Vice President Kamala Harris Breaks Record for Most Tie-Breaking Senate Votes

Harris' 33rd tie-breaking vote surpasses a nearly 200-year-old record, reflecting the deep polarization in Congress and the Democrats’ narrow Senate majority.

Vice President Kamala Harris has broken the record for the most tie-breaking votes cast by a vice president in the U.S. Senate, with a total of 33 votes.
The previous record was held by John C. Calhoun, who cast 31 tie-breaking votes during his vice presidency from 1825 to 1832.
Harris' record-breaking vote was to advance the nomination of Loren AliKhan to be a U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia.
Her tie-breaking votes have been critical in passing major legislation such as the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as confirming federal judges.
The frequency of tie-breaking votes reflects the deep polarization in Congress and the Democrats’ narrow Senate majority.