Issue position
Where one candidate stands on one issue, with a neutral summary, their own words where we have them, and the sources.
- Returned by
GET /v1/issue-positions,GET /v1/candidates/{id}- Found in
- Candidate (
issue_positions) - Shapes
- The full record is in GET /v1/issue-positions. The shorter forms in GET /v1/candidates/{id} leave some fields out; a field that isn’t in every form says where it is.
How it connects
issue.slugis one ofGET /v1/issues;stanceanswers that issue’s question.
Good to know
- Positions come only from what the candidate said or how they voted, never from their party or endorsements. Every position has at least one source.
stanceisnullfor a stated position that answers the question neither way.
Fields
| Field | Type | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
id | integer | Position id. | 1 |
issue | object | The issue (GET /v1/issues). | — |
issue.slug | string | Issue slug.23 values so far: meanings | health-coverage |
issue.name | string | Issue name. | Health coverage |
stance | stringor null | The answer to the issue’s question: supports (yes), opposes (no), mixed (yes to part, or yes with limits the summary spells out), or null for a stated position that doesn’t answer it either way.supports, opposes, mixed meanings | opposes |
summary | string | Where they stand, in neutral words: what they said, or how they voted. | Voted against the January 8, 2026 bill (H.R. 1834) to extend the enhanced Affordable Care… |
quote | stringor null | Their own words, verbatim, where a source has them. | — |
checked_on | stringYYYY-MM-DD | When the sources were last read. | 2026-11-12 |
sources | array of object | Every link the position was taken from; at least one. | — |
sources[].url | stringURL | Where the position comes from. | https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202611 |
sources[].kind | string | What kind of source: the candidate’s own site, an official roll-call vote record, an official statement, a published candidate questionnaire, a debate, or news reporting.candidate_website, voting_record, official_statement, questionnaire, debate, news meanings | voting_record |
sources[].publisher | string | Who published it: “U.S. Senate”, “The Atlanta Journal-Constitution”. | U.S. House Clerk |
sources[].title | stringor null | The source’s title. | Roll call 11, House (2026) |
sources[].published_on | stringor nullYYYY-MM-DD | When it was published, where known. | 2026-10-03 |
candidate | object | The candidate (GET /v1/candidates/{id}).Only in GET /v1/issue-positions. | — |
candidate.id | integer | Candidate id.Only in GET /v1/issue-positions. | 17246 |
candidate.full_name | string | Full name.Only in GET /v1/issue-positions. | Nick Begich |
contests | array of object | The candidate’s contests that you can read (and that match the filters), newest election first.Only in GET /v1/issue-positions. | — |
contests[].id | integer | Contest id.Only in GET /v1/issue-positions. | 9963 |
contests[].title | string | Title as printed on the ballot.Only in GET /v1/issue-positions. | United States Representative |
contests[].election | object | The contest’s election.Only in GET /v1/issue-positions. | — |
contests[].election.slug | string | Election slug.Only in GET /v1/issue-positions. | ak-2026-11-03-general |
contests[].election.date | stringYYYY-MM-DD | Election day.Only in GET /v1/issue-positions. | 2026-11-03 |
contests[].state | stringTwo capital letters (USPS code) | USPS state code.Only in GET /v1/issue-positions. | AK |