$12.0K
MAY 20, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Current roleInsurance producer
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyTrump-aligned Republican
Age70 years old (May 9, 1956)
GenderFemale
LocationOregon
BackgroundInsurance producer
EducationOregon State University — bachelor's degree (2013)
Notable personal detailsJo Rae Perkins is a Republican political candidate from Albany, Oregon, who has run for U.S. Senate in Oregon and for U.S. House. She earned an A.S. in business management from Linn-Benton Community College and a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University, and has worked in financial services/insurance and real estate. She has held local and state party roles, including chair of the Linn County Republican Central Committee and secretary of the Oregon Republican Party.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Brock Smith’s nomination contract climbed to 98%, extending an already decisive move after primary-day reporting in Oregon. That level leaves little room for upside and makes the market mostly about whether any late ballot-counting or turnout surprise can dent an overwhelming favorite.
Brock Smith’s nominee odds have climbed to about 90%–97% while Jo Rae Perkins has slid to 10%, leaving the Oregon GOP Senate primary heavily consolidated around Brock Smith as results/reporting continue to firm up. That matters for traders because the market now looks priced for a Brock Smith win unless late ballot counting produces an upset.
Brock Smith’s nomination market has climbed to 90% on primary day, while Jo Rae Perkins has fallen to 10%. That widening gap makes Brock Smith the clear favorite and leaves little room for traders to price in a late upset absent a new catalyst.
Jo Rae Perkins is in the news as one of the Republican candidates in Oregon’s U.S. Senate primary, where the field is competing to challenge Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley. The race is part of Oregon’s May 19 primary, and recent coverage has focused on the contest and the broader primary setup rather than any new development specific to Perkins. Merkley is reported to have a large fundraising lead over the Republican field.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
