2026 Congressional Scorecard Highlights Legislative Support for Social Security and Medicare

The recently released 2026 Congressional Scorecard from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM) highlights the stakes in upcoming elections, showing partisan differences in legislative support for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

The scorecard, evaluating the voting records of all 535 members of the 119th Congress, reveals a clear divide. Most Republican lawmakers received lower ratings due to their votes on budgetary reductions affecting seniors' programs, while Democrats generally earned higher scores for their supportive stances. Specifically, Republican senators such as Sen. John Husted (OH), Sen. Dan Sullivan (AK), Sen. Roger Marshall (KS), and Sen. Pete Ricketts (NE) received a zero percent rating, reflecting significant partisan contrasts. The evaluation considers key legislative votes from 2025 to 2026, including a major budget reduction proposal and debates over Affordable Care Act tax credits.

According to Max Richtman, President and CEO of NCPSSM, these legislative trends underscore the importance of electoral outcomes, as the trust fund's projected depletion date in 2032 looms. The next class of Senators will be critical in shaping the future of Social Security, with expansion or privatization hanging in the balance. Although some bipartisan cooperation emerged in the House, the Republican-majority Senate's refusal to act on certain Affordable Care Act credits led to significant healthcare premium increases in 2026. The scorecard highlights the potential impact of 2026 midterms on these essential programs.

Partisan Divides in Key Votes