Utah U.S. Senator (Class 3) — Mike Lee

Mike Lee was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 as a Tea Party-backed candidate focused on constitutional conservatism and limited government. He has been reelected twice (2016 and 2022). Lee is known for his originalist legal philosophy and advocacy for reducing federal government scope through constitutional principles.

Restore the federal government to its constitutionally limited scope and reduce the size, cost, and scope of federal government

Status: ongoing

Lee has consistently advocated for this through sponsorship and support of regulatory reform legislation. He introduced the REINS Act (Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny) to require congressional approval for major federal regulations costing over $100 million annually. In June 2025, a version of the REINS Act was stripped from Trump's tax bill by the parliamentarian for failing to meet reconciliation guidelines, blocking its inclusion despite Lee's efforts. He continues to push for regulatory reform and has sponsored legislation on various issues including the Balance the Highway Trust Fund Act and data privacy reforms.

Secure elections and protect voting integrity through election security measures

Status: in-progress

Lee introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act in 2024 requiring proof of citizenship to register and vote. He upgraded it to the SAVE America Act in January 2026, adding voter ID requirements at Trump's urging. The House passed the bill with bipartisan support, but Senate passage remains uncertain due to Democratic opposition and the 60-vote filibuster requirement. As of March 2026, the Senate began debate on the bill using an unlimited debate strategy. Lee has been aggressively pushing Senate leadership to hold votes and exploring alternative Senate rules including the talking filibuster. He directed procedural votes in March 2026 and remained committed to debate for weeks if necessary.

Advance conservative judicial nominees and protect constitutional interpretation

Status: completed

Lee serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee and Antitrust Subcommittee. He supported all three of President Trump's Supreme Court nominees (Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett) and has been instrumental in confirming federal judges who adhere to originalist and textualist interpretations of the Constitution. His background as a law clerk to Justice Samuel Alito positioned him as a key voice on judicial nominations.

Challenge government overreach and defend civil liberties

Status: ongoing

Lee introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) in 2026 to protect Americans' constitutional rights and data privacy. He voted against the Respect for Marriage Act in 2022 despite his church's support for the legal guarantees of religious freedom in the legislation. Lee has consistently opposed what he views as federal overreach, including voting against entitlement expansion and certain spending bills.

Promote manufacturing and energy dominance by reducing regulatory restrictions

Status: in-progress

Lee introduced the Protecting Access to American Products Act (S.4090) in March 2026 to cut regulatory red tape around domestic trade shipping by allowing flexibility from Jones Act restrictions. He chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, positioning him to advance Trump's energy dominance agenda. Lee has been a strong advocate for domestic energy production and deregulation.

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Senator Tracker· Class 3
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Mike Lee

Republican (R)In office since 2011-01-05· Term ends 2029-01-03

Mike Lee was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 as a Tea Party-backed candidate focused on constitutional conservatism and limited government. He has been reelected twice (2016 and 2022). Lee is known for his originalist legal philosophy and advocacy for reducing federal government scope through constitutional principles.

Previously:Law clerk, U.S. District Court for the District of UtahLaw clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third CircuitAssistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah (2002-2005)General Counsel to Utah Governor Jon Huntsman (2005-2006)Law clerk, U.S. Supreme Court (2006-2007)Chair, Joint Economic Committee (2019-2021)
Committees:Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Chairman)Committee on the JudiciarySubcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights (Chairman)Committee on Foreign RelationsSubcommittee on Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions, and International Economic, Energy, and Environmental Policy (Chairman)Committee on the Budget
Approval Rating
47%
Morning Consult for Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics
Agenda Progress
1 / 5
promises completed
At a Glance

Mike Lee was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 as a Tea Party-backed candidate focused on constitutional conservatism and limited government. He has been reelected twice (2016 and 2022). Lee is known for his originalist legal philosophy and advocacy for reducing federal government scope through constitutional principles.

📋 5 tracked promises📝 10 recent actions

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◆ Sources

Wikipedia - Mike LeeMike Lee Senate WebsiteCongress.gov - Mike LeeBallotpedia - Mike LeeGovTrack - Mike LeeDeseret News - Political CoverageBritannica - Mike Lee
Last updated: 2026-04-10