Prediction Edge
Republican
Jo Rae Perkins

Jo Rae Perkins

Overview

Current rolePolitical candidate

PartyRepublican

Political ideologyTrump-aligned Republican

Age70 years old (May 9, 1956)

GenderFemale

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LocationOregon

BackgroundPolitical candidate

EducationLinn–Benton Community College — Associate of Science, Business Management (1998)

Notable personal detailsJo Rae Perkins is an American Republican candidate from Albany, Oregon who has run for U.S. Senate and other offices. She was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Oregon in 2020 and 2022. She has served in local and state Republican Party roles, including as chair of the Linn County Republican Central Committee and as secretary of the Oregon Republican Party (2023–2025). She has worked in financial services, insurance, and real estate, and has studied business and political science.

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Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

Advocates replacing federal income taxes with a federal consumption tax and supports privatizing Medicare and Social Security; also favors abolishing the Federal Reserve and zero-based budgeting to shrink federal spending. Positions indicate preference for smaller federal government, reduced role for federal programs, and fundamental tax-system changes.

Healthcare

Supports expanding patient choice and coverage for natural, holistic, and naturopathic treatments while cutting CMS regulatory barriers and increasing market competition in Medicare Advantage; opposes expanding socialized medicine and proposes bills to require parity for naturopathic care, remove limits on Medicare Advantage plans, and eliminate late-enrollment penalties. Emphasizes preserving private plan options, reducing red tape, and increasing transparency and portability rather than creating a single-payer system.

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Immigration & Border

The candidate supports stronger border enforcement and opposes Oregon’s sanctuary policies, arguing for reevaluation to prioritize citizen safety and for classifying unlawful entry as a crime. Her campaign site includes a proposed "Secure Borders and Felony Enforcement Act" and a policy page criticizing sanctuary-state protections and emphasizing federal authority over immigration.

Abortion & Reproductive Rights

The candidate identifies as pro‑life and states that abortion should not be allowed under any circumstances, with only extremely rare exceptions when the mother’s life is absolutely at risk. The candidate supports banning taxpayer funding for abortion providers and supports the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.

Climate & Energy

Jo Rae Perkins opposes policies like the Green New Deal and attributes Oregon forestry problems to factors other than climate change. Her public materials emphasize state control of land management and criticize what she terms "job-killing regulations" related to radical climate policies.

Public Safety & Guns

Jo Rae Perkins expresses strong support for the Second Amendment and opposes additional gun restrictions, arguing that gun ownership is necessary for self‑protection and that shootings are primarily a mental‑health issue rather than a gun‑control issue. She has been rated and endorsed by pro‑gun groups in Oregon.

News

AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026

Jo Rae Perkins is in the news as one of the Republicans running in Oregon’s U.S. Senate primary to challenge Sen. Jeff Merkley. The race is part of the May 19 primary, and Perkins is among several GOP candidates competing for the nomination. Recent coverage has focused on the primary itself and the broader election setup, rather than any new development specific to Perkins.

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Endorsements

Oregon Republican Senate nominee?

Endorsers of Jo Rae Perkins for Oregon Republican Senate nominee?

Mark Callahan

Public figure

Mark Callahan endorsed Jo Rae Perkins.

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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.

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