In the 2021 Bipartisan Index Unveiled by the Lugar Center & Georgetown University’s McCourt School This Week, the Congresswoman Ranked in the Top 5 Among All Members of the House, Top 3 Among House Democrats

HENRICO, V.A. – U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger — Vice-Chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus — this week was ranked as one of the top-five most bipartisan Members of the U.S. House and the most bipartisan Member of Virginia’s congressional delegation.

In the latest nonpartisan Bipartisan Index released by the Lugar Center and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, Spanberger ranks as the third-most bipartisan U.S. House Democrat and the fifth-most bipartisan Member of either party in the U.S. House. Additionally, her ranking is the highest of any lawmaker in either the U.S House or U.S. Senate from Virginia.

“In her first term, Rep. Spanberger was one of the stars of the Bipartisan Index,” said Dan Diller, Policy Director, Lugar Center. “In 2021 — the first year of her second term — she ranked even higher, placing 5th overall out of 434 House members scored. Our Index — based on objective sponsorship and co-sponsorship data — shows that Rep. Spanberger worked with Republicans with great consistency to advance legislation on behalf of her district and the country.”

“Virginians expect me to work tirelessly to get things done — and this mission necessitates finding common ground and working with both parties to achieve progress on the issues most important to the people I represent. This year, I am honored to once again be ranked as one of the most bipartisan Members of Congress and the most bipartisan Member of Congress from Virginia,” said Spanberger. “Last year, the bipartisan infrastructure law was a chief example of how working with both parties — through good-faith negotiations — can deliver success in addressing major issues. At a time when so many forces are trying to divide the American people, we need to redouble our commitment to restoring trust in our democracy. Building bridges across these divides is an important part of making that happen.”

With a new bipartisanship score of 2.02706, Spanberger ranks as the most bipartisan Member of the entire Virginia delegation, the third-most bipartisan House Democrat, and the fifth-most bipartisan Member of the House across both parties.

METHODOLOGY: The Bipartisan Index is based on a formula applied uniformly to all members, and no subjective judgments are made about individual members or bills. According to the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy, the Bipartisan Index measures how often a Member of Congress introduces bills that succeed in attracting cosponsors from Members of the opposite party, as well as how often they cosponsor a bill introduced from across the aisle. Additionally, the Index includes a metric that gives Members credit for the number of bipartisan cosponsors on bills they’ve introduced.

Spanberger’s Bipartisan Index ranking has continued to rise since she first arrived in Congress. Last year, Spanberger was also ranked as the most bipartisan Member of the entire Virginia delegation, the fourth-most bipartisan House Democrat, and the ninth-most bipartisan Member of the House across both parties.

BACKGROUND

Since arriving in the U.S. House, Spanberger has been recognized for building coalitions with her colleagues across the aisle and advancing bipartisan legislation on behalf of Virginians. Last year, Spanberger was instrumental in kickstarting negotiations and successfully securing the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

In June 2020, Spanberger received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s first-ever “Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship” for her work to bring Republicans and Democrats together to advance legislation on behalf of Virginians.

And last year, she received the “Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award,” as well as the “Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship” for the second straight year, from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. She is the only Member of Virginia’s congressional delegation to receive either award.

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