Jeff Merkley
Recent media appearances
Top articles
Overview
Jeff Merkley has represented Oregon in the U.S. Senate since winning election in 2008. He was born in Myrtle Creek, was elected to the Oregon Legislature in 1998 and became Speaker in 2007. He serves on the Appropriations, Budget, Environment and Public Works, Rules and Foreign Relations committees. merkley.senate.gov
He was the Democratic nominee seeking a fourth term in 2026 and ran against Republican state Sen. David Brock Smith. He told OPB he had been headed for retirement but decided to run again because of President Trump's actions. wweek.com opb.org
Platform
- Proposes ending gerrymandering, overturning Citizens United and replacing the Electoral College with a national popular vote.jeffmerkley.com
- Proposes moving the nation to 100% clean and renewable energy through a Green New Deal.jeffmerkley.com
- Proposes a Medicare for All program that every American can join and barring drug companies from charging Americans more than they charge in Canada, Europe and Japan.jeffmerkley.com
- Says he pushed for a ban on hedge funds buying single-family homes.katu.com
- Says he would seek to chair the Budget Committee and aim to cut wasteful defense spending and reverse tax breaks he says mostly benefit the wealthy.opb.org