Jeff Merkley (OR)

Jeff Merkley will deliver the change we need in Washington. 

The son of a sawmill worker, Jeff was the first in his family to go to college.  He has spent his entire adult life fighting for change.  In 1998, Jeff was elected to Oregon House of Representatives and in 2003 he was elected by his colleagues to be the House Democratic Leader. In 2006, when Oregon Democrats took over, Jeff was elected to serve as Speaker. The Oregonian described Jeff’s session as Speaker, “Oregon's most productive in a generation.”

Jeff has led the fight to make health care more affordable, protect Oregonians from pay day loan scams, protect the environment for generations to come and create thousands of new, good paying jobs.  Jeff has also led the way for establishing fiscal responsibility for the state, cutting taxes and passing ethics reform to clean up government.

A native Oregonian, Jeff was born in Myrtle Creek.  He is a graduate of Stanford University and earned his masters degree in public policy on a full scholarship from Princeton University.  Following his master's program, Jeff was selected as a Presidential Management Fellow where he was worked with the Office of the Secretary of Defense.  Later, Jeff worked as a budget and policy analyst in the Congressional Budget Office.

Jeff now lives in East Multnomah County with his wife Mary, a professional nurse, and their two children.

Jeff is running against Republican incumbent Senator Gordon Smith.  Polls show this to be a very close race, with the most recent polls giving an edge to Jeff.  Environmentalists from the Sierra Club and League of Conservation Voters have endorsed Jeff and Planned Parenthood of Oregon and NARAL Pro-Choice America have endorsed Jeff and his 100% record protecting a woman’s right to choose.  The Rothenberg Political Report recently gave a slight edge to Jeff but he still needs your help today!

It is Democrats like Jeff, who help change Washington and build the filibuster proof majority in Congress that President Obama will need. 

We must do everything we can to help elect Jeff Merkley. You can help his campaign by contributing now. If you live near Jeff and would like to help you can also sign up to volunteer and we will help connect with his campaign. The stakes are too high, the time is short – get involved today.