#ncga: 2016 ACU ratings (Who’s conservative, who’s NOT)
The American Conservative Union always has me a bit skeptical. They have that word “conservative” in their name, but the flavor of much of what they do is GOPe.
But they DO rate state legislators every year. So, that makes them somewhat interesting in our book. Here’s what they found for 2016: 
- House: Top Conservatives were Pittman, Millis, and Ford (all scoring between 90 and 100 percent). In the second tier?: Adams, Bishop, Blust, Bumgardner, Cleveland, Collins, Riddell and Speciale (all scoring between 80 and 89 percent).
- Senate: The top conservatives for 2016 were Jackson, Krawiec, McInnis, Randleman, Rucho, and Wells (all scoring between 90 and 100 percent).
In the Senate, the overall conservative rating for senators was 61 percent. The Republican average score was 79 percent. The Democrat average was 23 percent. The 
LEAST CONSERVATIVE senator was Wake’s Tamara Barringer, with a rating of 40 percent. The most conservative Democrat? Mecklenburg’s Joel Ford with a score of 33 percent.
Let’s look at Senate leadership. Phil Berger scored 75 percent. Harry Brown earned an 80 percent rating. Tom Apodaca scored 80 percent. Bob Rucho scored 90 percent. Jerry Tillman scored 80 percent. Bill Rabon also got 80 percent. 
In the House, the overall average conservative rating was 50 percent. The Republican average was 59 percent. The Democrat average was 34 percent. The most liberal Republican? Cabarrus County’s Linda Johnson, with a score of 31 percent. The most conservative Democrat? Columbus County’s Ken Waddell, with a score of 58 percent.
Let’s look at House leadership. Tim Moore did not get rated. (He didn’t vote on enough of the targeted bills to qualify for a valid rating.) Nelson Dollar earned a smelly 46 percent rating for 2016. David Lewis also earned a rating of 46 percent. John Szoka did a little better at 54 percent. Jon Hardister earned a 50% rating. Jason Saine earned a 46% score. John Bell scored a surprising 77 percent. Kelly Hastings went from a 92 in 2015 to a 75 rating in 2016.
In the linked presentation, the ACU highlights the ten votes in each chamber they used to calculate their conservative ratings.
I given more credibility to the Civitas ratings for a number of reasons:
1) Civitas rates on many more issues, giving a better perspective
2) ACU has no staff in the state and often does not understand the nuances involved in local issues such as a fisheries issue they rated on previously, which they really bungled, while Civitas is based in Raleigh and fully understands the issues
3) ACU was once a stalwart conservative organization, but under two of its chairmen, first a Bush flunky from Florida, and then David Keene, it went in a very establishment direction, and its national Congressional ratings were highly doctored to give cover to establishment candidates with primaries like Mitch McConnell. ACU’s national ratings are not given much credence by conservatives any more
4) Any group that fails to include HB2 in its rating is clueless.
I gave NO credit to Civitas and the legislature ignores their ratings.
“The most conservative Democrat? Mecklenburg’s Joel Ford with a score of 33 percent.”
He is running for Mayor of Charlotte not sure how he will be any better then the current progressive leftist
He did say that he had his concealed carry permit on last week on the local TV political round table
How did I get second tier? Where can I find out how the scoring was done?
click on either of the two links in the story leading to their presentation. they have a score card with further details. (You were an 85. Not too shabby.)
‘David Lewis also earned a rating of 46 percent.’
The Harnett County RINO Party must be so proud.
John Blust and George Cleveland getting a second tier rating is WAY off base!!!!! These 2 along with Chris Millis are the 3 MOST conservative members up there PERIOD!
In my opinion, they scored one of their votes wrong. The Pendleton amendment to the budget they said was conservative prevented DOT getting rid of 600 employees that we had mandated they get rid of the year before, but which they did not do. I think axing unneeded bureaucrats is the conservative vote. And I remain somewhat leery of the so-called “public-private partnerships” that often socialize the risk, but free-enterprise the profits.