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The Leader Board • Remarks
September 30th, 2026

Democrats Flip-Flop on Insider Trading and Illegal Voting

Democrats Said Repeatedly They Wanted to Pass New Restrictions on Congressional Stock Trading and Would Support Voter ID Requirements, but When Given the Opportunity to Make Law, They Got Cold Feet

EARLIER TODAY, SENATE DEMOCRATS VOTED AGAINST THE STOP INSIDER TRADING ACT, LEGISLATION THAT CRACKS DOWN ON CONGRESSIONAL STOCK TRADING

“This bill would ban congressional insider trading. We need to pass this commonsense legislation and restore integrity to Congress.” – Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.)

  • On Wednesday, every single Senate Democrat voted against the Stop Insider Trading Act, legislation that cracks down on congressional stock trading and implements commonsense voter ID requirements. (Senate Republican Cloakroom: post on X – 9/30/26)
  • The House passed the Stop Insider Trading Act in July by a 232-198 margin, with 13 Democrats voting with Republicans. (ABC News: House passes bill that would ban members from buying stock – 7/22/26)
  • The Stop Insider Trading Act would:
    • “Implement a Total Ban on Buying: Prohibit Members, spouses, and dependent children from purchasing any new stocks in publicly traded companies.”
    • “Mandate Transparency in Selling: Require public notice at least seven days, but no more than 14 days, in advance of any intended sale.”
    • “Enforce Real Consequences: Establish a penalty of $2,000 or 10% of the investment value (whichever is greater), plus the forfeiture of any net gain realized from the sale.”
    • “Stop insider trading without preventing successful people from the private sector from serving.” (Sen. Ricketts: Ricketts Introduces Senate Companion to Steil’s Stop Insider Trading Act – 3/18/26)
  • Democrats claimed to support cracking down on congressional stock trading:
    • “Members of Congress should not be playing the stock market while we make federal policy and have extraordinary access to confidential information.” – Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) (1/23/22)
    • “Want to rebuild trust in government? Start by banning members of Congress from trading stocks. It’s the clearest way to prevent insider trading and make sure leaders are serving the people, not themselves.” – Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) (9/19/26)
    • “Elected representatives should not be using confidential information to trade stocks and line their own pockets. It’s just wrong. Our constituents send us to Congress to serve them, not our own financial interest.” – Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) (9/13/23)
    • “The American people need to know that their elected leaders are putting their constituents’ interests—not their own financial interests—first. That is the job we were sent to Washington to do.” – Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) (2/9/22)
    • “Members of Congress have a responsibility to act in the best interest of the American people — not their personal financial portfolios. By removing any financial conflicts of interest and increasing transparency, Congress can better serve our constituents and uphold the public trust.” – Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) (4/18/23)

THE STOP INSIDER TRADING ACT WOULD ALSO ENSHRINE POPULAR VOTER ID PROVISIONS, WHICH DEMOCRATS HAVE NOW BLOCKED NUMEROUS TIMES THIS CONGRESS

  • The bill also would mandate that voters provide a photo ID to vote in federal elections, a policy supported by 80% of Americans and 65% of Democrats. (The Washington Times: Voter ID provision torpedoes Senate vote on stock trading ban – 7/28/26; CBS News Poll – 3/19/26)
  • Another poll found that 81% of voters support requiring an ID to vote, including:
    • 70% of Democrat voters and 68% of self-described liberal voters
    • 79% of Independent voters
    • 77% of Hispanic voters
    • 73% of Black or African American voters (Harvard-Harris Poll – 3/2/26)
  • This is the seventh time this year Senate Democrats have voted against all or part of the SAVE America Act:
    • March 17: When Republicans began an extended period of debate on the SAVE America Act, all Democrats voted against even considering the bill on the Senate floor. (Associated Press: Republicans are launching a voting bill debate that could last days or even weeks – 3/17/26; S. 1383: Roll Call Vote #57 – 3/17/26)
  • March 21: All present Democrats opposed Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) amendment to protect women and girls’ sports from biological males. (S.Amdt. 4421 to S.Amdt. 4420 to S. 1383: Roll Call Vote #60 – 3/21/26)
  • March 26: Sen. Jon Husted’s (R-Ohio) commonsense voter ID amendment – simply requiring voters to present a photo ID in order to vote in federal elections – received no Democrat votes. (S.Amdt. 4732 to S.Amdt. 4420 to S. 1383 – Roll Call Vote #73 – 3/26/26)
  • April 23: All present Democrats voted against an amendment by Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) to require photo ID to register citizens to vote and vote at the polls. (S.Amdt. 5414 to S.Con.Res. 33: Roll Call Vote #96 – 4/23/26)
  • June 4: All present Democrats voted against Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) amendment to attach the SAVE America Act to budget reconciliation legislation. (S.Amdt. 5779 to S.Amdt. 5453 to S. 2: Roll Call Vote #144 – 6/4/26)
  • June 5: All present Democrats opposed Sen. Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) amendment to require photo ID to vote and proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. (S.Amdt. 5804 to S.Amdt. 5453 to S. 2: Roll Call Vote #151 – 6/5/26)

JUST SIX MONTHS AGO, DEMOCRATS CLAIMED TO SUPPORT VOTER ID

  • Earlier this year, before voting against voter ID provisions, Senate Democrats claimed to be on board with commonsense voter ID requirements:

SEN. CORY BOOKER (D-N.J.): “Yes. And New Jersey has voter ID laws. I got to show my driver’s license. (CNN: The Source – 3/24/26)

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