BIOGUIDE M001176 · FEC S8OR00207
Jeff Merkley
U.S. Senator (since 2009)DWFPINCUMBENT
- Race
- U.S. Senate · Oregon
- Result
- Jeff Merkley, projected winner
- Opponents
- David Brock Smith (R); Gary Dye (LIB); Chris Henry (Pacific Green Party, Progressive Party)
- Research
- Basic
Party line14 votes tracked
Broke with Democrats on
With party = voted the same way as most Democrats who voted.
Said vs. did7 statements · 14 votes
Jeff Merkley is the Democratic U.S. Senator from Oregon, where he has served since January 2009, and won re-election on November 3, 2026, as the Democratic and Working Families Party nominee. A Stanford and Princeton graduate who worked on defense policy and then in affordable housing, he served in the Oregon House from 1999 to 2009, the last two years as Speaker. His Senate office says he is focused on health care, housing, education and good-paying jobs.[1][2][3]
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotU.S. Senate
2026-11-03
| Jeff Merkley DWFP | incumbent |
| David Brock Smith R | challenger |
| Gary Dye LIB | challenger |
| Chris Henry Pacific Green PartyProgressive Party | challenger |
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
Sponsored S. 3344, the Prohibiting Unauthorized Military Action in Venezuela Act of 2025, a bill to prohibit the unauthorized use of U.S. Armed Forces in hostilities with respect to Venezuela.
Documented position[4]
- YESWar Powers Resolution on Iran (S.J. Res. 59, 2025-06-27), a motion to bring a war powers resolution on Iran to a vote.[5]
- YESWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela (S.J. Res. 90, 2025-11-06), a motion to bring a war powers resolution on Venezuela to a vote.[6]
2 of 2 votes point the same way as the statement
Sponsored S. 1446, the Clean Energy Victory Bond Act of 2025, a bill directing the Treasury Secretary to issue Clean Energy Victory Bonds.
Documented position[7]
- NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[8]
1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement
Cosponsored S. 4306, the Millionaires Surtax Act, a bill to impose a surtax on high-income individuals.
Documented position[9]
- NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[8]
1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement
Cosponsored S. 2150, the Women's Health Protection Act of 2025, a bill to protect a person's ability to determine whether to continue or end a pregnancy and a provider's ability to provide abortion services.
Documented position[10]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Cosponsored S. 2084, a bill to provide coverage of dental, vision and hearing services under Medicare and Medicaid.
Documented position[11]
- NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements.[8]
1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement
Cosponsored S. 1531, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 (119th Congress), which would ban the sale and manufacture of many semiautomatic assault weapons.
Documented position[12]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Cosponsored S. 1332, the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (119th Congress), which would raise the federal minimum wage.
Documented position[13]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
Biography
Jeff Merkley is the Democratic U.S. Senator from Oregon, where he has served since January 2009, and won re-election on November 3, 2026, as the Democratic and Working Families Party nominee. A Stanford and Princeton graduate who worked on defense policy and then in affordable housing, he served in the Oregon House from 1999 to 2009, the last two years as Speaker. His Senate office says he is focused on health care, housing, education and good-paying jobs.[1][2][3]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Merkley was born in Myrtle Creek, Oregon, where his father worked as a millwright; according to his Senate office, the family later moved to Roseburg and then to East Multnomah County, where he graduated from David Douglas High School. In 1979 he became the first person in his family to graduate from college, earning a bachelor's degree in international relations from Stanford University, and he later earned a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School in 1982.[2][1][17] After an internship in the office of Sen. Mark Hatfield, he worked in Washington, D.C., on nuclear disarmament and military spending, including as a Presidential Management Fellow at the Office of the Secretary of Defense and as an analyst at the Congressional Budget Office.[2][17] He then returned to Oregon, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, served as executive director of Portland Area Habitat until 1994 and afterward developed affordable housing for the nonprofit Human Solutions.[1][17]
Merkley ran for the state legislature in 1998 and was elected to represent the East Multnomah County neighborhood where he grew up, serving in the Oregon House from 1999 until his election to the Senate in 2008. He was elected House Democratic leader after the 2003 session and Speaker in 2007.[1][2][17] In 2008 he was elected to the U.S. Senate, defeating incumbent Gordon Smith; he holds the seat once held by Hatfield and won re-election in 2014 and 2020.[1][2][17]
Merkley sits on the Appropriations, Environment and Public Works, Budget, Rules and Foreign Relations committees, chairs the Appropriations subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies and an Environment and Public Works subcommittee, and co-chairs the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.[2] According to his Senate office, he holds a town hall in each of Oregon's 36 counties every year. He and his wife, Mary Sorteberg, have two children and live in East Portland.[2] He won the November 3, 2026 general election with 58.1% of the vote to David Brock Smith's 38.7%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[3]
Recent votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-30 | With partyvoted no | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — Senate passageH.R. 7148 · Bill Passed 71–29 · roll call ↗Democrats 23–24 · Republicans 48–5 |
| 2025-12-17 | Against partyvoted no | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Motion Agreed to 77–20 · roll call ↗Democrats 28–18 · Republicans 49–2 |
| 2025-11-10 | With partyvoted no | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Bill Passed 60–40 · roll call ↗Democrats 8–39 · Republicans 52–1 |
| 2025-11-06 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to dischargeS.J. Res. 90 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 49–51 · roll call ↗Democrats 47–0 · Republicans 2–51 |
| 2025-10-30 | With partyvoted yes | Resolution to end the global tariff emergencyS.J. Res. 88 · Joint Resolution Passed 51–47 · roll call ↗Democrats 47–0 · Republicans 4–47 |
| 2025-07-01 | With partyvoted no | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passageH.R. 1 · Bill Passed 50–50 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–47 · Republicans 50–3 |
| 2025-06-27 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to dischargeS.J. Res. 59 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 47–53 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–1 · Republicans 1–52 |
| 2025-06-17 | With partyvoted no | GENIUS Act — Senate passageS. 1582 · Bill Passed 68–30 · roll call ↗Democrats 18–28 · Republicans 50–2 |
Showing the 8 most recent of 14 votes.
All 14 recorded votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-30 | With partyvoted no | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — Senate passageH.R. 7148 · Bill Passed 71–29 · roll call ↗Democrats 23–24 · Republicans 48–5The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026. |
| 2025-12-17 | Against partyvoted no | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Motion Agreed to 77–20 · roll call ↗Democrats 28–18 · Republicans 49–2The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. This vote sent the House-Senate compromise version to the President, who signed it into law the next day. |
| 2025-11-10 | With partyvoted no | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Bill Passed 60–40 · roll call ↗Democrats 8–39 · Republicans 52–1The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. Eight members of the Democratic caucus joined nearly all Republicans to pass it. |
| 2025-11-06 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to dischargeS.J. Res. 90 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 49–51 · roll call ↗Democrats 47–0 · Republicans 2–51S.J.Res. 90 would have directed the President to end military hostilities within or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized, after U.S. strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the region. A motion to discharge the resolution from committee failed, blocking a vote on final passage. |
| 2025-10-30 | With partyvoted yes | Resolution to end the global tariff emergencyS.J. Res. 88 · Joint Resolution Passed 51–47 · roll call ↗Democrats 47–0 · Republicans 4–47S.J.Res. 88 terminates the national emergency the President used to impose broad tariffs on imports from most countries under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Unlike an earlier April 2025 attempt, this resolution passed the Senate, though it still required House and presidential action to take effect. |
| 2025-07-01 | With partyvoted no | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passageH.R. 1 · Bill Passed 50–50 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–47 · Republicans 50–3H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and increases border security and defense spending. It reduces projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adds new work requirements; Vice President Vance cast the tie-breaking vote. |
| 2025-06-27 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to dischargeS.J. Res. 59 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 47–53 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–1 · Republicans 1–52S.J.Res. 59 would have directed the President to end U.S. military hostilities against Iran that Congress had not authorized, following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier that month. A motion to discharge the resolution from committee failed, preventing a vote on final passage. |
| 2025-06-17 | With partyvoted no | GENIUS Act — Senate passageS. 1582 · Bill Passed 68–30 · roll call ↗Democrats 18–28 · Republicans 50–2The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation to clear Congress. |
| 2025-04-30 | With partyvoted yes | Resolution to end the global tariff emergencyS.J. Res. 49 · Joint Resolution Defeated 49–49 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–0 · Republicans 3–49S.J.Res. 49 would have terminated the national emergency the President declared in April 2025 to impose broad tariffs on imports from most U.S. trading partners. The resolution failed on a tied 49-49 vote. |
| 2025-03-14 | With partyvoted no | Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 — Senate passageH.R. 1968 · Bill Passed 54–46 · roll call ↗Democrats 2–45 · Republicans 52–1The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations. |
| 2025-02-13 | With partyvoted no | Confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS SecretaryPN Kennedy · Nomination Confirmed 52–48 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–47 · Republicans 52–1The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services, overseeing federal health, food-safety, and drug-regulatory agencies. Senator Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to vote against the nomination. |
| 2025-02-04 | With partyvoted no | Confirmation of Pamela Bondi as Attorney GeneralPN Bondi · Nomination Confirmed 54–46 · roll call ↗Democrats 1–46 · Republicans 53–0The Senate confirmed Pamela Bondi, Florida's former attorney general, to serve as U.S. Attorney General, leading the Justice Department. The vote fell largely along party lines. |
| 2025-01-24 | With partyvoted no | Confirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of DefensePN Hegseth · Nomination Confirmed 50–50 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–47 · Republicans 50–3The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard officer, to serve as Secretary of Defense. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote after three Republican senators joined all Democrats in voting against the nomination. |
| 2025-01-20 | With partyvoted no | Laken Riley Act — Senate passageS. 5 · Bill Passed 64–35 · roll call ↗Democrats 12–35 · Republicans 52–0The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions. |
On the record
Official actions: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.
- actionIn the 119th Congress (2025-2026), serves on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight), the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Appropriations (Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies), the Committee on Rules and Administration, and is Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Budget.[18]
In their own words
Priorities
- Describes his role as fighting to restore the American Dream and standing up for middle-class families, focused on equal opportunity for children and a fair shot for people who work hard, 'no matter where they started in life.'[19]
- Lists agriculture, health care, jobs and the economy, natural resources and rural development, consumer and taxpayer protection, and tackling climate change among his issue priorities.[19]
Campaign money$4.5M raised · 88% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $3.5M
- PACs & committees $478K
Largest committee contributions
- NEA Fund for Children and Public Education PAC$10K
- Forward Together PAC PAC$10K
- Oceans PAC PAC$10K
- Turquoise PAC PAC$10K
- Off the Sidelines PAC PAC$10K
- Alsopac PAC$10K
- Health Jobs Justice PAC$10K
- Professional Aviation Safety Specialists PAC PAC$10K
- Victory Now PAC PAC$10K
- American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education PAC$10K
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/jeff-merkley
Where they stood out
Voted against most of their party on 4 of 834 party-divided votes on file.
Paul Amdt. No. 6715; To strike the provision relating to duties on countries that purchase Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas or facilitate sanctions evasion.
A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6715, which would strike the provision on duties on countries that buy Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas or facilitate sanctions evasion. (AI-written)
What it does: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 This bill imposes a variety of sanctions, tariffs, and prohibitions related to Russia, extends an Iran-related sanctions law, and expands a tax deduction for t…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 29–15, Republicans 2–48
Aug 7, 2026Official record ↗
Confirmation: Douglas Weaver, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
What it does: Confirms Douglas Weaver as a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 17–28, Republicans 51–0
Dec 17, 2025Official record ↗
Scott (FL) Amdt. No. 3535; To require Presidential appointment and Senate confirmation of the Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
A yes vote adopted Scott (FL) Amendment 3535 to the National Defense Authorization Act, which would require presidential appointment and Senate confirmation of the Inspector General for the Federal Reserve Board and CFPB (60 votes needed). (AI-written)
What it does: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 This bill sets forth policies and authorities for FY2026 for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, military construction, and the national securit…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 8–36, Republicans 42–6
Oct 9, 2025Official record ↗
Their votes on the most contested roll calls
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
- No
With most of their party · Agreed to 46–45 · Yes 45–No 45 · Democrats 0–43, Republicans 45–0
May 11, 2026Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Passed 49–47 · Yes 47–No 47 · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 47–0
Feb 12, 2026Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Confirmed 48–46 · Yes 46–No 46 · Democrats 0–44, Republicans 46–0
Jun 4, 2025Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Rejected 46–49 · Yes 46–No 46 · Democrats 44–0, Republicans 0–46
Jan 15, 2025Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Confirmed 48–47 · Yes 48–No 47 · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 48–0
Jul 23, 2026Official record ↗
Compare all 4 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Jeff Merkley · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.About Jeff · Office of Sen. Jeff Merkley Official record
- 3.Oregon U.S. Senate election results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 4.S. 3344: Prohibiting Unauthorized Military Action in Venezuela Act of 2025 · GovTrack.us (Congressional bill data) · 2026-10-03 Reference
- 5.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to discharge · U.S. Senate · 2025-06-27 Official record
- 6.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to discharge · U.S. Senate · 2025-11-06 Official record
- 7.S. 1446: Clean Energy Victory Bond Act of 2025 · GovTrack.us (Congressional bill data) · 2026-10-03 Reference
- 8.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passage · U.S. Senate · 2025-07-01 Official record
- 9.S. 4306: Millionaires Surtax Act · GovTrack.us (Congressional bill data) · 2026-10-03 Reference
- 10.S. 2150: Women's Health Protection Act of 2025 · GovTrack.us (Congressional bill data) · 2026-10-03 Reference
- 11.S. 2084: Medicare and Medicaid Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2025 · GovTrack.us (Congressional bill data) · 2026-10-03 Reference
- 12.S. 1531, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 (Assault Weapons Ban of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 13.S. 1332, the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (Raise the Wage Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 14.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — Senate passage · U.S. Senate · 2025-01-20 Official record
- 15.Roll call: Resolution to end the global tariff emergency · U.S. Senate · 2025-04-30 Official record
- 16.Roll call: Resolution to end the global tariff emergency · U.S. Senate · 2025-10-30 Official record
- 17.Jeff Merkley · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 18.Jeff Merkley · Ballotpedia Reference
- 19.Issues · Office of Sen. Jeff Merkley Candidate's own words