U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley is running for reelection to represent Oregon in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Merkley, a Democrat who also carries the Working Families Party line, has held the seat since 2009.

He faces Republican David Brock Smith, Chris Henry of the Progressive/Pacific Green Party and Libertarian Gary Lyndon Dye, according to BallotReady election data.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic / Working Families Party
  • Grew up in: Myrtle Creek, Roseburg and East Multnomah County, according to his campaign website
  • Education: David Douglas High School; bachelor's degree in international relations, Stanford University, 1979; master's degree in public affairs, Princeton University, 1982
  • Family background: Merkley said on his campaign website that he grew up in a blue-collar family. His father worked as a millwright at a local timber mill and later as a union machinist. Merkley said he was the first in his family to graduate from college.

Experience and public service

  • U.S. senator for Oregon, 2009 to present
  • State representative, Oregon House of Representatives, 1999 to 2009 (including his time as speaker)
  • Executive director, Portland Habitat for Humanity, 1991 to 1994

On the issues

The following positions are based on Merkley's responses to the Oregon Capital Chronicle voter guide and statements on his campaign issues page.

Infrastructure and federal funding: Merkley said he secured funding for 558 projects across Oregon totaling $846,338,991 in four years on the Senate Appropriations Committee. He said he supports rebuilding roads, bridges, docks and jetties and expanding high-speed broadband to every rural community.

Government reform and filibuster: Merkley said he calls himself "the Senate's Chief Filibuster Reformer." He said the Senate Democratic caucus fell two votes short in 2022 of passing his proposal to restore the talking filibuster. He said the current filibuster has become "a tool of paralysis" and that reform would give the minority "a voice, not a veto."

Healthcare: Merkley said he supports Medicare for All. He also said he wants to ban drug companies from charging Americans more than they charge in Canada, Europe and Japan.

Environment and energy: Merkley said he supports a shift to 100% clean and renewable energy and backs a Green New Deal. He said the transition should create jobs and invest in communities that "have often been left behind."

Housing and affordability: Merkley said housing and child care should be affordable in every community and to every family. He also said he supports workers' rights to form unions and negotiate strong wages and benefits.

Endorsements

Merkley has received endorsements from the AFL-CIO, Oregon Education Association, Oregon Nurses Association, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, the League of Conservation Voters and JStreetPAC, according to BallotReady. He is seeking a fourth term.

Voters can find more information about the race and their ballots at the Oregon Secretary of State's elections website.

Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.