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{{Short description|US lawyer and politician}}{{For|other people named John Kennedy|John Kennedy (disambiguation)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = John Kennedy, official portrait, 115th Congress (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2017
| alongside           = [[Bill Cassidy]]
| jr/sr               = United States Senator
| predecessor         = [[David Vitter]]
| successor           = 
| state               = [[Louisiana]]
| office1             = [[Louisiana State Treasurer|Treasurer of Louisiana]]
| governor1           = [[Mike Foster (American politician)|Mike Foster]]<br />[[Kathleen Blanco]]<br />[[Bobby Jindal]]<br />[[John Bel Edwards]]
| predecessor1        = Ken Duncan
| successor1          = [[John Schroder]]
| term_start          = January 3, 2017
| term_end            = 
| term_start1         = January 10, 2000
| term_end1           = January 3, 2017
| office2             = Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue
| governor2           = [[Mike Foster (American politician)|Mike Foster]]
| term_start2         = January 8, 1996
| term_end2           = April 30, 1999
| predecessor2        = 
| successor2          = Brett Crawford
| birth_name          = John Neely Kennedy
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1951|11|21}}
| birth_place         = [[Centreville, Mississippi]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (since 2007)
| otherparty          = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (before 2007)
| spouse              = {{Marriage|Rebecca Stulb|1990}}
| children            = 1
| education           = [[Vanderbilt University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[University of Virginia School of Law|University of Virginia]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])<br />[[Magdalen College, Oxford]] ([[Bachelor of Civil Law|BCL]])
| website             = {{URL|https://www.kennedy.senate.gov/public/|Senate website}}
| module              = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=John Kennedy explains his vote against the 2022 $1.7 trillion omnibus package.ogg|title=John Kennedy's voice|type=speech|description=John Kennedy explains his vote against the 2022 $1.7 trillion omnibus package<br/>Recorded December 22, 2022}}
}}

'''John Neely Kennedy''' (born November 21, 1951) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the [[Seniority in the United States Senate|junior]] [[United States senator]] from [[Louisiana]] since 2017. A [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], he served as the [[Louisiana State Treasurer]] from 2000 to 2017, as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue from 1996 to 1999,<ref name="nola.com">{{cite web |last1=Bridges |first1=Tyler |title=John Kennedy says he is seriously considering race for governor, releases poll |url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/john-kennedy-says-he-is-seriously-considering-race-for-governor-releases-poll/article_f1bb8a82-642e-11ed-9e54-572990832459.html |website=NOLA.com |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810230152/https://www.nola.com/news/politics/john-kennedy-says-he-is-seriously-considering-race-for-governor-releases-poll/article_f1bb8a82-642e-11ed-9e54-572990832459.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and as special counsel and then cabinet member to Governor [[Buddy Roemer]] from 1988 to 1992.<ref name="nola.com"/>

Born in [[Centreville, Mississippi]], Kennedy graduated from [[Vanderbilt University]] and the [[University of Virginia School of Law]] before attending [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]]. In 1988, Governor Buddy Roemer selected Kennedy to serve as special legal counsel and later appointed him Secretary of the Cabinet.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Deslatte |first1=Melinda |title=Louisiana governor's race surprise: Sen. Kennedy won't run |url=https://www.houmatoday.com/story/news/state/2018/12/03/louisiana-governor-s-race-surprise/7957114007/ |website=Houma Today |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810230826/https://www.houmatoday.com/story/news/state/2018/12/03/louisiana-governor-s-race-surprise/7957114007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He left Roemer's staff in 1991 to unsuccessfully run for [[List of attorneys general of Louisiana|state attorney general]] as a Democrat. In 1999, he was elected state treasurer; he was reelected to that position in 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015. Kennedy was an unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senate in [[2004 United States Senate election in Louisiana|2004]] and [[2008 United States Senate election in Louisiana|2008]]. In 2007, he [[Party switching in the United States|switched parties]] and became a Republican.

In [[2016 United States Senate election in Louisiana|2016]], when U.S. Senator [[David Vitter]] opted not to seek reelection, Kennedy ran for Senate again. He finished first in the November nonpartisan blanket primary and defeated Democrat [[Foster Campbell]] 61%–39% in the December runoff. He was sworn in on January 3, 2017. Kennedy was one of six Republican senators to object to the [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count|certification]] of Arizona's electors in the 2020 presidential election. In [[2022 United States Senate election in Louisiana|2022]], Kennedy was reelected to the U.S. Senate,<ref name=":0">{{cite web |date=June 2021 |title=Sen. John Kennedy launches 2022 re-election bid: 'I will not let you down. I'd rather drink weed killer.' |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/john-kennedy-2022-re-election-campaign-weed-killer |access-date=December 6, 2021 |website=foxnews.com |language=en-US |archive-date=August 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821221639/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/john-kennedy-2022-re-election-campaign-weed-killer |url-status=live }}</ref> defeating 12 opponents with 62% of the vote in the first round.<ref>{{cite news |title=Louisiana Secretary of State Official Results Tues Nov 8 2022 |url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/graphical |access-date=March 17, 2023 |work=Louisiana Secretary of State |date=November 9, 2022 |archive-date=May 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518051500/https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/graphical |url-status=live }}</ref> Kennedy won every parish except [[New Orleans|Orleans Parish]] in his 2022 reelection.<ref name="politico.com">{{cite web |title=John Kennedy (<span class="ltr">R</span>) won the race for Louisiana Senate. |url=https://www.politico.com/2022-election/results/louisiana/senate/ |website=Politico |access-date=25 August 2023}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Kennedy was born in [[Centreville, Mississippi]], and raised in [[Zachary, Louisiana]]. He graduated from [[Zachary High School]] as co-valedictorian in 1969. He then attended [[Vanderbilt University]], where his interdepartmental major was in political science, philosophy and economics. He graduated ''[[magna cum laude]]''.

At Vanderbilt, Kennedy was elected president of his senior class and named to [[Phi Beta Kappa]]. He received a [[Juris Doctor]] in 1977 from the [[University of Virginia School of Law]]. There, he was an executive editor of the ''[[Virginia Law Review]]'' and elected to the [[Order of the Coif]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Bernstein |first=Mark F. |title=The First Year Senator |url=https://content.law.virginia.edu/news/201705/first-year-senator |publisher=University of Virginia School of Law |date=May 28, 2017 |access-date=15 December 2017 |archive-date=June 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605065825/http://content.law.virginia.edu/news/201705/first-year-senator |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1979, he earned a [[Bachelor of Civil Law]] (master's) degree, with [[first class honours]] from Oxford University, where he was a member of [[Magdalen College, Oxford|Magdalen College]] and studied under [[Rupert Cross]] and [[J. H. C. Morris|John H.C. Morris]].<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Senator John Kennedy Congressional Update Luncheon |url=https://natchitochesparishjournal.com/2019/08/07/u-s-senator-john-kennedy-congressional-update-luncheon/ |website=Natchitoches Parish Journal |access-date=22 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Southeastern Louisiana University FACULTY SENATE Meeting Minutes |url=http://www2.southeastern.edu/Academics/Depts/FacSen/020911minutes.pdf |access-date=November 22, 2015 |archive-date=November 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122200250/http://www2.southeastern.edu/Academics/Depts/FacSen/020911minutes.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About Treasurer Kennedy |url=http://www.treasury.state.la.us/Home%20Pages/TreasurerKennedy.aspx |url-status=dead |website=treasury.state.la.us |access-date=November 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127121629/http://www.treasury.state.la.us/Home%20Pages/TreasurerKennedy.aspx |archive-date=November 27, 2015}}</ref>

== Early career ==
Kennedy was a partner in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge law firm Chaffe McCall from 1985 to 1987 and 1992 to 1996.<ref name="ehu0h">''[[The Shreveport Times]]'', [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-attorney-general-candidates/130365647/ Attorney General candidates] (October 13, 1991)</ref> He also served as an adjunct professor at [[Louisiana State University|Louisiana State University's]] [[Paul M. Hebert Law Center]] in Baton Rouge from 2002 to 2016.<ref name=biography>{{cite web|title=About Treasurer Kennedy|url=http://www.treasury.louisiana.gov/Home%20Pages/TreasurerKennedy.aspx|website=Louisiana Department of the Treasury|access-date=December 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626003712/http://www.treasury.louisiana.gov/Home%20Pages/TreasurerKennedy.aspx|archive-date=June 26, 2014}}</ref>

Kennedy has written and published the following books and articles: ''Louisiana State Constitutional Law'' (LSU Publications Institute, Jan. 1, 2012), ''The Dimension of Time in the Louisiana Products Liability Act'' (42 Louisiana Bar Journal, Jan. 1, 1994), ''The Role of the Consumer Expectation Test Under Louisiana's Products Liability Doctrine'' (69 Tulane Law Review 117, Jan. 1, 1994), ''A Primer on the Louisiana Products Liability Act'' (49 Louisiana Law Review 565, Jan. 1, 1989), ''Assumption of the Risk, Comparative Fault and Strict Liability After Rozell'' (47 Louisiana Law Review 791, Jan. 1, 1987) and ''The Federal Power Commission, Job Bias, and NAACP v. FPC'' (10 Akron Law Review 556, Jan. 1, 1977).

==Early political career==
=== Special Counsel to Buddy Roemer ===
In 1988, Kennedy became special counsel to Governor [[Buddy Roemer]].<ref>"Roemer is no-show for opening session", ''[[Minden Press-Herald]]'', April 7, 1991, p. 1</ref> In 1991, he was also appointed secretary to the governor's cabinet and served in both posts until 1992. Roemer tasked Kennedy with helping him pass two key priorities: tort and campaign finance reforms.<ref name="nola.com"/>

Roemer instructed Kennedy to draft the Louisiana Products Liability Act, a bill that aimed to set forth four clear legal theories by which manufacturers could be held liable for damage their products caused.<ref>{{cite web |title=Civil Justice Reform |url=https://labi.org/issues/civil-justice-reform/#:~:text=Reforms%20in%20the%20%2790s%20were,contravenes%20the%20Louisiana%20Civil%20Code |website=LABI |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810225602/https://labi.org/issues/civil-justice-reform/#:~:text=Reforms%20in%20the%20%2790s%20were,contravenes%20the%20Louisiana%20Civil%20Code |url-status=live }}</ref> The new code also clarified what counted as "unreasonably dangerous" to help make potential sources of liability more predictable to both businesses and buyers with claims.<ref name="digitalcommons.law.lsu.edu">{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=John |title=A primer on the Louisiana Products Liability Act |url=https://digitalcommons.law.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5166&context=lalrev |website=Louisiana Law Review |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403203158/https://digitalcommons.law.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5166&context=lalrev |url-status=live }}</ref> Roemer then tasked Kennedy with building support for passing the legislation.<ref name="Treasure the Moment">{{cite web |last1=Maginnis |first1=John |title=Treasure the Moment |url=https://www.nola.com/gambit/news/treasure-the-moment/article_d2aaca30-05a3-5df4-b697-3b86f44b2c45.html |website=The Gambit |date=March 12, 2001 |publisher=NOLA.com |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810235427/https://www.nola.com/gambit/news/treasure-the-moment/article_d2aaca30-05a3-5df4-b697-3b86f44b2c45.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

As part of his advocacy, Kennedy published a law review article titled "A Primer on the Louisiana Products Liability Act".<ref name="digitalcommons.law.lsu.edu"/> He argued that the Products Liability Act would "bring added clarity, precision and certainty to Louisiana's products liability doctrine" and "strike an equitable balance between the right of a claimant who is injured in a product-related accident to just compensation and the right of the product's manufacturer to be judged fairly."<ref name="digitalcommons.law.lsu.edu"/> Kennedy also delivered public testimony before the Louisiana House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure in support of the bill, saying that the bill "provides for a state-of-the-art defense for manufacturers."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Garner |first1=James |title=The Louisiana 1998 Products Liability Reform Act: The Changes and Their Effects |url=https://journals.tulane.edu/teclf/article/view/1379/1248 |website=Tulane.edu |publisher=Tulane University |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=August 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811105435/https://journals.tulane.edu/teclf/article/download/1379/1248 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Louisiana legislature enacted the Louisiana Products Liability Act in 1988.<ref>{{cite web |title=Products Liability in Louisiana under the LPLA |url=https://www.louisianalawyerblog.com/products-liability-in-louisian/ |website=Louisiana Lawyer Blog |date=October 31, 2014 |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810231650/https://www.louisianalawyerblog.com/products-liability-in-louisian/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Before Roemer's time in office, Louisiana had no limits on individual campaign contributions, which allowed donors to cut massive checks to campaigns without reporting the contributions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maginnis |first1=John |title=National interest groups invade Louisiana politics, challenge campaign limits: John Maginnis |url=https://www.nola.com/opinions/national-interest-groups-invade-louisiana-politics-challenge-campaign-limits-john-maginnis/article_288acfaa-769e-5d09-98b8-2e71d1d141a7.html |website=NOLA.com |date=January 21, 2014 |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=August 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811002116/https://www.nola.com/opinions/national-interest-groups-invade-louisiana-politics-challenge-campaign-limits-john-maginnis/article_288acfaa-769e-5d09-98b8-2e71d1d141a7.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Roemer placed Kennedy in charge of his quest to toughen campaign finance laws, including placing a $5,000 cap on individual contributions to statewide candidates.<ref name="Treasure the Moment"/>

In addition to ushering in the passage of campaign finance and product liability reforms for Roemer's administration, Kennedy led the effort to consolidate Louisiana's four boards of higher education into one. He said the policy would be "fundamental" to improving Louisiana universities' "quality and desegregation".<ref>{{cite news |title=New Integration Plan for Louisiana Colleges |work=The New York Times |date=June 4, 1989 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/04/us/new-integration-plan-for-louisiana-colleges.html |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810230316/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/04/us/new-integration-plan-for-louisiana-colleges.html |url-status=live }}</ref> That effort eventually came one vote short of passage.<ref name="Treasure the Moment"/>

Roemer lost his reelection bid in 1991, but ran again in 1995 with Kennedy as his campaign manager.<ref name="Treasure the Moment"/> Roemer later endorsed Kennedy's bids for Senate.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hillburn |first1=Greg |title=Former Gov. Roemer endorses Kennedy for Senate |url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2016/07/27/former-gov-roemer-endorses-kennedy-senate/87627784/ |website=News Star |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810231820/https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2016/07/27/former-gov-roemer-endorses-kennedy-senate/87627784/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Kennedy remained close to Roemer until his death in 2021 and credited the former governor for getting him involved in public service.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bridges |first1=Tyler |title=Buddy Roemer, reform governor who switched parties and lost re-election bid, dies at 77 |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/buddy-roemer-reform-governor-who-switched-parties-and-lost-re-election-bid-dies-at-77/article_4e8cd89e-3676-11eb-b2fc-eb5c23580375.html |website=The Advocate |date=May 17, 2021 |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810231817/https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/buddy-roemer-reform-governor-who-switched-parties-and-lost-re-election-bid-dies-at-77/article_4e8cd89e-3676-11eb-b2fc-eb5c23580375.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 1991 state attorney general race ===
In 1991, Kennedy ran for [[List of attorneys general of Louisiana|Louisiana attorney general]] to succeed the retiring [[William J. Guste]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/politics/elections/article_d0cfdaea-bfce-11e6-9863-ef58a8d859c3.html|title=Here's the secret to John N. Kennedy's U.S. Senate win|author=Bridges, Tyler|work=The Acadiana Advocate|date=December 11, 2016|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027182538/https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/politics/elections/article_d0cfdaea-bfce-11e6-9863-ef58a8d859c3.html|url-status=live}}</ref> At 39, he was the youngest candidate in the race.<ref name="ehu0h"/> In the state's [[jungle primary]] he received 288,382 votes (20%), placing third behind [[Ben Bagert]], who received 313,143 (22%), and [[Richard Ieyoub]], who received 447,457 (31%).<ref>''The Town Talk'', [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-town-talk-ieyoub-bagert-in-ag-runof/130400841/ Ieyoub, Bagert in AG runoff] (October 21, 1991)</ref>

== Louisiana Secretary of Revenue (1996–1999)==

Following his first stint in state government, Kennedy returned to private law practice until 1996. That year, he was appointed secretary of the state Department of Revenue in the cabinet of Governor [[Mike Foster (American politician)|Mike Foster]].<ref>Gomez, Ron, ''My Name Is Ron And I'm a Recovering Legislator: Memoirs of a Louisiana State Representative''. Lafayette, LA: Zemog Publishing, 2000, p. 247; {{ISBN|0-9700156-0-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Foster's first appointments fill nine of 12 Cabinet posts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120981302/fosters-first-appointments-fill-nine/ |website=Newspapers.com |date=January 8, 1996 |access-date=March 16, 2023 |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316161520/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120981302/fosters-first-appointments-fill-nine/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite having political differences with Kennedy during his time in Roemer's administration, Foster selected Kennedy for the position and later endorsed him for the U.S. Senate.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sharkey |first1=Richard |title=Mike Foster endorses John Kennedy in U.S. Senate race |url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/politics/elections/state/2016/08/01/mike-foster-endorses-john-kennedy-us-senate-race/87938276/ |website=Town Talk |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=August 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811105406/https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/politics/elections/state/2016/08/01/mike-foster-endorses-john-kennedy-us-senate-race/87938276/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Kennedy stepped down as secretary in April 1999 and was replaced by Brett Crawford.<ref>{{cite web |title=Brett Crawford Appointed Acting Revenue Secretary |url=http://rev.louisiana.gov/NewsAndPublications/NewsReleaseDetails/28 |website=rev.louisiana.gov |date=May 3, 1999 |access-date=September 21, 2020 |archive-date=October 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025052831/http://rev.louisiana.gov/NewsAndPublications/NewsReleaseDetails/28 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Unclaimed Property Program ===

As secretary of revenue, Kennedy started an initiative to return unclaimed property to the people of Louisiana. At the time, nearly 500,000 people had valuable unclaimed property, such as old bank accounts, stocks, bonds, utility deposits and other lost or forgotten money that had been turned over to the state.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Henderson |first1=Byron |title=Louisiana Unclaimed Property Program To Be Featured On "Dateline NBC" News Program |url=https://revenue.louisiana.gov/NewsAndPublications/NewsReleaseDetails/18 |website=Louisiana Department of Revenue |access-date=9 August 2023}}</ref> Louisiana was one of 39 states to join an effort to return unclaimed property.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Henderson |first1=Bryon |title=Louisiana Joins 39 States In Effort to Collect Unclaimed Property From Holders |url=https://revenue.louisiana.gov/NewsAndPublications/NewsReleaseDetails/20 |website=Louisiana Department of Revenue |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810230337/https://revenue.louisiana.gov/NewsAndPublications/NewsReleaseDetails/20 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kennedy's Louisiana team hosted "Unclaimed Property Awareness Day" at the Lakeside Mall in Metairie, where shoppers claimed more than $365,000 in unclaimed property from the state.<ref name=bh1>{{cite web |last1=Henderson |first1=Byron |title=Over $164,000 in Unclaimed Property Returned To Cities, Towns and Municipalities |url=https://www.rev.state.la.us/NewsAndPublications/NewsReleaseDetails/23 |website=Louisiana Department of Revenue |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810231921/https://www.rev.state.la.us/NewsAndPublications/NewsReleaseDetails/23 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kennedy also launched a website for Louisiana residents to collect unclaimed property online and continued to hold events throughout the state to help people find their unclaimed money. He continued the unclaimed property effort after being elected treasurer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ballard |first1=Mark |title=Treasurer candidates vow to keep controversial unclaimed property program |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/elections/treasurer-candidates-vow-to-keep-controversial-unclaimed-property-program/article_b80e991c-95af-11e7-8f65-7b6ad0f21ae8.html |website=The Advocate |date=September 9, 2017 |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810230134/https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/elections/treasurer-candidates-vow-to-keep-controversial-unclaimed-property-program/article_b80e991c-95af-11e7-8f65-7b6ad0f21ae8.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Taxpayer Bill of Rights ===

In 1998, Kennedy advocated for the passage of Act 136, a bill that established a Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. The bill guaranteed that taxpayers would be treated with respect, have access to instructions "written in plain English", receive quick responses to questions from the Department of Revenue, and receive notice if they were in violation of the tax policy, among other things.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Danny |title=Governor Signs Taxpayer's Bill of Rights |url=https://revenue.louisiana.gov/publications/tt(07_98).pdf |website=Louisiana Tax Topics |access-date=9 August 2023 |archive-date=December 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225013000/http://www.revenue.louisiana.gov/publications/tt(07_98).pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Kennedy used the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights as a foundation to advocate for more tax code changes. In 1999, he proposed tax code changes that would protect people from prosecution for tax crimes that their spouses committed without their knowledge. He also proposed "Fair Interest" policies that halted the accrual of interest on tax liabilities held by people whom the Department of Revenue did not notify were in violation of state tax policy. Kennedy said the efforts helped ensure Louisiana residents had a tax system that was as "fair, easy, and convenient as possible", adding, "We look upon taxpayers as our customers...not our enemies."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Henderson |first1=Byron |title=1999 Legislative Session Proposals Announced |url=https://www.revenue.louisiana.gov/NewsAndPublications/NewsReleaseDetails/25 |website=Louisiana Department of Revenue |date=March 23, 1999|access-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810230339/https://www.revenue.louisiana.gov/NewsAndPublications/NewsReleaseDetails/25 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Telefile ===

In 1998, Kennedy aimed to streamline the process of paying taxes by allowing Louisiana taxpayers to file returns by phone via the TeleFile program.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Henderson |first1=Byron |title=TeleFile Program Reaches Thousands In 1999 |url=https://www.revenue.louisiana.gov/NewsAndPublications/NewsReleaseDetails/19 |website=Louisiana Department of Revenue |date=March 23, 1999|access-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810231404/https://www.revenue.louisiana.gov/NewsAndPublications/NewsReleaseDetails/19 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Department of Revenue sent 593,000 taxpayers information on how to file by calling a toll-free number. In the first year, 61,000 taxpayers filed via TeleFile in a process that took an average of eight minutes to complete. Kennedy also worked to expand electronic filing in the state by allowing professional filers to submit forms online.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Henderson |first1=Byron |title=1998 Louisiana State Tax Forms Mailed To Taxpayers |url=https://revenue.louisiana.gov/NewsAndPublications/NewsReleaseDetails/17 |website=Louisiana Department of Revenue |date=January 19, 1999|access-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810231821/https://revenue.louisiana.gov/NewsAndPublications/NewsReleaseDetails/17 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Gaming Control Board ===

While secretary of revenue, Kennedy was also appointed to the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, which is responsible for regulating legalized gambling. He criticized riverboat casino operators for failing to enforce the 21-year age restriction.<ref name="Treasure the Moment"/>

==Treasurer of Louisiana (2000–2017)==
[[File:Natch8 (15798650089).jpg|thumb|Kennedy at the [[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]] Christmas Parade in 2014]]
Kennedy left the Foster administration when he was elected [[Louisiana State Treasurer]] in 1999, having unseated incumbent Ken Duncan with 55.6% of the vote, or 621,796 votes, to Duncan's 44.4%, or 497,319 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10231999/10231999_Statewide.html|title=Louisiana election returns for state treasurer|date=October 23, 1999|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|access-date=November 13, 2013|archive-date=June 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622162528/http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10231999/10231999_Statewide.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Kennedy was reelected treasurer without opposition in 2003, 2007 and 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/elections/article_6c892840-915a-11e6-86ad-5bfcb2eb208e.html|title=Louisiana state treasurer John Kennedy hopes third time is charm in U.S. Senate bid|author=Sentell, Will|work=The Advocate|date=October 20, 2016|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=January 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113174058/https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/elections/article_6c892840-915a-11e6-86ad-5bfcb2eb208e.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, he defeated his sole challenger with 80% of the vote.

=== Commission on Streamlining Government ===

Kennedy served as a member of the Commission on Streamlining Government, which worked to reduce bureaucracy in Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web |title=Advisory Group on Outsourcing, Privatization and Risk Management |url=https://legis.la.gov/archive/2009/2325.pdf |website=Commission on Streamlining Government |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> In 2009, he urged the commission to consolidate the state's four boards of higher education into one.<ref>{{cite web |title=Streamlining Commission Starts Sifting |url=https://www.ktbs.com/news/streamlining-commission-starts-sifting/article_0ea470d2-5af2-5c5b-8dbd-49f123eb581f.html |website=KTBS |date=October 12, 2009 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> Kennedy argued that the state needed to cut spending, rather than raise taxes, because it already had the nation's fifth-highest business taxes. He urged the commission to cut the number of state government employees, which he said could save $800,000 per year. Kennedy also recommended that the commission review all state consulting contracts to ensure the state was getting a good deal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McIntyre |first1=Wade |title=Louisiana Treasurer John Kennedy unhappy with streamlining effort |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2010/01/08/louisiana-treasurer-john-kennedy-unhappy/48266411007/ |website=State Journal-Register |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

Kennedy suggested limiting Medicaid patients to two nonemergency room visits per year as a cost-saving measure. He also called for the state to require that all prisoners receive a high school diploma to reduce recidivism. Kennedy often criticized the commission as "way too tentative” in its policy proposals.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gramlich |first1=John |title=Weekly Wrap: Streamlining State Government |url=https://stateline.org/2009/09/11/weekly-wrap-streamlining-state-government/ |website=Stateline |date=September 11, 2009 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

=== Unclaimed property ===

After being elected treasurer, Kennedy drafted a bill to move the work of managing unclaimed property from the Department of Revenue to the state treasurer's office to allow him to continue the work he had started as secretary of revenue under Governor Foster.<ref name="Treasure the Moment"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ballard |first1=Mark |last2=Karlin |first2=Sam |title=Louisiana's 'unclaimed property' program at center of battle between treasurer, governor |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/louisianas-unclaimed-property-program-at-center-of-battle-between-treasurer-governor/article_fc2966e4-2672-11ea-8f05-d3126dfd2d98.html |website=The Advocate |date=December 24, 2019 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> Kennedy led regular events to raise awareness about unclaimed property at malls and other public spaces, returning $400 million to 600,000 Louisianians.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hagen |first1=Joe |title=Treasurer Kennedy on Unclaimed Property |url=https://www.wbrz.com/news/treasurer-kennedy-on-unclaimed-property/ |website=WBRZ |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> He told reporters that the state had returned money to many prominent Louisianians, including Foster, [[Archie Manning]], and [[John Goodman]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Shelley |title=FOX 8 Defenders: Man hits jackpot with unclaimed property |url=https://www.fox8live.com/story/26689562/fox-8-defenders/ |website=Fox * |date=October 3, 2014 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> Under Kennedy's leadership, the treasury uncovered $45 million in unclaimed death benefits alone.<ref>{{cite web |title=La. Treasury finds almost $45 million in insurance benefits owed to residents |url=https://www.kplctv.com/story/31775372/latreasury-finds-almost-45-million-in-insurance-benefits-owed-to-residents/ |website=KPLC |date=April 20, 2016 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

With the money that remained unclaimed, Kennedy convinced the state legislature to establish a $200 million fund to repay construction bonds that were used to build [[Interstate 49|I-49]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=McGinnis |first1=John |last2=Alford |first2=Jeremy |title=Treasurer's job not big enough for Kennedy |url=https://www.businessreport.com/article/treasurers-job-not-big-enough-for-kennedy |website=Baton Rouge Business Report |date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> He worked with Moody's and Standard & Poor's to maintain the state's favorable bond rating throughout the project.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stickney |first1=Ken |title=Kennedy: Bond rating helps Louisiana push forward in I-49 funding |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/acadiana/2015/08/06/kennedy-bond-rating-helps-louisiana-push-forward-funding/31231849/ |website=Daily Advertiser |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

=== Debt refinance ===

As treasurer, Kennedy sought to refinance portions of Louisiana's debt from Hurricanes [[Hurricane Katrina|Katrina]] and [[Hurricane Rita|Rita]] as interest rates decreased.<ref name="wdsu.com">{{cite web |title=Louisiana to refinance debt for $82M for this year's budget |url=https://www.wdsu.com/article/louisiana-to-refinance-debt-for-82m-for-this-year-s-budget/3385463 |website=WDSU |date=March 17, 2016 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> He worked with the state legislature and several governors' offices to negotiate each refinancing.<ref>{{cite web |title=State Treasurer Urges Refinancing of Debt |url=https://www.kplctv.com/story/3993773/state-treasurer-urges-refinancing-of-debt/ |website=KPLC |date=October 18, 2005 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

In 2004, Kennedy told the state legislature that he could save more than $1.4 billion by refinancing the state's debt. He noted that he had sent Governor [[Kathleen Blanco]] several letters about refinancing that went unanswered.<ref name="wdsu.com"/> In 2011, Kennedy announced that Lafayette and Livingston Parishes had saved $11 million by refinancing.<ref>{{cite web |title=BOND MONEY COMING TO SEVERAL PARISHES |url=https://kpel965.com/bond-money-coming-to-several-parishes/ |website=KPEL |date=December 16, 2011 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> By 2013, Kennedy said he had "refinanced virtually all of the state's debt".<ref name="Budget Wars - a Q&A with Louisiana">{{cite web |last1=Varney |first1=James |title=Budget Wars - a Q&A with Louisiana State Treasurer John Kennedy: James Varney |url=https://www.nola.com/opinions/budget-wars---a-q-a-with-louisiana-state-treasurer-john-kennedy-james-varney/article_76bb7c68-8ea6-5e60-b7b5-7ee8cdebcf77.html |website=Times Picayune |date=March 8, 2013 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

In 2014, Kennedy worked to refinance $229 million in bond debt.<ref name="Budget Wars - a Q&A with Louisiana"/> The project faced delays because of a disagreement with Governor [[Bobby Jindal]]'s office over accounting practices.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Deslatte |first1=Melinda |title=Jindal And Kennedy Reach A Deal On $200M Borrowing |url=https://www.bizneworleans.com/jindal-and-kennedy-reach-a-deal-on-200m-borrowing/ |website=New Orleans Business Insider |date=November 7, 2014 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> Jindal's team claimed Kennedy was "unnecessarily holding up" progress on many construction projects, but Kennedy maintained that Jindal's accounting practices potentially violated federal anti-fraud laws. The two sides eventually compromised and the deal moved ahead, saving Louisiana $12 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Treasurer: Debt refinancing saved Louisiana 12 million |url=https://press-herald.com/treasurer-debt-refinancing-saved-louisiana-12m/ |website=Minden Press Herald |date=November 19, 2014 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> By the end of 2014, Kennedy had saved Louisiana a total of more than $600 million by refinancing debt.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Sean |title=State bond commission saves taxpayers millions through refinancings |url=https://bossierpress.com/state-bond-commission-saves-taxpayers-millions-through-refinancings/ |website=Bossier Press |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

In 2015, Kennedy saved Louisiana $109 million over 26 years by refinancing a $649 million loan that funded a highway project.<ref>{{cite web |title=Louisiana to save millions by refinancing highway projects |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/business/louisiana-to-save-millions-by-refinancing-highway-projects/article_b76a0137-833f-5bf0-9ed2-d8a0eca63aff.html |website=The Advocate |date=January 31, 2015 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

=== Anti-corruption efforts ===
[[File:PoliceRetirement 5 (15853080576).jpg|thumb|Kennedy speaking to the media, September 2014]]
As treasurer, Kennedy pushed for tougher ethical standards in state contracting reform.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hillburn |first1=Greg |title=Contract saga continues; cut them, Kennedy says |url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2016/03/07/contract-saga-continues-cut-them-kennedy-says/81441010/ |website=News Star |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> In 2007, he called for a full investigation into all contracts signed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina after media investigations revealed that one FEMA contractor allegedly engaged in profiteering by misrepresenting timesheets and hourly rates.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sandler |first1=Tim |last2=Myer |first2=Lisa |title=Ex-FEMA chief profiteering on Katrina? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna19918356 |website=NBC News |date=July 23, 2007 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> Kennedy also urged Governor Blanco to ban family members of state officials from securing construction contracts during the rebuilding effort.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Baum |first1=Dan |title=The Lost Year |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/08/21/the-lost-year |website=New Yorker |date=August 13, 2006 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

In 2013, Kennedy reported 30 Louisiana nonprofits to the legislative auditor's office after they failed to file financial reports.<ref>{{cite web |title=State Treasurer refers 19 non profits to Office of Debt Recovery |url=https://www.wafb.com/story/23353554/state-treasurer-refers-19-non-profits-to-office-of-debt-recovery/ |website=WAFB |date=September 6, 2013 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> In 2014, he launched an investigation into Act 859, an unconstitutional state retirement bill that benefited state police chief Mike Edmonson and one other state trooper. Kennedy said he received hundreds of emails from state employees who found the legislation unfair and claimed that the state's police officer retirement fund was underwater because "for years the legislature passed special interest legislation like this to help a select few".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Avery |first1=Cole |title=Kennedy presses police retirement system for answers on 'Edmonson Act' |url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_801b63c8-92e8-5c60-9e59-37fbdc79eb1e.html |website=NOLA.com |date=August 26, 2014 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

In 2014, Kennedy urged state prosecutors to start pressing charges against people who committed food stamp fraud. Kennedy noted that more than $1.1 million in food stamp debit cards were sent to people in jails, $107,000 was sent to ineligible felons, and $2 million was spent outside the state—implying that the funds were likely sent to nonresidents.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=John |title=John N. Kennedy: Both Right and Left should fight food stamp fraud |url=https://www.hannapub.com/ouachitacitizen/opinion/columns/john-n-kennedy-both-right-and-left-should-fight-food-stamp-fraud/article_d1d2a9aa-997e-11e3-a4f2-0017a43b2370.html |website=Ouachita Citizen |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

=== Tobacco settlement ===

In 1988, Louisiana was one of 46 states to enter into a settlement with tobacco companies over smoking-related illnesses whereby each state could choose between annual payments or a smaller lump sum.<ref>{{cite web |title=Louisiana Gets $137M in Tobacco Settlement Funds |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/louisiana-gets-137m-in-tobacco-settlement-funds/ |website=Courthouse News |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> Louisiana took the annual payments. As treasurer, Kennedy structured a deal to auction off part of the annual payments in exchange for a lump sum to hedge against the possibility that the tobacco companies could go bankrupt.<ref name="thetowntalk.com">{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=John |title=John Kennedy: Last savings account now targeted |url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/opinion/2015/04/19/john-kennedy-last-savings-account-now-targeted/26012665/ |website=Town Talk |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> At the time, Kennedy said, "If your rich uncle died and left you $4.4 billion, all of it in Philip Morris stock, what would you do? I would diversify."<ref name="escholarship.org">{{cite web |last1=Wakefield |first1=Tanner |last2=Glantz |first2=Stanton |title=Blowing Smoke Out of the Bayou: The Battle for Tobacco Control in Louisiana |url=https://escholarship.org/content/qt1cc903g7/qt1cc903g7_noSplash_fc5d5db87366f8bf9efd1b034de9a477.pdf?t=qaxixf |website=Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> The proceeds from that sale were invested in trust funds earmarked for education, health care, and TOPS—a higher-education scholarship program.<ref name="thetowntalk.com"/>

Kennedy opposed future sales of the debt. He argued that his early sale was only a hedge against a potential bankruptcy of the tobacco companies and should not be used as a short term fund to address immediate spending.<ref name="escholarship.org"/> In 2007, the Louisiana State Bond Commission voted to sell more of the settlement and Kennedy was the lone opposition vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=Decision could Come in June on Tobacco Money |url=https://www.wafb.com/story/6264301/decision-could-come-in-june-on-tobacco-money/ |website=WAFB |date=March 22, 2007 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

In 2015, Governor Jindal announced a plan to sell the remainder of the tobacco settlement in one lump sum of $751 million to help him address budget shortfalls rather than accepting the remaining $1.2 billion in annual payments.<ref name="thetowntalk.com"/> Kennedy opposed the plan, saying that taking the lump sum would be a "bonehead move" that the legislature would not support and adding:『I’ve talked to a number of legislators. I think most of them would rather drink weed killer than do this.』He argued that the sale would stop a one-time budget problem without addressing spending, leaving a debt bomb for future generations. The legislature sided with Kennedy, and Jindal's plan dissolved.<ref name="escholarship.org"/>

=== START college savings plan ===

In 1997, Louisiana launched its Student Tuition Assistance and Revenue Trust Savings Program to allow people to start a [[529 plan]] to save for their children's education.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wales |first1=Gus |title=START college saving program expands investment options and online account capabilities |url=https://www.osfa.la.gov/031104_START_College_Savings_Program_expands.htm |website=Office of Student Financial Assistance |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> As treasurer, Kennedy expanded five new investment options to give parents the choice of investing in the stock market in addition to the fixed returned securities options. He also put these investment options online to make it easier for parents to watch and manage their investments. During Kennedy's tenure, Louisiana's START program was ranked fifth-best in the nation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kilpatrick-Stone |first1=KC |title=Louisiana's START College Savings Program as the fifth best 529 plan in the nation |url=https://www.ktbs.com/news/louisianas-start-college-savings-program-as-the-fifth-best-529-plan-in-the-nation/article_74d5ecfc-82a0-5ad9-a8dd-524e9da73bb0.html |website=KTBS |date=October 26, 2015 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

=== Switching political parties ===

In the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 election]], Kennedy endorsed Democratic presidential nominee [[John Kerry]] over [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Levine |first1=Marianne |last2=Everett |first2=Burgess |title=Folksy John Kennedy gets serious pushback on Ukraine mess |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/03/john-kennedy-ukraine-impeachment-074916 |website=Politico |date=December 3, 2019 |access-date=December 4, 2019 |archive-date=December 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204084354/https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/03/john-kennedy-ukraine-impeachment-074916 |url-status=live }}</ref>

After being courted by the Republican Party for months, Kennedy declared in a letter to his constituents that he was leaving the Democratic Party and joining the Republicans, effective August 27, 2007. In his letter, he stated that he would run again for state treasurer [[2007 Louisiana elections#State Treasurer|later that year]].<ref name=republican/>

=== Working with governors ===

As treasurer, Kennedy often clashed with governors and state legislators from both political parties, especially over spending and tax increases.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McInnis |first1=John |title=Treasure the Moment |url=https://www.nola.com/gambit/news/treasure-the-moment/article_d2aaca30-05a3-5df4-b697-3b86f44b2c45.html |website=The Gambit |date=March 12, 2001 |publisher=NOLA.com |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref> He advocated for reducing state bureaucracy by cutting unnecessary state government jobs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barrow |first1=Bill |title=Treasurer John Kennedy, with no official role in budget process, outlines $3 billion savings plan |url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/treasurer-john-kennedy-with-no-official-role-in-budget-process-outlines-3-billion-savings-plan/article_a0b61190-6201-5601-afd7-1824fc97f113.html |website=NOLA.com |date=March 2, 2011 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

In 2009, Kennedy criticized Governor [[Kathleen Blanco]] for including more than $9 million in spending he deemed "pork". He sent Blanco a six-page document of suggested cuts she could make as line-item vetoes. Kennedy said his list was "based upon the fact that many of the entities do not appear to be government entities, the lack of information about many of the items or entities, and that many of the items should have been considered through the entire process and/or included in other appropriate places in the budget to ensure proper public scrutiny, input and accountability."<ref>{{cite web |title=Kennedy IDs $9M in pork for Blanco knife |url=https://neworleanscitybusiness.com/blog/2006/07/07/kennedy-ids-9m-in-pork-for-blanco-knife/ |website=New Orleans City Business |date=July 7, 2006 |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

During his third term as treasurer, Kennedy devised a 24-point plan by which the state could save money.<ref>Kennedy elaborated the plan in many venues across the state. See § III of the following: {{cite news|url=http://www2.selu.edu/Academics/Depts/FacSen/020911minutes.pdf|title=Guest Presentation by State Treasurer John Neely Kennedy|first=David|last=Ramsey|date=February 9, 2011|magazine=Southeastern Louisiana University Faculty Senate Minutes|access-date=October 8, 2011}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} A particular focus of Kennedy's cost-saving ideas was reduction in the hiring of consultants.</ref> Governor [[Bobby Jindal]] said Kennedy could "streamline" his own department. Many of Kennedy's ideas were derived from the Louisiana Commission for Streamlining Government, on which he served in his official capacity as treasurer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://theadvocate.com/home/3110363-125/jindal-slashes-funding-for-state |title=Michelle Milhollin, "Jindal slashes funding for state treasurer: Jindal's 'streamlining' efforts trim critics' funding" |newspaper=[[The Advocate (Baton Rouge)|Baton Rouge Morning Advocate]] |access-date=June 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427121942/http://theadvocate.com/home/3110363-125/jindal-slashes-funding-for-state |archive-date=April 27, 2014 }}</ref> Kennedy later accused Jindal's administration of [[check kiting]], a controversial accounting practice whereby the governor took money from the 2014-2015 budget to cover debts from the 2013-2014 budget.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hasten |first1=Mike |title=Treasurer says state 'check kiting' to cover budget shortfall |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/louisiana/2014/07/02/treasurer-says-state-check-kiting-cover-budget-shortfall/12042405/ |website=Daily Advertiser |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

==Campaigns for U.S. Senate==

=== 2004 ===
{{main|2004 United States Senate election in Louisiana}}

On February 3, 2004, Kennedy launched his first bid for the U.S. Senate to replace incumbent [[John Breaux]], who was retiring.<ref>The Daily Advertiser (February 4, 2004), [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser-kennedy-enters-sena/130408500/ Kennedy enters Senate race], ''Associated Press''</ref> He ran as a Democrat in the state's [[jungle primary]], losing to Republican [[David Vitter]] and Democrat [[Chris John (politician)|Chris John]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/2004-11-02-la-senate_x.htm|title=Vitter avoids runoff, first Louisiana Republican to Senate|website=usatoday30.usatoday.com|date=November 2, 2004|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506210025/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/2004-11-02-la-senate_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Vitter won the election outright.<ref name=republican>{{cite web|last1=Moller|first1=Jan|title=Treasurer bolts to GOP|url=http://blog.nola.com/times-picayune/2007/08/treasurer_bolts_to_gop.html|website=The Times Picayune|access-date=December 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427093222/http://blog.nola.com/times-picayune/2007/08/treasurer_bolts_to_gop.html|archive-date=April 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Official Election Results Results for Election Date: 11/2/2004|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11022004/11022004_Congressional.html|website=Louisiana Secretary of State|access-date=December 27, 2014|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402114929/http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11022004/11022004_Congressional.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2008 ===
{{main|2 = 2008 United States Senate election in Louisiana}}
Kennedy ran for the Senate again in 2008, this time as a Republican. He was defeated, 52.1% to 45.7%, by incumbent Democratic Senator [[Mary Landrieu]]; the same year, Republican presidential nominee [[John McCain]] [[2008 United States presidential election in Louisiana|defeated]] [[Barack Obama]] in Louisiana, but Obama was elected.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11042008/11042008_Statewide.html|title=Louisiana election results|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|access-date=November 13, 2013|archive-date=August 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831022328/http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11042008/11042008_Statewide.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/us/politics/todays-senator-john-kennedy-is-from-louisiana.html|title=Today's Senator John Kennedy Is From Louisiana|first=Emmarie|last=Huetteman|date=February 17, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001024823/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/us/politics/todays-senator-john-kennedy-is-from-louisiana.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2016 ===
{{main|3=2016 United States Senate election in Louisiana}}
[[File:LAGOP GOTVR Dec2016 176 (31214059490).jpg|thumb|right|Then-[[President-elect of the United States|president-elect]] [[Donald Trump]] and Kennedy campaigning in Baton Rouge]]
On January 26, 2016, Kennedy launched a third bid for a Senate seat. In seeking to succeed the retiring Vitter, he faced more than 20 opponents.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rainey |first=Richard |title=Treasurer John Kennedy enters Senate race to succeed David Vitter |url=http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/01/treasurer_john_kennedy_enters.html |website=NOLA.com |publisher=The Times Picayune |access-date=June 27, 2016 |archive-date=October 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008030724/http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/01/treasurer_john_kennedy_enters.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Vitter had announced his forthcoming retirement from the Senate in 2015 after losing a bid for governor to [[John Bel Edwards]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Richardson|first=Bradford|title=Vitter announces Senate retirement after losing La. gubernatorial race|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/261030-vitter-edwards-louisiana-governor-election/|website=The Hill|date=November 21, 2015|access-date=June 27, 2016|archive-date=March 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330053051/http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/261030-vitter-edwards-louisiana-governor-election|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kennedy's senatorial campaign was endorsed by the [[United States Chamber of Commerce|U.S. Chamber of Commerce]], the [[National Federation of Independent Business]], the [[NRA Political Victory Fund]],<ref name="NRAILA1004G"/> the [[National Right to Life Committee]], the [[American Conservative Union]], Vice President-elect [[Mike Pence]] and President-elect [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnkennedy.com/blog.cfm?post=91|title=U.S. Chamber of Commerce Endorses Kennedy for Senate|website=johnkennedy.com|access-date=April 15, 2017|archive-date=April 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416045130/http://www.johnkennedy.com/blog.cfm?post=91|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hillyard |first=Vaughn |title=Trump, Pence Endorse Louisiana GOP Senate Candidate John Kennedy Ahead of Runoff |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-pence-endorse-louisiana-gop-senate-candidate-john-kennedy-ahead-n691571 |publisher=[[NBC News]] |date=December 3, 2016 |access-date=April 15, 2017 |archive-date=August 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807165903/http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-pence-endorse-louisiana-gop-senate-candidate-john-kennedy-ahead-n691571 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kennedy, who had supported Vitter for governor the previous year, won the jungle primary and faced Democrat Foster Campbell in a December 10 runoff election. President-elect [[Donald Trump]]—who had received Kennedy's support in the 2016 presidential election<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailycomet.com/elections/20161011/louisianas-republican-senate-us-candidates-stick-with-trump|title=Louisiana's Republican Senate U.S. candidates stick with Trump|last=Deslatte|first=Melinda|via=Associated Press|newspaper=Daily Comet|access-date=November 25, 2016|archive-date=October 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012142409/http://www.dailycomet.com/elections/20161011/louisianas-republican-senate-us-candidates-stick-with-trump|url-status=dead}}</ref>—campaigned for Kennedy the day before the runoff.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nola.com/elections/index.ssf/2016/12/trump_in_baton_rouge_gop_rally.html|title=Donald Trump campaigns in Baton Rouge, this time for Senate candidate John Kennedy|website=nola.com|author=Rainey, Richard|date=December 10, 2016|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=December 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204101900/https://www.nola.com/elections/index.ssf/2016/12/trump_in_baton_rouge_gop_rally.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Kennedy defeated Campbell by 536,204 votes (61%) to 347,813 (39%). He lost the most-populated parishes of [[Orleans Parish, Louisiana|Orleans]] and [[East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana|East Baton Rouge]], in which he had been reared, but was a runaway winner in Campbell's home parish of [[Bossier Parish, Louisiana|Bossier]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Louisiana Secretary of State Official Election Results Results for Election Date: 11/8/2016 - US Senator |url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/static/2016-11-08/resultsRace/Congressional |publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State |access-date=September 21, 2020 |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921125951/https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/static/2016-11-08/resultsRace/Congressional |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 2022 ===
{{main|3 = 2022 United States Senate election in Louisiana}}
Kennedy was reelected in 2022,<ref name=":0"/> defeating 12 opponents in an open primary with 62% of the vote in the first round.<ref>{{cite news|title=Louisiana Secretary of State Official Results Tues Nov 8 2022|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/graphical|access-date=March 17, 2023|work=Louisiana Secretary of State|date=November 9, 2022|archive-date=May 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518051500/https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/graphical|url-status=live}}</ref> In the general election, Kennedy defeated Democratic nominee Gary Chambers by 43.7 percentage points. Kennedy received the most votes in every parish except Orleans parish.<ref name="politico.com"/>

== U.S. Senate (2017–present) ==
=== 115th Congress (2017–2019) ===
[[File:John Kennedy ceremonial swearing in.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Kennedy being sworn in as Louisiana's junior U.S. senator by outgoing Vice President [[Joe Biden]] in the [[United States Capitol|U.S. Capitol]]'s [[Old Senate Chamber]] on January 3, 2017]]
Kennedy was sworn in as [[Louisiana]]'s junior U.S. Senator on January 3, 2017. He had resigned his position as state treasurer earlier that day.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kennedy to resign as treasurer Jan. 3 |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/louisiana/2016/12/15/kennedy-resign-treasurer-jan/95493072/ |access-date=January 29, 2023 |work=[[The Daily Advertiser (Lafayette, Louisiana)|The Daily Advertiser]] |date=December 15, 2016 |archive-date=March 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329035101/https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/louisiana/2016/12/15/kennedy-resign-treasurer-jan/95493072/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2017, Kennedy "grilled" [[United States Secretary of Education|Education Secretary]] [[Betsy DeVos]] in a hearing before the Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Service, Education and Related Agencies. In the exchange, he contrasted the lack of school choice available to younger pupils in many rural areas of the country with the numerous brands of mayonnaise available at grocery stores: "Now I can go down to my overpriced Capitol Hill grocery this afternoon and choose among about six different types of mayonnaise. How come I can't do that for my kid?" Kennedy asked. The remark attracted national attention. DeVos replied that the Trump administration budget proposal would give parents and students more power and opportunity so that American education could again become "the envy of the world".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/06/06/la-senator-brings-up-mayonnaise-during-education-hearing/102560902/|title=La. senator brings up mayonnaise during education hearing|author=Deborah Barfield Berry|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=June 6, 2017|access-date=June 8, 2017|archive-date=June 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607220242/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/06/06/la-senator-brings-up-mayonnaise-during-education-hearing/102560902/|url-status=live}}</ref> Kennedy served as a volunteer substitute teacher for more than a decade in Louisiana public schools to better understand issues in the education system.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Guidry |first1=Leigh |title=U.S. senator steps into Lafayette classroom to experience 'the most difficult job in the world' |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/education/2019/11/15/louisiana-senator-john-kennedy-teaches-paul-breaux-middle-lafayette/4190286002/ |website=The Advertiser |access-date=14 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="cnbc.com">{{cite web |last1=Johnson Hess |first1=Abigail |title=What this Republican senator learned from over a decade of substitute teaching |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/20/what-this-republican-senator-learned-from-over-a-decade-of-substitute-teaching.html |website=CNBC |access-date=15 September 2023}}</ref> He attracted comment for his manner in the Senate. A January 2018 ''[[The Huffington Post|Huffington Post]]'' article reported: "Since being elected to the Senate a year ago, Kennedy ... has made a name for himself on [[Capitol Hill]] with his wit, humor and penchant for folksy expressions―a notable feat in a place where jargon and arcane procedure tend to reign supreme".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/john-kennedy-colorful-senate_us_5a68eef6e4b0dc592a0f138f|title=Meet The Folksiest Man In The U.S. Senate|date=January 25, 2018|work=The Huffington Post|author=Bobic, Igor|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=September 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928122410/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/john-kennedy-colorful-senate_us_5a68eef6e4b0dc592a0f138f|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kennedy received widespread media attention after he crossed party lines to oppose the appointment of three of Trump's [[U.S. District Court]] judicial nominees who Kennedy believed were not qualified: [[Jeff Mateer]], [[Brett Talley]], and [[Matthew S. Petersen]]. The [[White House]] withdrew all three nominations.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hohmann |first=James |title=The Daily 202: Why a Louisiana GOP senator keeps bringing down Trump judicial nominees |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2017/12/19/daily-202-why-a-louisiana-gop-senator-keeps-bringing-down-trump-judicial-nominees/5a3841f230fb0469e883fc52/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=December 19, 2017 |access-date=April 2, 2020 |archive-date=May 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506021849/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2017/12/19/daily-202-why-a-louisiana-gop-senator-keeps-bringing-down-trump-judicial-nominees/5a3841f230fb0469e883fc52/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On December 13, 2017, during Petersen's confirmation hearing before the [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Senate Judiciary Committee]], Kennedy asked Petersen about basic legal procedure,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/365050-dem-senator-bashes-trump-judicial-nominee-over-hearing-testimony/|title=Dem senator bashes Trump judicial nominee over hearing testimony: 'Hoo-boy'|first=John|last=Bowden|date=December 14, 2017|access-date=April 2, 2020|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125174156/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/365050-dem-senator-bashes-trump-judicial-nominee-over-hearing-testimony|url-status=live}}</ref> whether he knew what the [[Daubert standard]] was, and what a [[motion in limine|motion ''in limine'']] was. Petersen struggled to answer.<ref name=NYTimes12.15.17>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/15/us/politics/matthew-petersen-senator-kennedy.html|title=Trump Judicial Nominee Attracts Scorn After Flopping in Hearing|last1=Bromwich|first1=Jonah Engel|date=December 15, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 2, 2020|last2=Chokshi|first2=Niraj|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=December 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215202218/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/15/us/politics/matthew-petersen-senator-kennedy.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Hawkins, Derek (December 15, 2017). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/12/15/trump-judicial-nominee-fumbles-basic-questions-about-the-law/ Trump judicial nominee fumbles basic questions about the law] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209093436/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/12/15/trump-judicial-nominee-fumbles-basic-questions-about-the-law/ |date=December 9, 2020 }}, ''The Washington Post'', December 15, 2017 Retrieved April 2, 2020.</ref> Kennedy also voted against the nomination of [[Gregory G. Katsas]] to the D.C. Circuit, but Katsas was confirmed.<ref>[https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00282 U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 115th Congress – 1st Session United States Senate Vote Summary: Vote Number 282, United States Senate, November 27, 2017] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925043835/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00282 |date=September 25, 2018 }}, Retrieved April 2, 2020.</ref>

On April 7, 2017, Kennedy voted to confirm [[Neil Gorsuch]] to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|United States Supreme Court]]. Kennedy participated in Gorsuch's confirmation as a member of the Judiciary Committee.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carlsen |first1=Audrey |last2=Andrews |first2=Willson |title=How Senators Voted on the Gorsuch Confirmation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/04/07/us/politics/gorsuch-confirmation-vote.html |website=New York Times |access-date=7 April 2017}}</ref> During the confirmation process, Kennedy said, “Neil Gorsuch is obviously very well-qualified based on his education and background, but I want to know what’s in his heart. I want to know what he thinks about past Supreme Court decisions and how the justices reached those decisions. I want to know whether he thinks personal preferences have a role in the judicial decision-making. I want to know if he knows the name of the person who cleans his office. Also, I'm rather fond of the U.S. Constitution, and I want to make sure he is, too."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaster |first1=Carolyn |title=Sen. Kennedy: 'I like what I see so far' about Gorsuch |url=https://www.americanpress.com/2017/01/31/sen-kennedy-i-like-what-i-see-so-far-about-gorsuch/ |website=The American Press |access-date=31 January 2017}}</ref>

On October 6, 2018, Kennedy voted to confirm [[Brett Kavanaugh]] to the Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hillburn |first1=Greg |title=Brett Kavanaugh: Sen. Kennedy believes Kavanaugh, will vote to confirm |url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/09/28/kennedy-believe-kavanaugh-vote-confirm/1454289002/ |website=News Star |access-date=28 September 2018}}</ref> As a member of the Judiciary Committee, Kennedy participated in Kavanaugh's contentious nomination hearing after [[Christine Blasey Ford]] accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault. Kennedy criticized the hearing, saying, "No fair-minded American can believe that he's not qualified—he went to Yale Law School; he didn't get his law degree from Costco. He has a total command of Supreme Court precedent. I think he’s a legal rock star."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Oprysko |first1=Caitlin |title=Kennedy says Kavanaugh vote will continue as planned on Thursday |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/16/kavanaugh-vote-thursday-kennedy-825776 |website=Politico |access-date=16 September 2018}}</ref> Kennedy broke from Republicans during the hearing to call for the [[FBI]]'s investigation into Ford's allegations to be made public.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stole |first1=Bryn |title=John Kennedy, differing with Senate GOP leaders, says Kavanaugh FBI report should be public |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/john-kennedy-differing-with-senate-gop-leaders-says-kavanaugh-fbi-report-should-be-public/article_8522c22e-c693-11e8-ad0e-ab85f3146cc3.html |website=The Advocate |access-date=2 October 2018}}</ref>

In March 2018, after a dog died in an overhead bin while flying [[United Airlines]], Kennedy said he would file a bill to "prohibit airlines from putting animals in overhead bins" and added that officials "would face significant fines" if they did not comply.<ref>{{cite web|last=Connolly|first=Griffin|title=After Dog Dies On United Airlines Flight Sen. John Kennedy Proposes Bill|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/dog-dies-united-airlines-flight-sen-john-kennedy-proposes-bill|website=Roll Call|date=March 15, 2018|access-date=March 16, 2018|archive-date=March 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316040016/https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/dog-dies-united-airlines-flight-sen-john-kennedy-proposes-bill|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Anapol|first=Avery|title=GOP senator opposed to gun control mocked for bill proposal after airline pet death|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/378540-gop-senator-opposed-to-gun-control-mocked-over-intense-concern-for-airline/|website=The Hill|date=March 15, 2018|access-date=March 16, 2018|archive-date=March 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317102214/http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/378540-gop-senator-opposed-to-gun-control-mocked-over-intense-concern-for-airline|url-status=live}}</ref> That month, he introduced the Welfare Of Our Furry Friends (WOOFF) Act, but the bill died in committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2556/|title=S.2556 - Welfare Of Our Furry Friends (WOOFF) Act|website=congress.gov|date=March 15, 2018|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=August 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802205508/https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2556/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2018, Kennedy and several other Republican members of Congress met with Russian government officials in Moscow. During the meetings, the two sides discussed election interference, upholding nuclear arms treaties, maintaining peace in [[Syria]], and respecting [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] sovereignty. The delegation was criticized for visiting the country during [[Independence Day (United States)|Fourth of July]] celebrations and for holding the talks just days after an [[2018 Amesbury poisonings|incident in the United Kingdom]] in which a couple were poisoned by a suspected Russian nerve agent.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=2018-07-11 |title=Republicans on Russia trip face scorn and ridicule from critics at home |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/republicans-on-russia-trip-face-scorn-and-ridicule-from-critics-at-home/2018/07/05/68f0f810-807e-11e8-b0ef-fffcabeff946_story.html |access-date=2023-09-06 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-06 |title=GOP senators mocked for spending July 4 in Russia |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/07/05/gop-senators-mocked-for-spending-july-4-in-russia/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}</ref>

On October 12, 2018, the Senate voted to pass Kennedy's Rural Business Investment Program Advisers Relief Act of 2018. The bill removes compliance costs on a venture capital program aimed at stimulating business in rural America. It became law in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Metah |first1=Dorothy |title=President Signs Bill Exempting Rural Advisers from Registration |url=https://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/CorporateCommercial-Law/770350/President-Signs-Bill-Exempting-Rural-Advisers-from-Registration |website=Mondaq |access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref>

On December 18, 2018, Kennedy voted against the First Step Act, a criminal justice reform bill that reduced the prison sentences of some federal inmates. He said, "I voted against this bill because the most important goal of the criminal justice system for American families is justice. This bill is backwards. It favors criminals over victims. It forgets that the ultimate goal is justice. We’ve seen what’s happened with so-called criminal justice reform in Louisiana. People are literally getting killed."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Staff |title=Sen. Kennedy shares opposition to latest criminal justice legislation |url=https://www.kalb.com/content/news/Sen-Kennedy-shares-opposition-to-latest-criminal-justice-legislation-503091911.html |website=KALB |access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref>

On October 5, 2018, Kennedy introduced a Small Business Administration Disaster Loan bill to stop the agency from dropping SBA loan limits from $25,000 to $14,000 to ensure businesses have funds to rebuild following natural disasters.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Staff |title=House, Senate approve "more efficient recovery process" as part of SBA Disaster Loans Bill |url=https://www.livingstonparishnews.com/house-senate-approve-more-efficient-recovery-process-as-part-of/article_a62e4dbe-e9dc-11e8-a0e2-cf3a14e96ee1.html |website=Livingston Parish News |access-date=16 November 2018}}</ref> The bill passed the Senate with unanimous consent. President Trump signed it into law on November 29, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=President Donald J. Trump Signed S. 3554 into Law |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/president-donald-j-trump-signed-s-3554-into-law |website=American Presidency Project |publisher=UC Santa Barbara |access-date=29 November 2018}}</ref>

On November 15, 2018, Kennedy introduced the National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act, a bill that amended the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to reauthorize the [[National Flood Insurance Program]] until June 1, 2019, to avoid a lapse in the program.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Meyerowitz |first1=Steven |title=Well, the National Flood Insurance Program Still Hasn't Lapsed |url=https://www.law.com/insurance-coverage-law-center/2018/12/10/well-the-national-flood-insurance-program-still-hasnt-lapsed/?slreturn=20230718114248 |website=Law.com |access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> The bill passed the Senate with unanimous consent and passed the House with a vote of 315–48. Trump signed the bill into law on December 21, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bill Announcement |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/bill-announcement-11/ |website=White House |access-date=21 December 2018}}</ref>

In 2018, Kennedy worked with Senator [[Joe Manchin]] on the Justice Against Corruption on K Street (JACK) Act. The bill was named after [[Jack Abramoff]], a lobbyist who was convicted of fraud, corruption, and conspiracy. Kennedy said, "This idea is simple: If you have been convicted of a felony like bribery, extortion, embezzlement or tax evasion, you should have to disclose that when registering to become a lobbyist. Political leaders and businesses need to know the backgrounds of those who are trying to influence public policy."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Willson |first1=Megan |last2=Uquillas |first2=Jorge |title=Lobbyist Conviction Disclosure Bill Heads to President's Desk |url=https://about.bgov.com/news/lobbyist-conviction-disclosure/ |website=Bloomberg Government |access-date=21 December 2018}}</ref> The bill passed the Senate on December 20, 2018, and was signed into law in 2019. In February 2020, JACK Act disclosures revealed that lobbyists with criminal histories collected $3.1 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sen. Kennedy's JACK Act reveals millions paid to lobbyists with criminal convictions |url=https://www.kennedy.senate.gov/public/2020/2/sen-kennedy-s-jack-act-reveals-millions-paid-to-lobbyists-with-criminal-convictions |website=Senate.gov |access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref>

Leading up to the [[2019 Louisiana gubernatorial election|2019 election]], Kennedy was mentioned as a prospective candidate for governor in the [[jungle primary]] against incumbent [[John Bel Edwards]], but on December 3, 2018, he said he preferred to remain in the Senate and would not run for governor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2018/12/03/breaking-kennedy-wont-run-governor/2189459002/|title=Kennedy won't run for governor of Louisiana|date=December 3, 2018|newspaper=[[The Times (Shreveport)|The Shreveport Times]]|author=Hilburn, Greg|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=April 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415121608/https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2018/12/03/breaking-kennedy-wont-run-governor/2189459002/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 116th Congress (2019–2021) ===
In March 2019, Kennedy introduced the [[Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act]], which Trump signed into law on December 18, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=S.945 - Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/945/actions?r=3&s=2 |work=Congress.gov |date=18 December 2020 |access-date=September 9, 2021 |archive-date=September 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909162650/https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/945/actions?r=3&s=2 |url-status=live }}</ref> The law prohibits any company from listing on an American stock exchange if it refuses to allow the [[Public Company Accounting Oversight Board]] to audit its annual private audit for three consecutive years. It also requires companies to disclose whether they are owned by a foreign government.<ref>{{cite news |title=S.945 - Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/945?r=3&s=2 |work=Congress.gov |date=December 18, 2020 |access-date=September 9, 2021 |archive-date=September 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909162652/https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/945?r=3&s=2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, Kennedy again introduced a bill to extend the National Flood Insurance Program. It extended the program through September 30, 2018, rather than lapsing on May 31.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Rachael |title=Sens. Cassidy, Kennedy say NFIP extension proposal lacks sustainability, affordability |url=https://www.wafb.com/2019/06/07/sens-cassidy-kennedy-say-nfip-extension-proposal-lacks-sustainability-affordability/ |website=WAFB |access-date=7 June 2019}}</ref> The bill passed the Senate on May 23, 2019, and was signed into law.<ref>{{cite web |title=National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act of 2019 (2019 - S. 1693) |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s1693 |website=GovTrack.us |access-date=15 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:President Trump Arrives in New Orleans (32869766378).jpg|left|thumb|Kennedy and other congressional Republicans greeting president Trump at [[Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport]], January 2019]]
In 2019, Kennedy called on the [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury Department]] to establish a website where citizens could find out whether they had unclaimed Treasury savings bonds.<ref name="theadvocate.com">{{cite web |last1=Crisp |first1=Elizabeth |title=U.S. Treasury agrees to make savings bond data more accessible; Kennedy: Money belongs in Americans' hands |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/u-s-treasury-agrees-to-make-savings-bond-data-more-accessible-kennedy-money-belongs-in/article_c43d37f8-e525-11e9-9a0d-0362b91b3f57.html |website=The Advocate |access-date=2 October 2019}}</ref> He established a similar website for the state of Louisiana when he was treasurer.<ref name=bh1/> On October 22, 2019, the Treasury Department announced that it would launch a website for unclaimed bonds. Kennedy said, "The bond might be lost, the physical bond in the days when we used paper bonds, and the people who loaned the money to the federal government might have forgotten about the bonds. But you know who knows about the bonds? The United States Department of Treasury, because they've got the names and the addresses, and right now they've got the money—$26 billion that they are holding that belongs to the American people, and they won't give it back."<ref name="theadvocate.com"/>

On November 25, 2019, Trump signed Kennedy's Recovery for Small Businesses After Disaster Act, a bill allowing small business disaster loans to remain at a limit of $25,000, rather than dropping to $14,000.<ref>{{cite web |title=President Trump signs Sen. Kennedy's Small Business Disaster Relief Bill |url=https://bizmagsb.com/2019/11/25/president-trump-signs-sen-kennedys-small-business-disaster-relief-bill/ |website=Biz Magazine |access-date=25 November 2019}}</ref>

After Justice [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]]'s death in 2020, Kennedy supported Trump's nomination of [[Amy Coney Barrett]] to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. Kennedy voted to confirm Barrett, and said in an interview on ''[[Tucker Carlson Tonight]]'', "you would have to be barking mad to think that she is not qualified".<ref name="hiu5">{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sen-john-kennedy-amy-coney-barrett-confirmation-supreme-court|title=Sen. John Kennedy lauds Barrett Supreme Court confirmation as 'victory for our founders'|date=October 26, 2020|newspaper=[[Fox News]]|author=Halon, Yael|access-date=March 3, 2023|archive-date=March 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305203635/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sen-john-kennedy-amy-coney-barrett-confirmation-supreme-court|url-status=live}}</ref> After her confirmation on October 26, he applauded it as a "victory for our founders".<ref name="hiu5"/>

On February 4, 2020, Kennedy voted against [[First impeachment trial of Donald Trump|Trump's first impeachment]].<ref>{{cite web |title=How senators voted on Trump's impeachment |url=https://www.politico.com/interactives/2019/trump-impeachment-vote-count-senate-results/ |website=Politico |access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>

On March 26, 2020, Kennedy voted for the first COVID-19 stimulus package, the CARES Act, saying, "This virus poses a unique health risk, and we know that poverty can also threaten lives. Understanding that, I voted today to protect the well-being of Louisianans now and into the future by investing in medical services, families, workers and businesses."<ref>{{cite web |title=Kennedy releases statement on CARES Act |url=https://www.katc.com/news/coronavirus/kennedy-releases-statement-on-cares-act |website=KATC |access-date=26 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=McCaleb |first1=Dan |title=Senators Cassidy, Kennedy vote 'Yes' for $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus; bill heads to house |url=https://www.livingstonparishnews.com/coronavirus/senators-cassidy-kennedy-vote-yes-for-2-trillion-coronavirus-stimulus-bill-heads-to-house/article_61a413aa-6fc2-11ea-8ac5-eb334cc2e188.html |website=Livingston Parish News |access-date=26 March 2020}}</ref>

In July 2020, Kennedy voted for the second COVID-19 relief package, saying, "I’m very conservative fiscally, as I think most of you know, but people are in pain and the size of the American economy is just extraordinary. This is the largest economy in all of human history, and government just shut down, just shut it down, and a lot of people have gotten hurt, through no fault of their own, and we need to help them without wasting any money."<ref>{{cite web |title=Sen. John Kennedy shares his thoughts on next coronavirus relief bill |url=https://www.wafb.com/2020/07/30/sen-john-kennedy-shares-his-thoughts-next-coronavirus-relief-bill/ |website=WAFB |access-date=30 July 2020}}</ref>

Kennedy helped draft the Water Resources Development Act of 2020, a bill that determines which projects the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]] will build. With few options, Louisiana agreed to let the Corps build a flood protection system for the New Orleans region that meets the standards for national flood insurance. He added a provision that allowed Louisiana to renegotiate a loan agreement with the Corps for a flood protection system that saved Louisiana taxpayers $1.3 billion.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=John |title=John N. Kennedy: Louisiana starts 2021 with $1.3 billion less in debt for its levees |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/letters/article_713079c0-6257-11eb-842b-73e011fc6505.html |website=The Advocate |access-date=1 February 2021}}</ref>

On March 10, 2021, the Center for Effective Lawmaking ranked Kennedy as one of the ten most effective Republican senators of the 116th Congress, and the most effective Republican senator in the areas of commerce, education, and trade.<ref>{{cite news |title=Highlights from the New 116th Congress Legislative Effectiveness Scores |url=https://thelawmakers.org/legislative-effectiveness-scores/highlights-from-the-new-116th-congress-legislative-effectiveness-scores |access-date=9 September 2021 |work=Center for Effective Lawmaking |date=10 March 2021 |archive-date=September 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912050411/https://thelawmakers.org/legislative-effectiveness-scores/highlights-from-the-new-116th-congress-legislative-effectiveness-scores |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 117th Congress (2021–2023) ===
[[File:John-N-Kennedy presiding senate (cropped).png|245px|thumb|Kennedy on the senate floor speaking about attempts to slow the [[2021–2023 inflation surge|ongoing surge in inflation]], December 2022]]
After the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]], Kennedy and 11 other Republican senators said they would object to certain states' electoral votes in the [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count]] on January 6, 2021, unless the vote was audited.<ref>{{cite news |title=Joint Statement from Senators Cruz, Johnson, Lankford, Daines, Kennedy, Blackburn, Braun, Senators-Elect Lummis, Marshall, Hagerty, Tuberville |url=https://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=5541 |access-date=April 9, 2021 |work=U.S. Senator for Texas Ted Cruz |date=January 2, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414185715/https://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=5541 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Hilburn">{{cite news |last=Hilburn |first=Greg |title=Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy seeks to block Joe Biden's Electoral College win |url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2021/01/02/senator-john-kennedy-seeks-block-joe-bidens-electoral-college-win/4114989001/ |access-date=January 10, 2021 |work=The News-Star |date=January 2, 2021 |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111225958/https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2021/01/02/senator-john-kennedy-seeks-block-joe-bidens-electoral-college-win/4114989001/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Investigator 2021">{{cite web |last=Hammer |first=David |title=Sen. Kennedy says he refused GOP calls to overturn Biden's win over Trump |website=wwltv.com |date=2021-05-12 |url=https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/politics/sen-kennedy-says-he-refused-gop-calls-to-overturn-bidens-win-over-trump/289-48e00f9f-33ab-4e0d-bb7c-d0e1e4691152 |access-date=July 18, 2021 |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513035332/https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/politics/sen-kennedy-says-he-refused-gop-calls-to-overturn-bidens-win-over-trump/289-48e00f9f-33ab-4e0d-bb7c-d0e1e4691152 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was participating in the certification when Trump supporters [[2021 storming of the United States Capitol|stormed the United States Capitol]]. Kennedy called the attack "despicable and shameful" and called for the rioters "to go to jail and pay for the destruction they caused."<ref>{{cite news |last=Fatherree |first=Dwayne |title=Resignations mount in wake of mob attack on Capitol |url=https://www.iberianet.com/news/resignations-mount-in-wake-of-mob-attack-on-capitol/article_69e51386-5179-11eb-b93e-f7dde703d836.html |work=The Daily Iberian |date=8 January 2021 |access-date=10 January 2021 |archive-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109144319/https://www.iberianet.com/news/resignations-mount-in-wake-of-mob-attack-on-capitol/article_69e51386-5179-11eb-b93e-f7dde703d836.html |url-status=live }}</ref> When the Capitol was secured and Congress returned to complete the certification, he objected to the certification of Arizona's electoral votes.<ref>{{cite news |author=U.S. Senate |title=Roll Call Vote 117th Congress - 1st Session—Vote Summary: Question: On the Objection (Shall the Objection Submitted by the Gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Gosar, and the Senator from Texas, Mr. Cruz, and Others Be Sustained?) |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00001 |access-date=19 January 2021 |work=U.S. Senate Legislation and Records |date=6 January 2021 |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107145609/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00001 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Braun|first=Paul|date=8 January 2021|title=5 Louisiana Congressmen Voted To Overturn Biden's Presidential Win. Here's What They Had To Say.|work=WWNO|url=https://www.wwno.org/post/5-louisiana-congressmen-voted-overturn-bidens-presidential-win-heres-what-they-had-say|access-date=10 January 2021|archive-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112011656/https://www.wwno.org/post/5-louisiana-congressmen-voted-overturn-bidens-presidential-win-heres-what-they-had-say|url-status=live}}</ref>

On February 9, 2021, Kennedy voted against [[Second impeachment of Donald Trump|Trump's second impeachment]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Booker |first1=Brakkton |title=Trump Impeachment Trial Verdict: How Senators Voted |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/trump-impeachment-trial-live-updates/2021/02/13/967539051/trump-impeachment-trial-verdict-how-senators-voted |website=NPR |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> Kennedy said the impeachment effort was unconstitutional because Trump was no longer president.<ref>{{cite web |title=Louisiana's Cassidy and Kennedy diverge on Trump impeachment |url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-bill-cassidy-impeachments-trump-impeachment-john-kennedy-8304c99799ed929afa13c058c95c5756 |website=Associated Press |access-date=26 January 2021}}</ref> He called the impeachment process "a thinly veiled effort by the uber-elites in our country, who look down on most Americans, to denigrate further those people who chose to vote for President Trump and not vote for President Biden."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Houston |first1=Matt |title=Sens. Cassidy, Kennedy vote to dismiss impeachment |url=https://www.wafb.com/2021/01/26/sen-bill-cassidy-explains-why-he-backed-gop-motion-dismiss-president-trumps-impeachment-trial/ |website=WAFB |access-date=27 January 2021}}</ref>

On March 6, 2021, Kennedy voted against the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a COVID-19 recovery package. He said he voted against it because it was "an orgy of pork",<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hillburn |first1=Greg |title=Senators Bill Cassidy, John Kennedy vote against COVID-19 relief bill that includes $1,400 checks |url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2021/03/06/senators-bill-cassidy-john-kennedy-vote-against-coronavirus-relief-bill/4612069001/ |website=News Star |access-date=6 March 2021}}</ref> adding, "This is not a coronavirus bill, not the way it's been portrayed".<ref>{{cite web |title=Senator Kennedy Says American Rescue Plan Is Not a COVID Relief Bill |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4949990/senator-kennedy-american-rescue-plan-covid-relief-bill |website=CSPAN |access-date=4 March 2021}}</ref>

On May 28, 2021, Kennedy voted against the [[January 6 commission]] House Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]] proposed<ref>{{cite news |title=Proposal for 9/11-style commission to probe Capitol attack mired in partisanship |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/proposal-9-11-style-commission-probe-capitol-attack-mired-partisanship-n1258782 |access-date=September 14, 2021 |publisher=NBC News |date=February 24, 2021 |archive-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914141027/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/proposal-9-11-style-commission-probe-capitol-attack-mired-partisanship-n1258782 |url-status=live }}</ref> to investigate the January 6 attack.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stevenson|first1=Peter|last2=Blanco|first2=Adrian|last3=Santamariña|first3=Daniela|date=May 28, 2021|title=Which senators supported a Jan. 6 Capitol riot commission|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/january6-commission-senators-vote/|access-date=May 29, 2021|archive-date=May 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526225939/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/january6-commission-senators-vote/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=May 28, 2021|title=Roll Call Vote 117th Congress - 1st Session|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00218|url-status=live|access-date=July 10, 2021|publisher=[[United States Senate]]|archive-date=July 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707160556/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00218}}</ref> The commission failed to gain traction, but the House later successfully established the [[January 6 committee]] as an alternative.

On June 22, 2021, the Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, a bill by Kennedy that moves up the deadline for a bill passed in 2019 that required U.S. markets to delist any foreign company that refused to allow the [[Public Company Accounting Oversight Board]] to inspect its audits. Kennedy said, "When foreign companies flout America's security laws, they put Americans' retirement plans and savings at risk. China is bent on exploiting American investors, so we need more accountability for foreign companies using American capital, and we need it now."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Flook |first1=Bill |title=Senate Passes Bill to Accelerate Delisting Deadline for U.S.-Listed Chinese Companies |url=https://tax.thomsonreuters.com/news/senate-passes-bill-to-accelerate-delisting-deadline-for-u-s-listed-chinese-companies/ |website=Reuters |access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref>

On July 29, 2021, President [[Joe Biden]] signed into law the DUMP Opioids Act, Kennedy's eighth piece of legislation to become law in his first term as a U.S. senator.<ref>{{cite news |title=Congress.gov advanced search |url=https://www.congress.gov/quick-search/legislation?wordsPhrases=&wordVariants=on&congresses%5B%5D=all&legislationNumbers=&legislativeAction=&sponsor=on&representative=&senator=K000393&q=%7B%22bill-status%22%3A%22law%22%7D |access-date=September 9, 2021 |work=Congress.gov |date=July 27, 2021 |archive-date=September 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909155030/https://www.congress.gov/quick-search/legislation?wordsPhrases=&wordVariants=on&congresses%5B%5D=all&legislationNumbers=&legislativeAction=&sponsor=on&representative=&senator=K000393&q=%7B%22bill-status%22%3A%22law%22%7D |url-status=live }}</ref> Kennedy has authored more bills signed into law than any first-term senator from Louisiana except [[Newton C. Blanchard|Newton Blanchard]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Even with cornpone jokes, John N. Kennedy leverages his position for state|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/article_cc0f6da6-099b-11ec-bbf2-b71c32ff6b72.html|access-date=9 September 2021|work=The Advocate|date=September 1, 2021|archive-date=September 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909155032/https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/opinion/article_cc0f6da6-099b-11ec-bbf2-b71c32ff6b72.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On August 8, 2021, Kennedy voted against the [[Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act]], saying, "I realized pretty quickly that if you look up 'stupid stuff' in the dictionary, there's a picture of this bill. They told us it was a real infrastructure bill. It's not; only 23% of the bill is real infrastructure. The rest is Green New Deal and welfare. They told us the bill was paid for; it isn't. We're gonna have to borrow maybe up to $400 billion to pay for it. They told us there were no tax increases. There are; my state's gonna have to pay $1.3 billion in new taxes on our petrochemical industry. They told us … the Democrats were really wary of this bill and that if we passed this bill, it would make it harder for them to pass their $5 trillion tax and spending binge reconciliation bill. Well, if that's true, how come every Democrat voted for this infrastructure bill? And finally, they told us that it's not going to add to inflation, but it will."<ref>{{cite web |title='Ingraham Angle' on bipartisan infrastructure bill, policing |url=https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/ingraham-angle-on-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-policing |website=Fox News |access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref>

On September 27, 2021, Kennedy introduced the Unclaimed Savings Bond Act of 2021 to require the Treasury Department to speed the process of returning unclaimed savings bonds to the American people, continuing work he had done as state treasurer. He said the Treasury was sitting on more than $26 billion in unclaimed bonds.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kovaleski |first1=Dave |title=Sen. Kennedy urges Treasury to speed up process of returning unredeemed savings bonds |url=https://financialregnews.com/sen-kennedy-urges-treasury-to-speed-up-process-of-returning-unredeemed-savings-bonds/ |website=Financial Regulation News |access-date=4 February 2022}}</ref> President Biden signed an executive order based on Kennedy's efforts.<ref>{{cite web |title=President issues executive order based on Kennedy's effort to reunite Americans with $26 billion in unclaimed savings bonds |url=https://www.kennedy.senate.gov/public/2020/12/president-issues-executive-order-based-on-kennedy-s-effort-to-reunite-americans-with-26-billion-in-unclaimed-savings-bonds |website=Senate.gov |access-date=21 December 2021}}</ref>

In November 2021, while questioning [[Saule Omarova]], the nominee for [[Office of the Comptroller of the Currency|Comptroller of the Currency]], Kennedy mockingly said: "I don’t mean any disrespect. I don’t know whether to call you professor or comrade". This came after an exchange between Omarova and Kennedy about her upbringing in the USSR and her former connections to communist groups. Senator [[Sherrod Brown]] interrupted Kennedy's line of questioning, accused him of engaging in character assassination.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Newmyer |first=Tory |date=2021-11-18 |title=GOP senator suggests Soviet upbringing of Biden's pick for top bank regulator indicates Communist loyalty |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/11/18/kennedy-omarova-hearing/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

On April 7, 2022, Kennedy voted against [[Ketanji Brown Jackson]]'s nomination to the Supreme Court to succeed [[Stephen Breyer]], who was retiring. At the hearing, he said that he "found Judge Jackson to be smart, well-versed in the law, and extraordinarily deft and artful in her ability to speak at length without saying anything of substance on critical questions—especially the limits of judicial power and the importance of judicial restraint", adding, "I don't agree with the judge on where, based on her opinions, she draws the limits of judicial power, and I don't think she places as great an importance as I do on judicial restraint in a Madisonian system of checks and balances and separation of powers, and, for that reason, I will be voting no."<ref>{{cite news|date=April 4, 2022|title=Louisiana senators say they will vote NO on Biden's SCOTUS pick|work=[[KATC (<span class="ltr">TV</span>)|KATC]]|url=https://www.katc.com/news/covering-louisiana/louisiana-senators-say-they-will-vote-no-on-bidens-scotus-pick|access-date=March 3, 2023|archive-date=March 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305211237/https://www.katc.com/news/covering-louisiana/louisiana-senators-say-they-will-vote-no-on-bidens-scotus-pick|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 27, 2022, Kennedy voted against the Chips and Science Act, a bill regarding semiconductor production. He called the bill "a subsidy to Big Tech", adding, "These are extraordinary American companies that Congress just helped, but they're very profitable, and the supply of chips is growing now. My concern is the amount of money. For that amount, we could have doubled the R&D tax credit for every company in America."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bridges |first1=Tyler |title=John Kennedy votes against computer chip bill. His Democratic rivals would have voted yes. |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/elections/john-kennedy-votes-against-computer-chip-bill-his-democratic-rivals-would-have-voted-yes/article_97f90caa-0f7d-11ed-856a-935d994df5a2.html |website=The Advocate |access-date=30 July 2022}}</ref>

On August 7, 2022, Kennedy voted against the [[Inflation Reduction Act]], calling it a "massive tax-and-spending bill".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Potter |first1=William Taylor |title=Here's what Louisiana politicians say about the Inflation Reduction Act |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2022/08/09/inflation-reduction-act-what-louisiana-politicians-saying/10263969002/ |website=Daily Advertiser |access-date=8 August 2022}}</ref> While the bill was being amended, Kennedy attempted to include an amendment he drafted with Senator [[Raphael Warnock]] to cap the price of insulin at $35 per month; the amendment did not receive the 60 votes needed to be included.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Axelrod |first1=Tal |title=Republicans strip $35 insulin price cap from Democrats' bill -- but insist Senate rules are to blame |url=https://abc11.com/senate-passes-tax-bill-insulin-cap-inflation-reduction-act-prices/12109332/ |website=ABC 11 |access-date=8 August 2022}}</ref>

=== 118th Congress (2023–present) ===
By late 2022 there was again speculation that Kennedy might run for governor in the [[2023 Louisiana gubernatorial election|2023 election]], when Edwards would be [[Term limits in the United States|term limited]], but he ended the rumors on the second day of the [[118th United States Congress|118th Congress]] by announcing he again would prefer to stay in the Senate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2023/01/04/louisiana-senator-john-kennedy-wont-run-for-governor-whos-up-next/69779279007/|title=Republican Senator John Kennedy out of Louisiana governor's race|date=January 4, 2023|newspaper=[[The Daily Advertiser (Lafayette, Louisiana)|The Daily Advertiser]]|author=Hilburn, Greg|access-date=January 29, 2023|archive-date=January 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105045433/https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2023/01/04/louisiana-senator-john-kennedy-wont-run-for-governor-whos-up-next/69779279007/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 25, 2023, Kennedy quizzed Biden's judicial nominee [[Charnelle Bjelkengren]] on basic questions about the [[Constitution of the United States]], whether she could state the functions of [[Article Five of the United States Constitution|Articles V]] and [[Article Two of the United States Constitution|II]], and whether she could define [[Purposive approach|purposivism]] and the [[independent state legislature theory]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 25, 2023 |title=Kennedy questions Bjelkengren, Brookman, Merchant in Judiciary |website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XmnrCwEPds |access-date=March 5, 2023 |archive-date=March 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305205127/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XmnrCwEPds |url-status=live }}</ref> Bjelkengren failed to answer all four questions.<ref name="Art-V">{{Cite web|date=January 25, 2023|title=Sen. Kennedy stumps Biden judicial nominee with basic questions about Constitution|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-kennedy-stumps-biden-judicial-nominee-basic-questions-constitution-rcna67703|website=[[NBC]]|first=Kevin|last=Dietsch|access-date=January 29, 2023|archive-date=January 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128154714/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-kennedy-stumps-biden-judicial-nominee-basic-questions-constitution-rcna67703|url-status=live}}</ref> After the hearing, Kennedy told a local reporter at [[NBC News]], "Some of these nominees that have been forced in the last two years have no business being anywhere near a federal bench—they don't have any business being anywhere near a park bench."<ref name="Art-V"/> Bjelkengren later withdrew her nomination.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Epperly |first=Emma |date=January 9, 2024 |title=Spokane County Judge Charnelle Bjelkengren will not be renominated to federal bench |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/jan/09/spokane-county-judge-will-not-be-renominated-to-fe/ |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=www.spokesman.com}}</ref>

In May 2023, Kennedy sparked a diplomatic row with Mexico after he said, "Without the people of America, Mexico, figuratively speaking, would be eating cat food out of a can and living in a tent",<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-12 |title=Mexico slams US Republican bill tightening border security |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-slams-us-republican-bill-tightening-border-security-2023-05-12/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512213900/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-slams-us-republican-bill-tightening-border-security-2023-05-12/ |url-status=live }}</ref> while asking DEA Administrator [[Anne Milgram]] why the U.S. was not asking Mexico to partner more effectively with the U.S. to stop the flow of fentanyl over the border.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brinal |first1=Rafel |title=Mexican ambassador lashes out at Kennedy for 'racist and xenophobic insults' |url=https://thehill.com/latino/4004965-mexican-ambassador-lashes-out-at-kennedy-for-racist-and-xenophobic-insults/ |website=The Hill |access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref> Kennedy introduced a bill to classify drug cartels as terrorist organizations because they traffic [[fentanyl]], a drug that killed more than 70,000 Americans in 2022.<ref name="Biden and the fentanyl hawks">{{cite web |last1=Mahr |first1=Krista |last2=Payne |first2=Daniel |title=Biden and the fentanyl hawks |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-pulse/2023/03/14/biden-and-the-fentanyl-hawks-00086876 |website=Politico |access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref> He also introduced a bill in 2023 to increase the prison sentences for fentanyl dealers, saying, "You have to have 400 grams. . . to face a mandatory 10-year sentence. Four hundred grams will kill 200,000 people dead as a doornail. Shreveport, Louisiana, is home to 184,000 people. So, a dealer could [have] 400 grams—an amount that could kill every man, woman, and child in Shreveport—in order to get a mandatory 10-year sentence."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Comeaux |first1=Brandon |title=John Kennedy's Bill to 'Protect American Communities' from Fentanyl Fails in U.S. Senate |url=https://kpel965.com/john-kennedys-bill-to-protect-american-communities-from-fentanyl-fails-in-u-s-senate/ |website=KPEL |access-date=10 May 2023}}</ref> Senate Democrats blocked the bill, citing concerns over incarceration rates.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Anthony |first1=Abigail |title=Booker Blocks Bill to Increase Sentences for Fentanyl Dealers on Second Annual Fentanyl Awareness Day |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/news/booker-blocks-bill-to-increase-sentences-for-fentanyl-dealers-on-second-annual-fentanyl-awareness-day/ |website=National Review |access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref>

In 2023, Kennedy and Senator [[Kyrsten Sinema]] introduced a bill to install a special inspector general to track the money the U.S. sends Ukraine to fight its war with Russia, like the inspector general tasked with tracking money in Afghanistan. Kennedy and Sinema said of the bill, "One of the best ways we can avoid escalation (and bring this conflict to a close) is by ensuring that the investments America has already made pay off instead of being wasted, lost or diverted."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sinema |first1=Kyrsten |last2=Kennedy |first2=John |title=America's billions in aid to Ukraine isn't charity, but it can't be wasted |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2023/06/02/ukraine-war-us-aid-must-continue-but-monitored/70268552007/ |website=USA Today |access-date=2 June 2023}}</ref> A vote to add the bill to the National Defense Authorization Act failed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Democrats block Kennedy amendment to establish inspector general to oversee American aid to Ukraine |url=https://www.americanpress.com/2023/07/27/democrats-block-kennedy-amendment-to-establish-inspector-general-to-oversee-american-aid-to-ukraine/ |website=American Press |access-date=27 July 2023}}</ref>

Kennedy was among the 31 Senate Republicans who voted against final passage of the [[Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4031302-here-are-the-senators-who-voted-against-the-bill-to-raise-the-debt-ceiling/|title=Here are the senators who voted against the bill to raise the debt ceiling|first=Aris|last=Folley|date=June 1, 2023|access-date=June 17, 2023|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|archive-date=June 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618001804/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4031302-here-are-the-senators-who-voted-against-the-bill-to-raise-the-debt-ceiling/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2023, Kennedy read explicit passages from ''[[All Boys Aren't Blue]]'' and ''[[Gender Queer]]'' during a Senate judiciary hearing on book banning. When he asked whether the books should be available to children, Senator [[Dick Durbin]] replied, "No one is advocating for sexually explicit content to be available in an elementary school library or a children's section of a library."<ref>{{cite news|last=Gaskins|first=Kayla|date=September 13, 2023|url=https://katv.com/news/nation-world/senator-reads-explicit-passage-from-book-during-judiciary-hearing-to-make-point-on-book-bans-john-kennedy-all-boys-arent-blue-gender-queer-political-battle-public-libraries|title=Senator reads explicit passage from book during judiciary hearing to make point on book bans|location=[[Washington, D.C.]]|publisher=[[KATV]]|access-date=September 14, 2023}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
* [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development|Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government|Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs|Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs]]
** [[United States Senate Banking Subcommittee on Economic Policy|Subcommittee on Economic Policy]]
** [[United States Senate Banking Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection|Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection]]
** [[United States Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development|Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on the Budget|Committee on the Budget]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|Committee on the Judiciary]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration|Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism|Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law|Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law]]
** [[United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property|Subcommittee on Intellectual Property]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship]]

''' Caucuses '''
*[[Senate Republican Conference]]
* [[Congressional Coalition on Adoption]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute|url=https://www.ccainstitute.org|language=en}}</ref>

==Political positions==
{{missing information|section|pre-Senate positions?|date=September 2020}}
Kennedy holds a score of 89% for the 116th Congress and a lifetime score of 83% from [[Heritage Action]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sen. John Kennedy |url=https://heritageaction.com/scorecard/members/K000393/116 |access-date=April 9, 2021 |work=Heritage Action for America |date=December 12, 2020 |archive-date=August 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825135837/https://heritageaction.com/scorecard/members/K000393/116 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[American Conservative Union]]'s Center of Legislative Accountability gives Kennedy a lifetime rating of 83.74.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sen. John Kennedy|url=http://ratings.conservative.org/people/K000393|access-date=May 5, 2021|website=American Conservative Union Foundation}}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> His [[Humane Society of the United States|Humane Society]] Legislative Fund rating has ranged between 67% (2019) and 28% (2017), with his last (2020) at 57%.<ref name=VoteSmart>{{cite news |title=John Kennedy's Ratings and Endorsements |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/35496/john-kennedy |access-date=November 23, 2021 |work=Vote Smart |archive-date=November 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123225405/https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/35496/john-kennedy |url-status=live }}</ref> On [[infrastructure]], the [[National Association of Police Organizations]] rates Kennedy at 60% and the [[American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations]] (AFL-CIO) has assigned him a rating of 8% on matters concerning labor unions.<ref name=VoteSmart/>

=== Judiciary ===
Kennedy is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. As a member, he voted to confirm Justices [[Neil Gorsuch]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carlsen |first1=Audrey |last2=Andrews |first2=Wilson |title=How Senators Voted on the Gorsuch Confirmation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/04/07/us/politics/gorsuch-confirmation-vote.html |website=New York Times |access-date=7 April 2017}}</ref> [[Brett Kavanaugh]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Knapp |first1=Emily |last2=McClure |first2=John |last3=Griffiths |first3=Brett |title=Kavanaugh confirmed: Here's how senators voted |url=https://www.politico.com/interactives/2018/brett-kavanaugh-senate-confirmation-vote-count/ |website=Politico |access-date=6 October 2018}}</ref> and [[Amy Coney Barrett]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Halon |first1=Yael |title=Sen. John Kennedy lauds Barrett Supreme Court confirmation as 'victory for our founders' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sen-john-kennedy-amy-coney-barrett-confirmation-supreme-court |website=Fox News |access-date=26 October 2020}}</ref> He voted against the nomination of Justice [[Ketanji Brown Jackson]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hillburn |first1=Greg |title=Senators Bill Cassidy, John Kennedy will vote against Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: Here's why |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2022/04/04/heres-why-bill-cassidy-vote-against-judge-ketanji-brown-jackson-supreme-court-biden-nominee/7264034001/ |website=The Daily Advertiser |access-date=4 April 2022}}</ref>

Kennedy has defended the blue slip process for district court judges, saying that it "encourages bipartisan cooperation … The blue slip process makes our court system fairer and stronger. And that’s good for our democracy."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=John |title=The American people deserve a say over their district court judges |url=https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/4003549-the-american-people-deserve-a-say-over-their-district-court-judges/ |website=The Hill |access-date=14 May 2023}}</ref> He often asks judicial nominees basic questions about the Constitution during their confirmation process, occasionally stumping them.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Concepcion |first1=Summer |last2=Thorpe |first2=Frank |title=Sen. Kennedy stumps Biden judicial nominee with basic questions about Constitution |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-kennedy-stumps-biden-judicial-nominee-basic-questions-constitution-rcna67703 |website=NBC News |access-date=26 January 2023}}</ref>

Kennedy has opposed the effort to add more justices to the Supreme Court,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ballard |first1=Mark |title=John Kennedy's opening remarks not as harsh as his colleagues |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/john-kennedys-opening-remarks-not-as-harsh-as-his-colleagues/article_fef17418-aa0d-11ec-9c05-972a1acb2627.html |website=The Advocate |access-date=22 March 2022}}</ref> claiming it would "delegitimize" the Court. He has said he supports judges and justices who believe in "judicial restraint", adding, "Federal judges don't make law. They don't tell us what the law ought to be. They tell us what the law is."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fischler |first1=Jacob |last2=Figueroa |first2=Ariana |title=Here's what senators said on the first day of the U.S. Supreme Court hearings |url=https://lailluminator.com/2022/03/21/heres-what-senators-said-on-the-first-day-of-the-u-s-supreme-court-hearings/ |website=Louisiana Illumnator |access-date=21 March 2022}}</ref> Kennedy opposed Congress establishing ethics standards for justices. He claimed such a move would violate the Constitution and called it a "a crusade to undermine the United States' Supreme Court's legitimacy and the credibility of the federal judiciary."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schorr |first1=Isaac |title=Sen. John Kennedy Launches Biblical Defense of Supreme Court, Attack on Democrats: 'By Thy Words You Shall Be Condemned' |url=https://www.mediaite.com/politics/sen-john-kennedy-launches-biblical-defense-of-supreme-court-attack-on-democrats-by-thy-words-you-shall-be-condemned/ |website=Mediaite |access-date=2 May 2023}}</ref>

=== Natural disasters and conservation ===
Kennedy has advocated for natural disaster aid for Louisiana to address hurricane damage as a member of the Appropriations Committee.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sen. Kennedy pushes for La. disaster aid, opposes government spending bill |url=https://www.wafb.com/2022/03/11/sen-kennedy-pushes-la-disaster-aid-opposes-government-spending-bill/ |website=WAFB |access-date=10 May 2022}}</ref> He worked to reform the National Flood Insurance Program because he believes flood insurance is too expensive for coastal communities, including those in Louisiana. In 2023, Kennedy called on FEMA to disclose the algorithm it uses to determine flood insurance prices after premiums increased rapidly under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0, saying, "Since millions of Louisianians depend on the NFIP to protect their homes from natural disasters, FEMA must come clean about why premiums are skyrocketing under Risk Rating 2.0. In the meantime, my bills would ensure fairer rates for the people of Louisiana."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ballard |first1=Mark |title=Sen. John N. Kennedy introduces bills to address rising flood insurance costs |url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/sen-john-n-kennedy-introduces-flood-insurance-bills/article_2f6e8fde-b973-11ed-9792-8b6a6451d23d.html |website=NOLA.com |access-date=2 March 2023}}</ref>

As treasurer, Kennedy believed in investing in coastal restoration and conservation. He worked to ensure that settlement money from the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill|BP oil spill]] was used for coastal protection and restoration.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=John |title=Louisiana must safeguard BP settlement money for our coast: John Kennedy |url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/louisiana-must-safeguard-bp-settlement-money-for-our-coast-john-kennedy/article_0aacb4d7-9245-5fad-88a2-a7ad0010debf.html |website=NOLA.com |access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref> Kennedy also fought to protect tobacco settlement money that had been allocated toward coastal restoration after the governor proposed using the money to cover other state debts.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Podkul |first1=Cezary |title=Another Big Tobacco Bond Deal, Cajun Style |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/another-big-tobacco-bond-deal-cajun-style |website=ProPublica |access-date=30 April 2015}}</ref>

=== Health care ===
Kennedy supported the "skinny repeal" of the [[Affordable Care Act]] in 2017, a vote that failed. He said, "It's not a loss for the Republican Party—it's a loss for the American people. But I intend to keep my promise to the people of Louisiana, to get rid of Obamacare."<ref>{{cite web |title=Mandated Coverage Complaints Not Going Away |url=https://www.wrkf.org/politics/2017-07-31/mandated-coverage-complaints-not-going-away |website=WRFK |access-date=31 July 2017}}</ref> Kennedy has supported capping the price of insulin. He and Senator [[Raphael Warnock]] introduced a bill to cap the price at $35.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Avery |first1=Kemonte |title=Sens. John Kennedy, Ralphael Warnock introduce bill for affordable insulin |url=https://www.brproud.com/news/sens-john-kennedy-ralphael-warnock-introduce-bill-for-affordable-insulin/ |website=BR Proud |access-date=March 23, 2023}}</ref>

As treasurer, Kennedy fought to keep investing tobacco settlement money in health care rather than reallocating it toward other budget shortfalls.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shuler |first1=Marsha |title=State treasurer warns against tobacco settlement sale plans |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/state-treasurer-warns-against-tobacco-settlement-sale-plans/article_68aaf885-33a5-5c14-8d9a-330a4dc0b15c.amp.html |website=The Advocate |access-date=5 July 2016}}</ref>

=== Education ===
Kennedy opposed President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan, saying, "Americans who already paid off their debt, worked through college, went to a trade school, or chose to not go to school will pay off the loans that other people incurred. On what planet is that fair?"<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mueller |first1=Wesley |title=Louisiana lawmakers react to Biden's student debt cancellation |url=https://lailluminator.com/2022/08/25/%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8Blouisiana-lawmakers-react-to-bidens-student-debt-cancellation/ |website=Louisiana Illuminator |access-date=25 August 2022}}</ref> He celebrated the Supreme Court's ruling against loan forgiveness, writing, "Biden's attempt to cancel student debt was a woke injustice: Forcing Americans who paid their debt or chose not to go to school to foot bills for [people] who haven’t paid back their personal loans. SCOTUS made the right call. Hardworking Americans will be better off for it."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Valezquez |first1=Trinity |title=Louisiana leaders talk about US Supreme Court decision on student loan debt relief |url=https://wgno.com/news/politics/louisiana-politics/louisiana-leaders-talk-about-us-supreme-court-decision-on-student-loan-debt-relief/ |website=WBGO |access-date=30 June 2023}}</ref>

Kennedy supports school choice and has argued that parents should get to pick the school their child attends, especially if their district is providing a poor education. He said, "We can't seem to teach our kids how to read and write and do basic math when we've got 18 years to do it. I don't understand that…I don't care what the political cost is. I'm willing to try just about anything to improve public elementary and secondary education, including vouchers, including school choice, including charter schools."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Deborah Barfield |first1=Berry |title=La. senator brings up mayonnaise during education hearing |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/06/06/la-senator-brings-up-mayonnaise-during-education-hearing/102560902/ |website=USA Today |access-date=6 June 2017}}</ref>

In 2023, Kennedy encouraged the Louisiana legislature to pass HB 12, a bill that requires schools to give extra tutoring to students who cannot read at grade level by third grade.<ref>{{cite web |title=LA K-3 Literacy Performance The Focus of HB-12 And Teacher Training. |url=https://www.redriverradio.org/news/2023-06-07/la-k-3-literacy-performance-the-focus-of-hb-13-and-teacher-training |website=Red River Radio |access-date=7 June 2023}}</ref> He has served as a volunteer substitute teacher in Louisiana schools for more than a decade.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Guidry |first1=Leigh |title=U.S. senator steps into Lafayette classroom to experience 'the most difficult job in the world' |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/education/2019/11/15/louisiana-senator-john-kennedy-teaches-paul-breaux-middle-lafayette/4190286002/ |website=The Daily Advertiser |access-date=15 November 2019}}</ref> He told CNBC he volunteered at the schools because "It occurred to me that not many of the folks in that room really knew what public schools were like today".<ref name="cnbc.com"/>

=== Banking ===
Kennedy has warned against allowing Chinese investors into American markets without safeguards to prevent insider trading. He passed two bills, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, to require American markets to delist foreign companies that do not allow reviews of their audits.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Van Hollen |first1=Chris |last2=Kennedy |first2=John |title=Foreign Companies Should Have to Play by the Same Rules |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/foreign-companies-should-have-to-play-by-the-same-rules-china-russia-sec-audits-disclosure-insider-trading-sarbanes-oxley-506929a3 |website=Wall Street Journal |access-date=16 April 2023}}</ref>

Kennedy criticized regulators for failing to spot the failure of [[Silicon Valley Bank]], saying, "Where were the regulators? You couldn’t have found them with a search party."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kasperowitz |first1=Peter |title=Sen. Kennedy says SVB bailout could have been avoided: 'Bone deep, down-to-the-marrow stupid' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sen-kennedy-svb-bailout-could-have-been-avoided-bone-deep-down-marrow-stupid |website=Fox News |access-date=15 March 2023}}</ref>

=== Immigration and border security ===
Kennedy opposes illegal immigration and has called for stronger border security. In 2008, while serving as Louisiana treasurer, he criticized Senator Mary Landrieu for opposing legislation that would have prevented illegal immigrants from receiving Social Security benefits.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kraushour |first1=Josh |title=Kennedy Hits Landrieu on Immigration |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0808/Kennedy_hits_Landrieu_on_immigration.html |website=Politico |access-date=19 August 2008}}</ref> In 2019, Kennedy supported Trump's effort to build a border wall and said he believed it could save taxpayers money by reducing the number of migrants on government benefits. He also called for illegal immigrants to pay fines for breaking immigration laws, saying, "If you cross the border illegally or overstay your visit to this country, then you should pay a stiff penalty."<ref>{{cite web |title=North Louisiana's GOP lawmakers back Trump on border wall |url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2019/01/09/north-louisianas-gop-lawmakers-back-trump-border-wall/2525118002/ |website=Shreveport Times |access-date=9 June 2019}}</ref> Kennedy said weak border policies have allowed fentanyl to flow into the United States, leading to thousands of overdose deaths annually. He introduced a bill to extend the prison sentences of those caught dealing fentanyl.<ref name="theadvertiser.com">{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=John |title=John Kennedy: Fentanyl traffickers should face punishments proportional to poison they carry |url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/opinion/columnists/2023/05/10/senator-john-kennedy-make-fentanyl-trafficking-penalties-tougher/70201270007/ |website=Daily Advertiser |access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref> Kennedy also introduced a bill to classify cartels south of the border as terrorist organizations.<ref name="Biden and the fentanyl hawks"/>

Kennedy supports legal immigration, saying, "Legal immigration makes the country better. We are, after all, a nation of immigrants."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=David |title=In shutdown fight, Sen. John Kennedy holds fast to need for funding of border wall first |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/in-shutdown-fight-sen-john-kennedy-holds-fast-to-need-for-funding-of-border-wall/article_7a95cf84-1e92-11e9-a45f-536e3b215166.html |website=The Advocate |access-date=22 January 2019}}</ref>

=== Abortion ===
Kennedy is "strongly opposed" to [[abortion]].<ref name="CNBC1004G">{{cite web|title=Republican John Kennedy wins Louisiana senate race in runoff election|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/10/republican-john-kennedy-wins-louisiana-senate-race-in-runoff-election.html|publisher=CNBC|access-date=October 4, 2017|date=December 10, 2016|archive-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005051909/https://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/10/republican-john-kennedy-wins-louisiana-senate-race-in-runoff-election.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He supported the 2022 [[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|overturning of ''Roe v. Wade'']], saying, "today's decision to return the issue of abortion to the American people and the states corrects a legal and moral error."<ref>{{cite web |last=Kennedy |first=John |title=Despite attempts to intimidate the justices, they did their work. Roe v. Wade has misrepresented the Constitution since the ruling was rendered, and today's decision to return the issue of abortion to the American people and the states corrects a legal and moral error. |url=https://twitter.com/SenJohnKennedy/status/1540370363145719810 |website=Twitter |access-date=25 June 2022 |archive-date=June 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625051719/https://twitter.com/SenJohnKennedy/status/1540370363145719810 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Greenhouse emissions ===
In 2019, Kennedy introduced the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act,<ref>{{cite news|title=S.2754 - American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2019 Legislation|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/2754?r=85&s=10|work=Congress.gov|date=October 30, 2019|access-date=September 9, 2021|archive-date=September 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909161619/https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/2754?r=85&s=10|url-status=live}}</ref> co-sponsored by Senator [[Tom Carper]] as an amendment to the American Energy Innovation Act. It would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to phase down production and consumption of [[hydrofluorocarbon]]s over the next 15 years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Carper and Kennedy Introduce Bill to Phasedown Use of HFCs|url=https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/11/carper-and-kennedy-introduce-bill-to-phasedown-use-of-hfcs|access-date=September 9, 2021|work=U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public|date=November 1, 2019|archive-date=September 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210909161621/https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/11/carper-and-kennedy-introduce-bill-to-phasedown-use-of-hfcs|url-status=live}}</ref> Hydrofluorocarbons are potent greenhouse gases used primarily as coolants in refrigerators and air conditioning systems. The American Innovation and Manufacturing Act became law in December 2020 as part of the annual government funding bill.<ref>{{cite news|title=Senators Announce Historic, Bipartisan Agreement on Environmental Innovation Legislation|url=https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/senators-announce-historic-bipartisan-agreement-on-environmental-innovation-legislation|work=U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public|date=December 21, 2020|access-date=September 9, 2021|archive-date=March 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328121205/https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/senators-announce-historic-bipartisan-agreement-on-environmental-innovation-legislation|url-status=live}}</ref> {{primary source inline|date=May 2023}}

=== Guns ===
Kennedy had an "A" rating in 2016 and "A+" rating in 2022 from the [[NRA Political Victory Fund]] (NRA), which endorsed him during both elections.<ref>{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF {{!}} Louisiana |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/louisiana/ |website=nrapvf.org |publisher=NRA-PVF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109191551/http://nrapvf.org/grades/louisiana |archive-date=November 9, 2022 |language=en-US |url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="VoteSmart1004G">{{cite web|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|url=https://votesmart.org/interest-group/1034/rating/8742?p=7&of=state#.WdVI3hNSxE4|website=Vote Smart|access-date=October 4, 2017|archive-date=August 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811105407/https://justfacts.votesmart.org/interest-group/1034/rating/8742#.WdVI3hNSxE4|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NRAILA1004G">{{cite web|title=New NRA Ad Urges Voters to Elect John Kennedy for U.S. Senate|url=https://www.nraila.org/articles/20161208/new-nra-ad-urges-voters-to-elect-john-kennedy-for-us-senate|website=NRA-ILA|date=December 8, 2016|access-date=October 4, 2017|archive-date=October 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005051442/https://www.nraila.org/articles/20161208/new-nra-ad-urges-voters-to-elect-john-kennedy-for-us-senate|url-status=live}}</ref> Kennedy opposed a rule from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms that effectively reclassified guns equipped with pistol stabilizing braces as short barreled rifles, which would require gun owners to register the weapons with the federal government. He argued the rule harmed gun owners with disabilities who needed the braces to use handguns. He tried to pass a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to block the rule, but the resolution failed by a vote of 50–49.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ballard |first1=Mark |title=John Kennedy blames Democrats for failure to block ATF handgun brace rule |url=https://www.nola.com/news/politics/john-kennedy-blames-democrats-for-failure-to-block-gun-brace/article_c54d8fb8-14e6-11ee-9c4e-a782eb93a227.html |website=The Adocate |access-date=27 June 2023}}</ref> Kennedy supports gun ownership for self-defense and often says, "I believe love is the answer. I do. But I also own a handgun, just in case."<ref>{{cite web |title='Love is the answer, but I own a handgun just in case:' Sen. John Kennedy |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/love-answer-own-handgun-case-sen-john-kennedy |website=Fox News |access-date=27 September 2022}}</ref>

=== Criminal justice ===
Kennedy opposed the [[First Step Act]], a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill. The bill passed 87–12 on December 18, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Levine |first1=Marianne |title=Senate approves Trump-backed criminal justice overhaul |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/18/criminal-justice-reform-bill-vote-1068268 |website=Politico |date=December 18, 2018 |access-date=December 18, 2018 |archive-date=December 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219053901/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/18/criminal-justice-reform-bill-vote-1068268 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kennedy said the bill did not do enough to protect victims of crime, saying, "This is not a criminal justice bill. It is a prisoner release bill. We should be protecting victims of crimes and not the offenders who committed the crimes."<ref>{{cite web |title=Kennedy introduces amendment to bipartisan criminal justice reform bill |url=https://www.ksla.com/2018/12/14/kennedy-introduces-amendment-bipartisan-criminal-justice-reform-bill/ |website=KSLA |access-date=14 December 2022}}</ref> In 2023, he introduced a bill that would lower the amount of fentanyl a dealer must possess to face the mandatory minimum prison sentence.<ref name="theadvertiser.com"/>

Kennedy has criticized prosecutors for declining to prosecute some offenders. In 2023, he introduced the Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act, which requires prosecutors to disclose when they decline to prosecute cases. It would also remove funding for prosecutors who fail to report such cases.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Buercklin |first1=Kasey |title=Sen. John Kennedy introduces bill that cracks down on violent offenders and prosecution |url=https://www.wdsu.com/article/sen-john-kennedy-introduces-bill-violent-offenders-prosecution/42794270# |website=WDSU |access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref>

=== Net neutrality ===
On March 7, 2018, Kennedy introduced a bill that would "prohibit companies like [[Comcast]] and [[Verizon Communications|Verizon]] from blocking or throttling web content."<ref>{{cite web |last=Neidig |first=Harper |title=GOP senator offers his own net neutrality bill |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/377275-gop-senator-offers-net-neutrality-bill/ |website=The Hill |date=March 7, 2018 |access-date=March 9, 2018 |archive-date=March 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310010636/http://thehill.com/policy/technology/377275-gop-senator-offers-net-neutrality-bill |url-status=live }}</ref> He was one of three Republican senators, with [[Susan Collins]] and [[Lisa Murkowski]], to vote with the entirety of the Democratic caucus on May 16, 2018, to overturn the [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]'s repeal of [[net neutrality]].

=== Foreign policy ===
[[File:U.S. Congress delegation in the State Duma (2018-07-03) 09.jpg|265px|thumb|Kennedy greeting [[Vyacheslav Volodin]] in July 2018]]

As Louisiana treasurer, Kennedy defended his choice to invest state money in Israeli bonds, writing, "Here’s how the U.S. Secretary of State’s Office sums up our nation's relationship with Israel: 'The United States was the first country to recognize Israel as a state in 1948. Since then, Israel has become, and remains, America's most reliable partner in the Middle East. Israel and the United States are bound closely by historic and cultural ties as well as by mutual interests.' That—along with Israel Bonds' solid track record—is good enough for me.”<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=John |title=La. Treasurer: Why I invest in Israel bonds |url=https://www.dailyworld.com/story/opinion/2014/10/13/la-treasurer-invest-israel-bonds/17221063/ |website=Daily World |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>

In April 2018, Kennedy was one of eight Republican senators to sign a letter to [[United States Secretary of the Treasury]] [[Steve Mnuchin]] and acting Secretary of State [[John J. Sullivan (diplomat)|John Sullivan]] expressing "deep concern" over a [[United Nations]] report exposing "North Korean sanctions evasion involving [[Russia]] and [[China]]" and asserting that the findings "demonstrate an elaborate and alarming military-venture between rogue, tyrannical states to avoid United States and international sanctions and inflict terror and death upon thousands of innocent people" while calling it "imperative that the United States provides a swift and appropriate response to the continued use of chemical weapons used by Syrian President [[Bashar al-Assad]] and his forces, and works to address the shortcomings in sanctions enforcement."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/383085-key-senators-warn-trump-of-north-korea-effort-on-syria/|title=Key senators warn Trump of North Korea effort on Syria|author=Mitchell, Ellen|date=April 13, 2018|newspaper=The Hill|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=January 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201009/https://thehill.com/policy/defense/383085-key-senators-warn-trump-of-north-korea-effort-on-syria|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2019, Kennedy was one of 11 Republican senators to vote to advance legislation intended to block Trump's intent to lift sanctions against three Russian companies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/425506-senate-advances-measure-bucking-trump-on-russia-sanctions/|title=Senate advances measure bucking Trump on Russia sanctions|author=Carney, Jordain|date=January 15, 2019|newspaper=The Hill|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=January 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116014551/https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/425506-senate-advances-measure-bucking-trump-on-russia-sanctions|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kennedy criticized Biden for his conduct of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying, "President Biden chose to withdraw from Afghanistan, but there’s no reason it had to be so chaotic. We all saw it: The panic, the fear, the chaos, the abandonment of equipment, the scrambling to destroy unclassified documents and classified documents, thousands of Americans and our allies trapped behind Taliban lines, no plan for the refugees… I am so sorry that all of our American soldiers who fought so valiantly had to witness what we all saw, and what we saw was stunning incompetence."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lonas |first1=Lexi |title=GOP senator rips Biden over Afghanistan: 'The biggest terrorist victory since 9/11' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/568311-gop-senator-rips-biden-over-afghanistan-the-biggest-terrorist-victory-since-9/ |website=The Hill |access-date=17 August 2021}}</ref>

Kennedy has been hawkish on China, especially when it comes to stopping Chinese companies from breaking American stock market rules. He passed two bills, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, to delist any company that refuses to have its audits inspected by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Flook |first1=Bill |title=Senate Passes Bill to Accelerate Delisting Deadline for U.S.-Listed Chinese Companies |url=https://tax.thomsonreuters.com/news/senate-passes-bill-to-accelerate-delisting-deadline-for-u-s-listed-chinese-companies/ |website=Reuters |access-date=25 June 2021}}</ref>

Kennedy supported sending aid to Ukraine, saying, "This is not just the fight for the people of Ukraine. It's a fight for the people of the United States of America. It’s a fight for our national security."<ref>{{cite web |title=Sen. Kennedy explains his vote to send U.S. aid to Ukraine |url=https://www.klfy.com/louisiana/sen-kennedy-explains-his-vote-to-send-u-s-aid-to-ukraine/ |website=KLFY |access-date=19 May 2022}}</ref> He advocated for a special inspector general to monitor the aid given to Ukraine following Russia's invasion.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Quigley |first1=Aiden |last2=Krawzak |first2=Paul |title=Dispute over oversight is at heart of Senate's Ukraine aid delay |url=https://rollcall.com/2022/05/18/dispute-over-oversight-is-at-heart-of-senates-ukraine-aid-delay/ |website=RollCall |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref> Kennedy expressed concern that money was being misspent, saying, "Ukraine is not without flaws. We've heard several unsettling reports of bad actors exploiting our generosity… We trust that our friends in Ukraine take corruption seriously. We must verify, too."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=John |last2=Sinema |first2=Kyrsten |title=America's billions in aid to Ukraine isn't charity, but it can't be wasted |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2023/06/02/ukraine-war-us-aid-must-continue-but-monitored/70268552007/ |website=USA Today |access-date=2 June 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Kennedy and his wife, Becky,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bridges |first1=Tyler |title=John Kennedy went to Iowa to give a political speech. What does that mean?
|url= https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/john-kennedy-went-to-iowa-to-give-a-political-speech-what-does-that-mean/article_bd9fac00-1506-11ed-b59d-4f313e89a852.html|website=NOLA.com |access-date=22 August 2023 }}</ref> are founding members of their local Methodist church in Madisonville.

Despite sharing the first name and last name of [[John F. Kennedy|the 35th president of the United States]], he is not related to the [[Kennedy family]] of [[Massachusetts]].<ref name="family">[[Mary Ann Akers|Akers, Mary Ann]] (June 13, 2008). [https://archive.today/20200903012502/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/06/will_the_real_john_kennedy_ple.html "The Sleuth: John Kennedy, a Politician by Any Other Name."]''The Washington Post''. Archived from [http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2008/06/will_the_real_john_kennedy_ple.html the original.]</ref>

Kennedy's family have been political and economic elites in Louisiana since the 19th century. Kennedy's great-grandfather Leonidas Calhoun owned hundreds of acres of land in [[Catahoula Parish, Louisiana|Catahoula]] and [[Concordia Parish, Louisiana|Concordia Parish]], which employed [[Sharecropping|sharecroppers]]. Kennedy inherited hundreds of acres of land in Catahoula when his mother died.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023 |title=Heirs of Power |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-slavery-families/}}</ref>

== Electoral history ==
{{Election box begin
 | title      = [[2004 United States Senate election in Louisiana]]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = [[David Vitter]]
 | votes      = 943,014
 | percentage = 51.03%
 | change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 | party      = Democratic Party (United States)
 | candidate  = [[Chris John (politician)|Chris John]]
 | votes      = 542,150
 | percentage = 29.34%
 | change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 | party      = Democratic Party (United States)
 | candidate  = John Kennedy
 | votes      = 275,821
 | percentage = 14.92%
 | change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 | party      = Democratic Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Arthur A. Morrell
 | votes      = 47,222
 | percentage = 2.56%
 | change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 | party      = Independent (United States)
 | candidate  = Richard M. Fontanesi
 | votes      = 15,097
 | percentage = 0.82%
 | change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 | party      = Independent (United States)
 | candidate  = R. A. "Skip" Galan
 | votes      = 12,463
 | percentage = 0.67%
 | change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 | party      = Democratic Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Sam Houston Melton, Jr.
 | votes      = 12,289
 | percentage = 0.66%
 | change     = 
}}
{{Election box majority
 | votes      = 400,864
 | percentage = 21.69%
 | change     = 
}}
{{Election box turnout
 | votes      = 1,848,056
 | percentage = 
 | change     = 
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing
 | winner    = Republican Party (United States)
 | loser     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin
| title       = [[2008 United States Senate election in Louisiana]]}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
 | party      = Democratic Party (United States)
 | candidate  = [[Mary Landrieu]] ([[incumbent]])
 | votes      = 988,298
 | percentage = 52.11%
 | change     = +0.41%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 | party      = Republican Party (United States)
 | candidate  = John Kennedy
 | votes      = 867,177
 | percentage = 45.72%
 | change     = -2.58%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 | party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
 | candidate  = Richard Fontanesi
 | votes      = 18,590
 | percentage = 0.98%
 | change     = ''n/a''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 | party      = Independent (United States)
 | candidate  = Jay Patel
 | votes      = 13,729
 | percentage = 0.72%
 | change     = ''n/a''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
 | party      = Independent (United States)
 | candidate  = Robert Stewart
 | votes      = 8,780
 | percentage = 0.46%
 | change     = ''n/a''
}}
{{Election box majority
 | votes      = 121,121
 | percentage = 6.39%
 | change     = +2.99
}}
{{Election box turnout
 | votes      = 1,896,574
 | percentage = 100
 | change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
 | winner = Democratic Party (United States)
 | loser =
}}
{{Election box end}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan = 6 | 2016 Louisiana US Senate blanket primary<ref>{{cite web | url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/static/#/2016-11-08/resultsRace/Statewide | title=Official Election Results | date=November 8, 2016 | access-date=November 17, 2016 | publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085332/http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/10222011/10222011_43589.html#/2016-11-08/resultsRace/Statewide | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
! colspan=2 | Party
! Candidate
! Votes
! %
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| '''John Kennedy'''
| '''482,591'''
| '''25.0%'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| '''[[Foster Campbell]]'''
| '''337,833'''
| '''17.5%'''
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| [[Charles Boustany]]
| 298,008
| 15.4%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| Caroline Fayard
| 240,917
| 12.5%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| [[John Fleming (American politician)|John Fleming]]
| 204,026
| 10.6%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| [[Rob Maness]]
| 90,856
| 4.7%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| [[David Duke]]
| 58,606
| 3.0%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| Derrick Edwards
| 51,774
| 2.7%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| Gary Landrieu
| 45,587
| 2.4%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| Donald "Crawdaddy" Crawford
| 25,523
| 1.3%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| [[Joseph Cao]]
| 21,019
| 1.1%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (politician)}}
| align=left | [[Independent (United States)|No party]]
| Beryl Billiot
| 19,352
| 1.0%
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| Thomas Clements
| 11,370
| 0.6%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (politician)}}
| align=left | [[Independent (United States)|No party]]
| [[Troy Hebert]]
| 9,503
| 0.5%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| Josh Pellerin
| 7,395
| 0.4%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| Peter Williams
| 6,855
| 0.4%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| Vinny Mendoza
| 4,927
| 0.3%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (politician)}}
| align=left | [[Independent (United States)|No party]]
| Kaitlin Marone
| 4,108
| 0.2%
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| Le Roy Gillam
| 4,067
| 0.2%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| Charles Eugene Marsala
| 3,684
| 0.2%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| align=left | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| [[Abhay Patel]]
| 1,576
| 0.1%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (politician)}}
| align=left | [[Independent (United States)|No party]]
| Arden Wells
| 1,483
| 0.1%
|-
| {{party color cell|Other}}
| Other
| Bob Lang
| 1,424
| 0.1%
|-
| {{party color cell|Other}}
| Other
| Gregory Taylor
| 1,151
| 0.1%
|-
! colspan=3; style="text-align:right;"| Total
! 1,933,635
! 100

|}

{{Election box begin
| title = [[2016 United States Senate election in Louisiana]]<ref name=LAresults>{{Cite web|url=https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/Graphical|title=Louisiana Secretary of State - Live Election Results|website=voterportal.sos.la.gov|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=May 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518051500/https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/graphical|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| candidate  = John Kennedy
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| votes      = 536,191
| percentage = 60.65%
| change     = +4.09%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| candidate  = [[Foster Campbell]]
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes      = 347,816
| percentage = 39.35%
| change     = +1.68%
}}
{{Election box total
| votes      = 884,007
| percentage = 100
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=[[2022 United States Senate election in Louisiana]]
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = John Kennedy (incumbent)
  |votes      = 851,527
  |percentage = 61.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Gary Chambers]]
  |votes      = 246,928
  |percentage = 17.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Luke Mixon
  |votes      = 182,877
  |percentage = 13.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Syrita Steib
  |votes      = 31,567
  |percentage = 2.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Devin Lance Graham
  |votes      = 25,275
  |percentage = 1.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = MV "Vinny" Mendoza
  |votes      = 11,910
  |percentage = 0.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Independent (United States)
  |candidate  = Beryl Billiot
  |votes      = 9,378
  |percentage = 0.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Salvador P. Rodriguez
  |votes      = 7,766
  |percentage = 0.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Independent (United States)
  |candidate  = Bradley McMorris
  |votes      = 5,388
  |percentage = 0.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Aaron C. Sigler
  |votes      = 4,863
  |percentage = 0.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Independent (United States)
  |candidate  = Alexander "Xan" John
  |votes      = 2,752
  |percentage = 0.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Independent (United States)
  |candidate  = W. Thomas La Fontaine Olson
  |votes      = 1,676
  |percentage = 0.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Independent (United States)
  |candidate  = Thomas Wenn
  |votes      = 1,322
  |percentage = 0.1
}}{{Election box total no change
  |votes      = 1,383,229
  |percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

== Selected publications ==
Kennedy has written and published the following books and articles:
* [https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2097&context=akronlawreview "The Federal Power Commission, Job Bias, and NAACP v. FPC."] ''[[Akron Law Review]]'', vol. 10, no. 556 (January 1, 1977).
* [https://digitalcommons.law.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5042&context=lalrev "Assumption of the Risk, Comparative Fault and Strict Liability After ''Rozell."''] (47 [[Louisiana Law Review]], vol. 57, no. 791 (January 1, 1987).
* [https://digitalcommons.law.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5166&context=lalrev "A Primer on the Louisiana Products Liability Act."] [[Louisiana Law Review]], vol. 49, no. 565 (January 1, 1989).
* ''The Dimension of Time in the Louisiana Products Liability Act'' (42 Louisiana Bar Journal (January 1, 1994)
* "Role of the Consumer Expectation Test Under Louisiana's Products Liability Tort Doctrine." ''[[Tulane Law Review]]'', vol. 69, no. 1 (1994-1995), pp.&nbsp;117–164.
* ''Louisiana State Constitutional Law''. [[Louisiana State University|LSU Publications Institute]] (January 1, 2012)

==See also==
* [[List of American politicians who switched parties in office]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|John Neely Kennedy}}
* [https://www.kennedy.senate.gov/ Official U.S. Senate website]
* [http://www.johnkennedy.com/ Campaign website]
* {{Curlie|Regional/North_America/United_States/Louisiana/Government/Federal/US_Senate/John_N._Kennedy_%5BR%5D|John N. Kennedy}}
* {{C-SPAN|45754}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=K000393 | votesmart=35496 | fec=S4LA00065 | congress=john-kennedy/K000393 }}
* [http://opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=LAS2&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] at [[OpenSecrets.org]]
* ''Follow the Money'' – John Kennedy
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=95355 2007] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=77821 2005] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=18583 2003] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=33290 1999] Louisiana Treasurer campaign contributions

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[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of Magdalen College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Baton Rouge, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Lawyers from New Orleans]]
[[Category:Louisiana Democrats]]
[[Category:Louisiana Republicans]]
[[Category:Louisiana State University faculty]]
[[Category:Methodists from Louisiana]]
[[Category:Methodists from Mississippi]]
[[Category:People from Centreville, Mississippi]]
[[Category:People from Madisonville, Louisiana]]
[[Category:People from Zachary, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Politicians from Baton Rouge, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Politicians from New Orleans]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States senators from Louisiana]]
[[Category:State cabinet secretaries of Louisiana]]
[[Category:State treasurers of Louisiana]]
[[Category:University of Virginia School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Vanderbilt University alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Louisiana politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Louisiana politicians]]