Senate Ukraine Champions Methodology

Methodology Overview

Senate Ukraine Champions were selected using a comprehensive, data-driven congressional ranking system and then refined through a Senate-specific champion filter. Each Member was evaluated across three core dimensions:

  • Support for Ukraine (0–10),

  • Power and Influence in Congress (0–13),

  • and Safety of Seat (0–4),

for a maximum composite score of 27 points.

  1. Support for Ukraine was measured through a weighted report card based on votes on key Ukraine-related legislation, producing a baseline classification of negative, supporter, or strong supporter (0–3 points). Additional weight was assigned to legislative leadership, including sponsorship and co-sponsorship of key Ukraine bills (up to 7 points), with greater value given to primary sponsors of high-impact legislation.

  2. Institutional influence was assessed based on party status, leadership positions, and roles across key committees, subcommittees, and relevant entities. Priority was given to Senators serving on:

  • Appropriations:

    • Defense

    • State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs

  • Armed Services:

    • Cybersecurity

    • Emerging Threats and Capabilities

  • Foreign Relations:

    • Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions, and International Economic, Energy, and Environmental Policy

  • Finance:

    • Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure

  • Intelligence

  • Budget.

Additional weight was assigned to participation in the Ukraine Caucus and the Helsinki Commission, which are treated as equivalent to subcommittee-level influence.

3. Legislative engagement was evaluated against a defined set of key Ukraine-related bills, including:

  • S.Res. 236 (Resolution on Abducted Ukrainian Children),

  • S.3513 (Decreasing Russian Oil Profits Act),

  • S.2978 (State Sponsor of Terrorism Act),

  • S.2918 (REPO Implementation Act),

  • S.2904 (SHADOW Fleet Sanctions Act),

  • S.2657 (STOP China and Russia Act),

  • S.2119 (Abducted Ukrainian Children Accountability Act),

  • S.1490 (GHOST Act),

  • S.1364 (Supporting American Allies Act),

  • and S.1241 (Sanctioning Russia Act).

4. Finally, electoral security was incorporated to reflect political durability:

Senators up for re-election in 2030 receive the highest score, followed by those in 2028, while those up in 2026 are scored based on race competitiveness (Safe, Likely, Lean, Toss-up).

Ukraine Champions were selected from top-ranking Members who meet elevated thresholds for overall score, demonstrate clear and consistent support for Ukraine, hold meaningful institutional influence, maintain secure seats, and are running for re-election. The result is a group of Senators who combine a strong pro-Ukraine record with the power and political durability to advance that support within Congress.