Jeff Merkley

Jeff Merkley DEMDemocrat

United States Senator

Profile Photo
Jeff MerkleyDEMDemocrat United States Senator
67
Years of Age
25
Years of Experience
ORResidence (state)

Jeffrey Alan Merkley (born October 24, 1956) is an American politician serving as the junior United States senator from Oregon since 2009. A member of the Democratic Party, he served from 1999 to 2009 as the representative for the 47th district in the Oregon House of Representatives, which covers central Multnomah County on the eastern side of Portland; he was the speaker of the House during the last two years of his tenure. In 2008, Merkley defeated two-term Republican incumbent U.S. Senator Gordon Smith and was reelected in 2014 and 2020, defeating Republican nominees Monica Wehby and Jo Rae Perkins. During his tenure, Merkley has been an advocate of progressivism and was the only U.S. senator to endorse Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries. He was considered a potential candidate for president in 2020, but chose to run for reelection to the Senate instead.

Voterly's Issue Scores  (1 - 30 of 30)

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Special Interest Group Ratings

Interest Groups That SUPPORT
Rating
Interest Groups That OPPOSE
Rating
Average Score

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0 / 30

Campaign Funding

20
18
$14,521,093
Total Raised
$13,383,231
Total Spent
$1,682,275
Cash on Hand
Top Industries  (1 - 4 of 10) View All Industries
99%
Retired$1,499,236
29%
Lawyers/Law Firms$438,386
25%
Leadership PACs$371,601
21%
Education$325,461
17%
Health Professionals$252,183
14%
Securities & Investment$218,349
12%
Real Estate$185,760
9%
Lobbyists$143,186
9%
Electronics Mfg & Equip$142,924
9%
Environment$138,906
Direct campaign contributions grouped by the industry industry of each donor/PAC.

Largest Contributors

Funding generally from an organization's PAC or its members/employees. Organizations did not donate directly.
Financial Data Source: Center for Responsive Politics
Education6 - 6 of 4
Princeton University
Master in Public Administration
1982
Princeton School of Public and International Affairs
Stanford University
Bachelor of Arts
1979
David Douglas High School
Past Positions1 - 9 of 9
Senator
United States Senate, Oregon
2008 - Current
Representative
Oregon State House of Representatives
1998 - 2008
Speaker of the House
Oregon State House of Representatives
2007 - 2008
Former Democratic Leader
Oregon State House of Representatives
Leader
Portland Habitat for Humanity
1991 - 1998
Former Director of Housing Development
Human Solutions
Former Executive Director
Habitat for Humanity, Portland
Former National Security Analyst
United States Congress
Former National Security Analyst
Congressional Budget Office
Other Experience1 - 21 of 21
Former President
World Affairs Council of Oregon
Founder
People's Investment Opportunity Program
Founder
Walk for Humanity
Chair
Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight
Chair
Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Appropriations Committee
Chair
Congressional-Executive Commission on China
Former Member
Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight, United States Senate
Former Member
Africa and Global Health Policy Subcommittee, United States Senate
Former Member
Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, United States Senate
Former Member
Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, United States Senate
Former Member
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Former Member
Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development , United States Senate
Former Member
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, United States Senate
Former Member
Subcommittee on Economic Policy, United States Senate
Former Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, United States Senate
Former Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protections, United States Senate
Member
the Environment and Public Works Committee
Member
Rules Committee
Member
Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Member
Budget Committee
Member
Appropriations Committee
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