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Portrait of Arlen Specter
Democrat Inactive

Arlen Specter

Former U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania

Biography

Arlen Specter (died 2012) was an American politician who represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate from January 1981 to January 2011, during the 97th–111th Congresses. Specter served as a Republican and later as a Democrat. Specter died on October 14, 2012.

Key Information

  • Full Name: Arlen Specter
  • Died: October 14, 2012
  • Term Started: April 30, 2009
  • Term Ended: January 3, 2011
  • Senate Class: Class III

Service History

  • Jan 5, 1981 – Jan 6, 1987 97th–100th Congresses Republican Pennsylvania
  • Jan 6, 1987 – Jan 5, 1993 100th–103rd Congresses Republican Pennsylvania
  • Jan 5, 1993 – Jan 6, 1999 103rd–106th Congresses Republican Pennsylvania
  • Jan 6, 1999 – Jan 4, 2005 106th–109th Congresses Republican Pennsylvania
  • Jan 4, 2005 – Apr 30, 2009 109th–111th Congresses Republican Pennsylvania
  • Apr 30, 2009 – Jan 3, 2011 111th Congress Democrat Pennsylvania

Service dates from the official U.S. Senate historical roster. For senators who changed party affiliation during their service, the party shown for each period is approximate.

Served With

Senators who represented the same state during Specter's service:

Most Recent Voting History

Last 10 of 7,421 roll-call votes cast between 1989 and 2011 (roll-call records begin in 1989).

Yea

Vote #299

On the Nomination PN1576 (PN 1576)

Mary Helen Murguia, of Arizona, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit

Dec 22, 2010, 3:02 PM (ET) Result: Nomination Confirmed (89-0) (89 Y - 0 N)

Yea

Vote #298

On the Resolution of Ratification Treaty Doc. 111-5 (Treaty Doc. 111-5)

Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed in Prague on April 8, 2010, with Protocol

Dec 22, 2010, 2:33 PM (ET) Result: Resolution of Ratification Agreed to (71-26, 2/3 majority required) (71 Y - 26 N)

Nay

Vote #297

On the Amendment S.Amdt. 4893 to Treaty Doc. 111-5 (Treaty Doc. 111-5)

Amendment S.Amdt. 4893 (To provide that the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification of the New START Treaty is subject to an understanding regarding the non-use of covers by the Russian Federation that tend to interfere with Type …

Dec 21, 2010, 8:51 PM (ET) Result: Amendment Rejected (30-63) (30 Y - 63 N)

Nay

Vote #296

On the Amendment S.Amdt. 4860 to Treaty Doc. 111-5 (Treaty Doc. 111-5)

Amendment S.Amdt. 4860 (To require a certification that the President has negotiated a legally binding side agreement with the Russian Federation that the Russian Federation will not deploy a significant number of nuclear-armed sea-launche…

Dec 21, 2010, 8:31 PM (ET) Result: Amendment Rejected (31-62) (31 Y - 62 N)

Nay

Vote #295

On the Amendment S.Amdt. 4895 to Treaty Doc. 111-5 (Treaty Doc. 111-5)

Amendment S.Amdt. 4895 (To provide an understanding that provisions adopted in the Bilateral Consultative Commission that affect substantive rights or obligations under the Treaty are those that create new rights or obligations for the Uni…

Dec 21, 2010, 8:08 PM (ET) Result: Amendment Rejected (34-59) (34 Y - 59 N)

Yea

Vote #294

On the Motion to Table S.Amdt. 4878 to Treaty Doc. 111-5 (Treaty Doc. 111-5)

Amendment S.Amdt. 4878 (To provide a condition regarding the return of stolen United States military equipment.)

Dec 21, 2010, 6:26 PM (ET) Result: Motion to Table Agreed to (61-32) (61 Y - 32 N)

Nay

Vote #293

On the Amendment S.Amdt. 4855 to Treaty Doc. 111-5 (Treaty Doc. 111-5)

Amendment S.Amdt. 4855 (To amend the Treaty to provide for a clear definition of rail-mobile missiles.)

Dec 21, 2010, 6:00 PM (ET) Result: Amendment Rejected (32-63) (32 Y - 63 N)

Yea

Vote #292

On the Cloture Motion Treaty Doc. 111-5 (Treaty Doc. 111-5)

Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, signed in Prague on April 8, 2010, with Protocol

Dec 21, 2010, 3:13 PM (ET) Result: Cloture Motion Agreed to (67-28, 3/5 majority required) (67 Y - 28 N)

Yea

Vote #291

On the Nomination PN1472 (PN 1472)

William Joseph Martinez, of Colorado, to be United States District Judge for the District of Colorado

Dec 21, 2010, 2:55 PM (ET) Result: Nomination Confirmed (58-37) (58 Y - 37 N)

Yea

Vote #290

On the Nomination PN1248 (PN 1248)

Benita Y. Pearson, of Ohio, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio

Dec 21, 2010, 2:38 PM (ET) Result: Nomination Confirmed (56-39) (56 Y - 39 N)

Source: Official U.S. Senate roll-call votes (senate.gov ↗).