Incumbent
Oregon Democratic Senate nominee?
$9.7K
MAY 20, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleU.S. Senator
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age69 years old (Oct 24, 1956)
GenderMale
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LocationOregon
BackgroundU.S. Senator
EducationStanford University — B.A., International Relations
Notable personal detailsJeffrey Alan Merkley is a U.S. Senator from Oregon, first elected in 2008 and serving since 2009. He previously served in the Oregon House of Representatives and was Speaker of the Oregon House. He has worked in public policy and affordable housing, including as executive director of the Portland Area Habitat for Humanity. He earned degrees from Stanford University and Princeton University.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports higher taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations and opposes large tax cuts for billionaires; advocates using tax revenue to fund programs that aid working- and middle-class families and to protect social safety-net programs. Has sponsored or cosponsored legislation to impose surtaxes on very large corporate profits and criticized Republican proposals that would shift tax burdens away from the wealthy and onto working families.
Healthcare
Supports expanding and protecting the Affordable Care Act, advancing a Medicare-like public option, and increasing government programs to improve access and affordability of health care. Advocates for preserving and extending premium tax credits, expanding Medicare/Medicaid coverage for treatments, and reducing prescription drug costs. Positions are drawn from his official Senate statements and campaign/issue pages.
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Immigration & Border
Supports protecting asylum access and reversing policies that restrict humanitarian protections at the border, opposes family separations and harsh enforcement practices, and advocates for legalization pathways for long-standing undocumented immigrants including protections for Dreamers (DACA).
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports codifying Roe v. Wade and protecting nationwide access to abortion and comprehensive reproductive health care; opposes state and federal restrictions and has sponsored and cosponsored legislation to guarantee abortion access and repeal laws that could be used to ban medication abortion.
Climate & Energy
Supports aggressive climate action including transitioning the U.S. to 100% clean and renewable energy, endorsing the Green New Deal principles, ending new fossil fuel extraction and subsidies, and legislative measures to reduce methane and decommission abandoned offshore fossil-fuel infrastructure.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports expanded background checks, red flag laws, bans or limits on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and other gun-safety measures (safe-storage laws, banning ghost guns). Has sponsored or cosponsored federal legislation and publicly advocated for these reforms.
News
Jeff Merkley is in the news for his push on several Democratic policy fights in Washington, including urging the EPA to tighten microplastics monitoring in drinking water and pressing the Education Department to give borrowers more time to leave the SAVE student-loan plan. He has also criticized Republican moves on immigration funding and joined other Democrats in calling for diplomacy over Trump’s Iran threats. In Oregon, Merkley is seeking reelection and faces a Democratic primary challenge as the state’s Senate race moves toward the May 19 vote.
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Endorsements
Endorsers of Jeff Merkley for Oregon Democratic Senate nominee?
American Federation of Government Employees
Public endorsement
The American Federation of Government Employees endorsed Jeff Merkley for re-election.
Oregon Labor Federation
Public figure
The Oregon Labor Federation endorsed Jeff Merkley and other Democrats for office.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 20262022
2024
2026
LatestCycle 2022
Cycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls