Most scorecards focus narrowly on legislative records, looking at votes or sponsorships. We took a broader view — evaluating not just how Democrats in the House voted, but how they’ve talked about trade and tariffs in public.
Our index scores members based on their overall record, their response to Trump’s recent tariff announcements, their support for restoring congressional authority over tariffs, and whether they’re clearly making the case against tariffs as a policy tool.
For us, this isn’t about purity tests or scoring political points. It’s about recognizing and highlighting the members who have been strong, consistent advocates against tariffs and protectionism — the ones making the case for a 21st-century trade agenda that lowers costs, strengthens global partnerships, and supports working families at home and abroad.
The Center for New Liberalism has long been a leading voice on the center-left opposing harmful tariffs and economic nationalism — from our early days during the Trump's 2018 trade war, to our pushback against the Biden administration’s tariff escalation. In January, we launched TrumpsTariffsAreTaxes.org as part of our 2025 campaign to expose the real cost of Trump’s trade agenda. Today’s launch of the Congressional Tariff Messaging Index is the next step in that fight.
