In the 2024 state legislative sessions, a group of Democratic legislators stood out — not for championing their party’s far-left agenda, but for voting in alignment with constitutional principles, at least more often than the rest of their party. These lawmakers, who could be labeled “DINOs” (Democrats In Name Only), come from both “deep-red” and “deep-blue” states, navigating unique political terrain to hold their seats.

The New American’s state Legislative Scorecards — which grade legislators on a 100-point scale, with 0 signifying extreme unconstitutional leftism and 100 indicating strict constitutionalism — highlight the top 20 Democratic holdovers in 2025 based on a combination of their lifetime scores and recent-session score. Their votes on issues such as vaccine freedom, parental rights, election integrity, globalism, and opposition to leftist mandates reflect a pragmatic streak rarely associated with the Democratic Party’s leadership.

(Based on 2024-session scores, left, and lifetime scores, right)

1. Delegate Hollis Lewis, West Virginia (83 percent, 83 percent)
   
   
2. Representative Gregory Costantino, Rhode Island (64 percent, 69 percent)
   
   
3. Representative Mary Moore, Alabama (75 percent, 50 percent)
   
   
4. Representative Ashley Tackett Laferty, Kentucky (60 percent, 63 percent)
   
   
5. Senator Kathy Hogan, North Dakota (67 percent, 50 percent)
   
   
6. Representative Chad Brown, Louisiana (60 percent, 56 percent)
   
   
7. Senator Robert Stewart, Alabama (58 percent, 58 percent)
   
   
8. Representative Robert Carter, Louisiana (67 percent, 48 percent)
   
   
9. Representative Sam Kong, Hawaii (50 percent, 61 percent)
   
   
10. Representative Darius Kila, Hawaii (55 percent, 55 percent)
    
    
11. Senator William M. Beasley, Alabama (60 percent, 44 percent)
    
    
12. Assemblyman Sam Berger, New York (50 percent, 50 percent)
    
    
13. Representative Robert Phillips, Rhode Island (40 percent, 53 percent)
    
    
14. Senator Mike Gabbard, Hawaii (50 percent, 39 percent)
    
    
15. Representative Charlene Lima, Rhode Island (45 percent, 44 percent)
    
    
16. Senator Mary Boren, Oklahoma (45 percent, 41 percent)
    
    
17. Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, New York (44 percent, 40 percent)
    
    
18. Senator Leonidas Raptakis, Rhode Island (36 percent, 47 percent)
    
    
19. Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, New York (42 percent, 39 percent)
    
    
20. Representative LaKeySha Bosley, Missouri (33 percent, 44 percent)

At the top is Delegate Hollis Lewis of West Virginia, who earned 83-percent session and lifetime scores — extraordinary for any Democrat. Appointed by then-Republican Governor Jim Justice in September 2023, Lewis voted in favor of vaccine freedom, supported parental rights, and anti-woke birth certificate reforms. His record reflects the conservative values dominant in his state, despite the “D” next to his name.

In second place is Representative Gregory Costantino of Rhode Island, with a 64-percent session score and 69-percent lifetime score. His votes in a Democratic-supermarojrity legislature defied many party-line expectations: He opposed election drop boxes, firearm-storage mandates, IDs for illegal immigrants, minimum-wage hikes, abortion-coverage mandates, and EV-charging-station requirements. These votes reflect a centrist — or even center-right — approach, likely aligned with his district’s electorate, and relatively consistent with the U.S. Constitution. Costantino is known as a pro-life Democrat, and received a threatening letter in 2019 due to his beliefs.

Representative Mary Moore of Alabama, ranking third with a 75-percent session score and 50-percent lifetime score, exemplifies a DINO operating in a solidly Republican state. Moore supported bans on ranked-choice voting and ballot harvesting, upheld the Second Amendment, voted to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), and opposed both diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. She also voted for parental rights and opposed a central bank digital currency (CBDC). Her record resembles that of many Republicans.

Other noteworthy names include Representative Ashley Tackett Laferty of Kentucky (60-percent session, 63-percent lifetime), Senator Kathy Hogan of North Dakota (67 percent, 50 percent), Senator Mike Gabbard of Hawaii (50 percent, 39 percent), and Representative Chad Brown of Louisiana (60 percent, 56 percent). Brown and Laferty each scored 67 percent in previous sessions, showing alignment with some limited-government positions. Gabbard, a former Republican, is the father of former U.S. Representative and current Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Gabbard is known for taking the pro-life stance on abortion.

In solidly Democratic states, several Democrats continue to surprise. Assemblyman Sam Berger of New York scored 50 percent (only four were scored); and Representative LaKeySha Bosley of Missouri, while posting just 33 percent in 2023-2024, earned 67 percent in 2021-2022. These lawmakers outscore some Republicans on key issues, raising questions about the true ideological divide between the two parties.

One possible reason swing states are absent from this list is that Democratic state legislators in politically competitive states may feel greater pressure to toe the party line. In swing states and districts — where elections are often decided by narrow margins and legislative majorities are thin — Democratic lawmakers might avoid casting constitutionally conservative votes out of fear of losing support from their party’s base or facing well-funded primary challengers. These states often attract more campaign money and national attention, with increased scrutiny on how politicians vote and act. As a result, the political incentives in these battleground areas may discourage ideological independence, making DINOs less likely to emerge or survive.

The term “DINO,” though less widely used than “RINO” (Republican In Name Only), accurately describes a minor faction within the Democratic Party. The state Legislative Scorecards indicate that ideological “diversity” exists even within a party often characterized as unified around far-left goals. As of this writing, there are about 3,227 Democratic legislators serving across the United States, but only a handful are noteworthy according to the Legislative Scorecards. In Republican-controlled states such as West Virginia and Alabama, Democrats such as Lewis and Moore may adopt more conservative voting patterns out of political necessity. In Democratic-controlled states, including Rhode Island and New York, Democrats such as Costantino and Berger likely reflect the views of moderate or independent-minded constituencies.

While the Democratic Party promotes identity politics, its tolerance for ideological diversity appears more limited. Yet these DINOs demonstrate that some Democrats are willing to vote their conscience — or their district, or constitutionally — over the party platform.

Common among these legislators is resistance to the “woke” agenda. Lewis backed vaccine freedom and parental rights; Moore opposed globalist overreach, DEI, and ESG mandates; and Costantino rejected coercive health, climate, and identity policies. These lawmakers often reflect the concerns of voters increasingly skeptical of government mandates and technocratic control.

The context behind their votes is key. Moore’s support for banning ranked-choice voting and ballot harvesting addresses concerns about election integrity. Her votes against WHO influence and CBDCs signal skepticism toward global governance. Laferty’s and Brown’s consistently high scores suggest a principled rather than opportunistic approach.

However, their records come with risks. In solidly Democratic states, DINOs may draw primary challengers from the Left. Representative Marvin Robinson of Kansas, who scored 80 percent in 2023-2024, lost his 2024 primary by more than 26 percentage points before passing away shortly after. In 2023, Robinson parted ways with fellow Democrats by casting the lone vote from his party in support of overriding vetoes, helping enact legislation that imposed limits on transgender-related policies, abortion services, and eligibility for food assistance. In Republican-dominated states, DINOs risk being swept out by Republicans who exploit their party label. Still, their voting records sometimes surpass those of nominally conservative Republicans, appealing to voters who care more about principle than party.

The New American and The John Birch Society, consistent advocates of constitutional government, commends any state or federal legislators who consistently vote in accordance with the U.S. Constitution and America’s founding principles. We pray that the Democratic legislators listed above remain steadfast — and go even further — in their support of limited, constitutional government.

To see how your federal and state legislators voted, visit The New American’s Freedom Index here.