confidence
    • Voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, a federal rule basing school sports eligibility on sex at birth. (2023-04-20) source
    • Voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, a federal rule basing school sports eligibility on sex at birth. (2025-01-14) source
  • Mandatory minimumsNo single answer fitslow
    Voted · low confidence
    • Voted against the HALT Fentanyl Act, which applies mandatory minimum sentences to fentanyl-related trafficking. (2023-05-25) source
    • Voted against the HALT Fentanyl Act, which applies mandatory minimum sentences to fentanyl-related trafficking. (2025-06-12) source
  • Student loansNo single answer fitslow
    Voted · low confidence
    • Voted against overturning the Biden administration's broad student loan debt cancellation. (2023-06-21) source

No public position found on: National debt, Social Security, Business regulation, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Judges, Term limits, Electoral College, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.

Record

  • Member of Congress for Missouri's 5th District since being elected in 20043
  • Elected Mayor of Kansas City in 1991 and served eight years, after 12 years on the city council; former United Methodist pastor23

Who funds this campaign

Official reports filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for January 1, 2025 through July 15, 2026.

$1,336,738raised
$1,083,483spent
$1,142,882cash on hand

Cash on hand includes money left over from the campaign's earlier races, so it can be more than raised minus spent.

Where the money came from

  • People who gaveincluding $148,137 in gifts under $200$486,832
  • PACs and other political committees$849,891

Largest contributions from PACs and parties

As named in the filings, net of any refunds. Joint fundraising transfers are counted in the totals above.

  1. INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICALPAC$10,000
  2. AICPA PACPAC$10,000
  3. SHEET METAL WORKERS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCPAC$10,000
  4. MANUFACTURED HOUSING INSTITUTE PACPAC$10,000
  5. NATIONAL MULTI HOUSING COUNCIL PACPAC$10,000
  6. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST INC. PACPAC$10,000
  7. AFLAC PACPAC$10,000
  8. NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE PACPAC$10,000
  9. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS POPAC$10,000
  10. HEARTLAND PATRIOTS PACPAC$10,000

Gifts from individual people are listed by name in the full filings. See every report on FEC.gov. Numbers updated October 7, 2026; we add no labels or judgments to any donor.

Last reviewed 2026-10-08. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.

Sources (41)

Every claim on this page links to one of these
  1. Certification of Candidates and Party Emblems for the Nov 3, 2026 General Election (certified Aug 25, 2026)Missouri Secretary of State
  2. Full BiographyOffice of Congressman Emanuel Cleaver
  3. Missouri's 5th Congressional District: What to know about the candidates running in NovemberKCUR (Sep 23, 2026)
  4. Bill status: H.R. 1976 (117th Congress)U.S. Government Publishing Office (BILLSTATUS)
  5. House roll call vote on Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act (2025-12-17)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  6. House roll call vote on Breaking the Gridlock Act (three-year extension of enhanced ACA tax credits) (2026-01-08)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  7. Bill status: H.R. 603 (117th Congress)U.S. Government Publishing Office (BILLSTATUS)
  8. House roll call vote on Build Back Better Act (House passage) (2021-11-19)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  9. Bill status: H.R. 804 (117th Congress)U.S. Government Publishing Office (BILLSTATUS)
  10. House roll call vote on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (final House vote on Senate version) (2025-07-03)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  11. House roll call vote on Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (2021-09-24)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  12. House roll call vote on Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 (2022-07-15)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  13. Bill status: H.R. 3755 (117th Congress)U.S. Government Publishing Office (BILLSTATUS)
  14. House roll call vote on Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (2022-07-29)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  15. Bill status: H.R. 1808 (117th Congress)U.S. Government Publishing Office (BILLSTATUS)
  16. Bill status: H.R. 8 (117th Congress)U.S. Government Publishing Office (BILLSTATUS)
  17. House roll call vote on American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 (2021-03-18)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  18. House roll call vote on Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 (2021-03-18)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  19. House roll call vote on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (2023-05-11)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  20. House roll call vote on Secure America Act (immigration and border enforcement funding through 2029) (2026-06-09)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  21. Bill status: H.R. 6 (117th Congress)U.S. Government Publishing Office (BILLSTATUS)
  22. House roll call vote on Inflation Reduction Act (final House vote) (2022-08-12)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  23. House roll call vote on Affordable Insulin Now Act (2022-03-31)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  24. House roll call vote on MORE Act (2022-04-01)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  25. Bill status: H.R. 5601 (118th Congress)U.S. Government Publishing Office (BILLSTATUS)
  26. House roll call vote on For the People Act of 2021 (2021-03-03)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  27. Bill status: H.J.Res. 13 (118th Congress)U.S. Government Publishing Office (BILLSTATUS)
  28. House roll call vote on George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021 (2021-03-03)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  29. Bill status: H.R. 1280 (117th Congress)U.S. Government Publishing Office (BILLSTATUS)
  30. Bill status: H.R. 2584 (117th Congress)U.S. Government Publishing Office (BILLSTATUS)
  31. Bill status: H.R. 262 (117th Congress)U.S. Government Publishing Office (BILLSTATUS)
  32. House roll call vote on Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 (2024-04-20)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  33. House roll call vote on Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (2022-05-10)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  34. House roll call vote on Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 (2024-04-20)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  35. House roll call vote on Ukraine Support Act (2026-06-04)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  36. House roll call vote on Stop Insider Trading Act (2026-07-22)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  37. House roll call vote on Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023 (2023-04-20)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  38. House roll call vote on Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (2025-01-14)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  39. House roll call vote on HALT Fentanyl Act (2023) (2023-05-25)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  40. House roll call vote on HALT Fentanyl Act (2025, became law) (2025-06-12)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
  41. House roll call vote on Resolution to overturn the Biden student loan debt relief plan (veto override) (2023-06-21)Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives