McCain, Boehner Rank With Top Conservatives, Study Shows

According to data analyzed by National Journal, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) shifted mightily to the right last year.

In a report set to be released by the weekly magazine on Friday, McCain tied with seven other Republicans as being the most conservative members of the Senate in 2010. According to the report, “of 96 Senate votes taken in 2010, Sen. John McCain…voted most often on the conservative side.”

McCain’s 89.7 score last year is a far departure from how he scored in previous years. From 2002-2006, National Journal ranked him between 44th and 49th on the conservative scale.

National Journal produced the annual report by examining nearly 100 votes taken in each chamber that reveal “ideological distinctions between members.” It’s important to note that nearly 1,000 roll-call votes occurred in Congress last year.

Boehner, meanwhile, moved into the top ten in the House, with a composite score of 94.2 — less than a point below Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), who ranked number one in the report. Three of Boehner’s fellow Ohio Republicans, Reps. Jean Schmidt, Bob Latta and Jim Jordan, also finished in the top ten.