This page lists all current and former vegetarian and vegan members of the United States Congress. The list may be incomplete.
Current members NamePartyChamberStateTermDietStartDurationCory BookerDemocraticSenateNew JerseyOctober 31, 2013Booker became a vegan in 2014 and was a vegetarian beforehand. He has cited concern for animals as part of his motivation, in addition to health benefits.Jamie RaskinDemocraticHouse of RepresentativesMarylandJanuary 3, 2017Raskin became a vegetarian in 2009. He has cited health and environmental motivations.Adam SchiffDemocraticSenateCaliforniaDecember 9, 2024Schiff is a vegan.
Former members NamePartyChamberStateTermDietStartEndDurationTulsi GabbardDemocratic (Republican after her time in Congress)House of RepresentativesHawaiiJanuary 3, 2013January 3, 2021Gabbard is vegetarian. Her parents formerly operated a vegetarian restaurant called The Natural Deli. Both her and her family were for a time affiliated with the Science of Identity Foundation of Chris Butler, a vegetarian new religious movement.Adam SchiffDemocraticHouse of RepresentativesCaliforniaJanuary 3, 2001December 8, 2024Schiff is a vegan.Dennis KucinichDemocraticHouse of RepresentativesOhioJanuary 3, 1997January 3, 2013Kucinich is a vegan. His wife Elizabeth Kucinich is a vegan activist.Kyrsten SinemaDemocratic, then independentSenateArizonaJanuary 3, 2019January 3, 20256 years, 0 daysAs of 2006, Sinema described herself as a vegan.DemocraticHouse of RepresentativesJanuary 3, 2013January 3, 20196 years, 0 daysBetty Sutton DemocraticHouse of RepresentativesOhioJanuary 3, 2007January 3, 2013Sutton is a vegetarian who has introduced measures related to animal welfare.Al GoreDemocraticSenateTennesseeJanuary 3, 1985January 2, 1993Gore became vegan after his time in Congress for environmental reasons.House of RepresentativesJanuary 3, 1977January 3, 19858 years, 0 daysHorace GreeleyWhigHouse of RepresentativesNew YorkDecember 4, 1848March 3, 1849Greeley was an adherent of Sylvester Graham's dietary philosophy and likely was a vegetarian or engaged in reduced meat consumption for a significant portion of his life.
Other Brad Lander, who is running for New York's 10th congressional district in 2026, is a pescatarian. Other notable American politicians who have not served in Congress, such as Eric Adams, have also publicly spoken about their plant-based diets. Ben Carson has practiced a flexitarian/reducetarian diet in line with his Seventh-day Adventist faith. Bill Clinton was temporarily a vegan for health reasons. Similarly, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez went vegetarian for Lent, but is not believed to still be one. Of the Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin avoided meat to at least some extent. Second Lady Usha Vance is also a vegetarian.
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