| 100% | MEL | 3 | Former senator and R.N.C. head Martinez |
| 41% | AMBS | 4 | Many former senators and governors: Abbr. |
| 40% | REIDS | 5 | Former senator Harry and family |
| 40% | BOBKERREY | 9 | Former senator and presidential candidate who once dated Debra Winger |
| 39% | ALS | 3 | Former senators D'Amato and Franken |
| 39% | HIRAMS | 6 | Former senators Revels and Fong, for two |
| 38% | MEL | 3 | Former Florida senator Martinez |
| 38% | ALDAMATO | 8 | Former N.Y. Senator |
| 38% | ALDAMATO | 8 | Former senator with the memoir "Power, Pasta and Politics" |
| 37% | RUBIO | 5 | Florida senator and former presidential candidate Marco |
| 37% | PANETTA | 7 | Former CIA and Defense head |
| 37% | STENNIS | 7 | Former U.S. senator John C. ___, whose name can be formed by combining 44 Down and 22 Across and reversing the whole thing |
| 37% | DOLE | 4 | Last name of former senators Bob and Elizabeth |
| 36% | MUS | 3 | R&B and C&W: Abbr. |
| 36% | ALS | 3 | Senator Franken and former Vice President Gore |
| 36% | REX | 3 | Former Jets and Bills head coach ___ Ryan |
| 36% | UDALL | 5 | Former senator Tom who's now ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa |
| 35% | TYS | 3 | Former N.F.L.'ers Detmer and Law |
| 34% | OILERS | 6 | N.H.L. team and former N.F.L. team |
| 34% | ISSEL | 5 | Dan ___, former N.B.A. star and coach |
| 33% | JOHN | 4 | ___ McCain, former senator from Arizona who cameoed in an episode of "Parks and Recreation" |
| 32% | TEDS | 4 | Senator Cruz and former Senator Kennedy, for two |
| 32% | DONS | 4 | J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, at Oxford |
| 32% | EST | 3 | N.C. and S.C. zone |
| 32% | OXFORD | 6 | Alma mater for J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis |
| 31% | ORS | 3 | Places for M.D.'s and R.N.'s |
| 31% | ANNAN | 5 | Former U.N. head Kofi ___ |
| 31% | DAG | 3 | Former U.N. head Hammarskjöld |
| 31% | ANNAN | 5 | Former U.N. head Kofi |
| 31% | CBGB | 4 | Former N.Y.C. club |