Jeff Merkley

Why they say you should vote for them

The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.

• Describes his vision as "Families thrive, and the rich pay their fair share."[1]
• Says he is running to push back against what he calls a "strong-man state" under President Trump and a "Families lose, Billionaires win" agenda.[1],[2]
• Argues that a Democratic Senate majority is needed as a check on the Trump administration, including on judicial nominations.[2]
• Calls for ending stock trading by members of Congress and for a binding code of ethics for the U.S. Supreme Court.[1]
• Says he holds a town hall in every Oregon county every year and backs investments in rural broadband, clean water, mental health, schools, ports, agriculture and mills.[1]

Background

• U.S. Senator; ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee since 2025, U.S. Senate · 2009–present[4]
• State Representative, District 16, later renumbered District 47 (Speaker of the House, 2007–2009), Oregon House of Representatives · 1999–2009[4],[1]
• President, World Affairs Council of Oregon[4]
• Executive Director, Portland Habitat for Humanity · 1991–1994[4],[1]
• National security analyst (Presidential Management Fellow at the Office of the Secretary of Defense; Congressional Budget Office), Federal government[4],[1]

Education

• Master of Public Affairs (1982), Princeton University[4]
• B.A., International Relations (1979), Stanford University[4],[1]

Where they stand

• Immigration
  Says ICE agents should not carry out operations at schools or warrantless home raids, and calls for full accountability for civil rights violations.[1]
• Elections & Democracy
  Supports ending gerrymandering and secret campaign funding, requiring paper ballots, expanding vote-by-mail, overturning Citizens United and replacing the Electoral College with direct election of presidents.[1],[3]
• Health Care
  Supports Medicare for All and barring drug companies from charging Americans more than they charge in Canada, Europe and Japan.[3]
• Energy & Environment
  Supports a rapid shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, including a Green New Deal aimed at 100% clean and renewable energy.[1],[3]
• Housing
  Supports banning hedge funds from buying single-family homes and making housing and child care affordable in every community.[1],[3]
• Education
  Supports smaller elementary class sizes, restoring shop and technical classes, and debt-free paths to trade school and college.[1],[3]
• Economy & Jobs
  Says trade policies that ship jobs overseas have left workers behind, and supports workers' right to form unions and bargain over wages and benefits.[3]

Voting record

A selection of notable recorded votes. Not a complete record.

In their words