Jeff Merkley is challenging Gordon Smith for the U.S. Senate in Oregon. Jeff is currently the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, which just completed the most progressive and productive legislative session in the last 30 years in Oregon.

Jeff was born in the small town of Myrtle Creek, Oregon. He spent his early years in the Roseburg and graduated from David Douglas High School in Portland.

He went on to Stanford and then to Princeton, where he earned a Master's in Public Policy. In 1982, he won appointment as a Presidential Management Fellow, which gave him the opportunity to tackle several pressing issues in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. There, he focused his energy on the critical problems of safeguarding American military technology, verifying arms treaties, and assisting the U.S. delegation to NATO.

Jeff then moved to the Congressional Budget Office, where he analyzed strategic nuclear weapons systems and programs.

After returning to Oregon, Jeff was executive director for Portland Habitat for Humanity and president of the World Affairs Council of Oregon, where he continues to serve on the Board of Trustees.

In 1998 Jeff was elected the Oregon Legislature, and in 2003 he was elected Democratic Leader by his colleagues.

In 2006, he led the House Democrats to an unprecedented electoral victory, toppling three Republican incumbents and claiming the House majority for the Democrats for the first time in 16 years. Jeff was unanimously elected Speaker of the Oregon House for the 2007 legislative session.

Jeff’s candidacy for the U.S. Senate has been endorsed by every statewide elected official in Oregon, including Governor Ted Kulongoski, and numerous local officials and community leaders. He also has the support of labor unions like the Oregon AFL-CIO, and the national nuclear non-proliferation organization Council for a Livable World.

Blog Entries by Jeff Merkley

George Bush Launches Attack on Access to Contraceptives

Posted July 24, 2008 | 02:46 PM (EST)


Time is running out for the Bush administration, but that isn't stopping President George Bush from trying to roll back a woman's right to choose before he leaves office.

Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services proposed a new rule that would force hospitals and clinics to...

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Why I Support the Responsible Plan to End the War

Posted March 18, 2008 | 03:29 PM (EST)


Five years ago, Gordon Smith and George Bush led our country in war. It's been a disaster. Nearly four thousand military men and women have given their lives, and billions of dollars have been squandered.

The plan was authored by distinguished military experts, including Major General Paul Eaton (U.S. ARMY...

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The Bush Plan: Every Veteran Left Behind

Posted February 12, 2008 | 06:21 PM (EST)


Last week it came to my attention that the federal government was once again failing our brave veterans by refusing to meet their obligations and promises.

My father taught me that there is no greater gift Americans can give to their country than being willing to fight and die for...

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The Senate Should Say "No" to Telecom Immunity

Posted February 5, 2008 | 03:42 PM (EST)


Since 9/11, there's been a consistent collision in the United States between fighting terrorism and protecting the civil liberties of American citizens both through law and through judicial oversight.

That collision moves into stark contrast this week with the U.S. Senate's vote on the extension of the Protect America...

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U.S. Senate for Oregon: Jeff Merkley Calls For Dramatic Shift in Energy Policy

Posted December 21, 2007 | 09:27 PM (EST)


Energy policy is critical to America's future. Energy is the key to our policies for national security, the economy and our environment. But right now we are a long way from getting it right.

Three recent events--the passage of a watered down energy bill, the Environmental Protection Agency's ruling against...

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