Jeff Merkley

Jeff Merkley
Name	Jeff Merkley
State	Oregon
Jr/sr	United States Senator
Alongside	Ron Wyden
Term start	January 3, 2009
Predecessor	Gordon Smith
Office1	64th Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
Term start1	January 8, 2007
Term end1	January 3, 2009
Predecessor1	Karen Minnis
Successor1	Dave Hunt
Birth date	24 October 1956
Birth place	Myrtle Creek, Oregon
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Mary Sorteberg
Alma mater	Stanford University (BA), Princeton University (MPA)
Website	merkley.senate.gov

Jeff Merkley is an American politician serving as the junior United States senator from Oregon since 2009. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 64th Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2007 to 2009. Known for his progressive advocacy, he serves on influential committees including the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on the Budget.

Early life and education

He was born in Myrtle Creek, Oregon, and grew up in the Portland metropolitan area, attending David Douglas High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Stanford University in 1979. Following his undergraduate studies, he worked for the Congressional Budget Office in Washington, D.C., before pursuing a Master of Public Affairs from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, which he completed in 1982.

Early career

Before entering electoral politics, he focused on housing and international policy. He worked for the World Affairs Council of Oregon and later served as the director of Portland's Habitat for Humanity affiliate. In 1999, he was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the board of the United States Institute of Peace. His political career began with his election to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1998, representing a district in Portland. He rose to become the House Democratic Leader and, following the 2006 elections, was elected Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.

U.S. Senate career

He was first elected to the United States Senate in 2008, defeating incumbent Republican Gordon Smith. He was re-elected in 2014 and 2020. In the Senate, he has served on several key committees, including the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. He is a prominent voice on environmental issues, introducing the Green New Deal resolution alongside Senator Ed Markey. He has also been a leading critic of the filibuster and a vocal advocate for reforming the Senate's rules.

Political positions

He is recognized as a progressive Democrat with a focus on economic equality, climate action, and foreign policy. He is a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act and has advocated for Medicare for All. On foreign policy, he was an early opponent of the Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen and has criticized arms sales to Saudi Arabia. He has been a consistent advocate for aggressive action on climate change, supporting the Paris Agreement and proposing legislation like the 100% Clean Economy Act. He has also been a leading figure in calls for reforming the Supreme Court and ending the filibuster.

Electoral history

In his first Senate race in 2008, he won the Democratic primary against Steve Novick and then defeated Republican incumbent Gordon Smith in the general election. He was re-elected in 2014, defeating Republican nominee Monica Wehby, and again in 2020, defeating Republican challenger Jo Rae Perkins. His victories have been part of a modern trend of Democratic dominance in statewide federal elections in Oregon.

Personal life

He is married to Mary Sorteberg, a former nurse, and they have two children. The family resides in Portland. He is a member of Augustana Lutheran Church in Portland. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys hiking in the Columbia River Gorge and other parts of the Pacific Northwest.

Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:United States senators from Oregon Category:Speakers of the Oregon House of Representatives