Jeff Merkley
Bio | Jeffrey Merkley has been serving as the U.S. Senator from Oregon since 2009. He studied International Relations from Stanford University and earned a Master of PUblic Affairs at Princeton University;he also served as Director of Housing Development at Human Solutions and launched Oregon’s first IDA program to help low-income families. |
Status and Position | Current US Senator of Oregon |
Political Party and Jurisdiction | Democrat, Oregon |
Elections | Election Jurisdiction | Started Campaign | Campaign Status | Poll Rankings (of the vote) |
| 2020 Senate Election Oregon 1 | Oregon 1 | Yes | Running | 55.0% |
Campaign Financing | Merkley has received the majority of his funding from contributors like League of Conservation Voters, JStreetPAC, Oregon Health & Science University, and the State of Oregon. |
Voting Rights | Merkley is an advocate for reinstating the Voting Rights Act, restoring voting rights for individuals who served time for felony offenses, and prevent voter list purges. |
Opinions on Issues
Issues | Stance | Summary |
| Universal Healthcare | For | Merkley is generally supportive of universal healthcare proposals, and has recently supported initiatives to expand Medicare. Merkley is a strong supporter of Medicare. As senator for Oregon, he has pushed for the Choose Medicare Act, which will deliver quality, affordable healthcare. |
| Socialized Healthcare | Nuance | Merkley has not made a specific statement regarding socialized health. |
| Private Healthcare | Against | Merkley believes in having Medicare available for all. |
| LGBT Rights | For | Merkley has introduced legislation that would better older Americans who are LGBT by enabling them with more access to services and support programs. Merkley is advocating for better service for older LGBT individuals because he recognizes that as they age they are marginalized again. |
| Taxes | For | Merkley is seeking for a tax reform. Merkley is supportive of raising taxes for those with a higher income as well as have a minimal tax cut rate for them. He also wants to repeal $18 billion in tax breaks that are given to big oil companies. |
| Flat Tax Rate | Unknown | Merkley has made no statement pertaining to flat tax rate. Merkley is supportive of raising taxes for those with a higher income as well as have a minimal tax cut rate for them. He also wants to repeal $18 billion in tax breaks that are given to big oil companies. |
| Abortion | For | Merkley believes that abortions should always be an available legal option for women. He has supported a lot of legislation for abortion like accessing abortion without restrictions, banning anti-abortion limitations, and is a supporter of the legislation that gives access to birth control for women who have been sexually assaulted. |
| Gun Control | Against | Merkley is supportive on gun restrictions. Merkley has voted on legislation like on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets. He has also voted against allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains. |
| Assisted Suicide | Unknown | Merkley has not shared his opinion on assisted suicide. Merkley has voted on legislation like on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets. He has also voted against allowing firearms in checked baggage on Amtrak trains. |
| Government Interference | For | Merkley has expressed support on gun control. |
| Planned Parenthood | For | Merkley is supportive of legislation that enhances planned parenthood. |
| Welfare | For | Merkley has voted for legislation that supports welfare. Merkley votes for workfare and 2-year welfare limits. |
| Welfare | Unknown | Merkley has not expressed his opinion on stem cell research. |
| Death Penalty | Against | Merkley opposes the death penalty. Merkley opposes the death penalty. |
| Mandatory Prison Sentence | Unknown | Merkley has not made a statement regarding mandatory prison sentence. |
| Military Spending | For | Merkley votes for military spending to provide resources for those who are in service for this country. He is cautious about not over spending though. |
| War on Terrorism | Against | Has voted for bills calling for withdrawal of troops and withholding arms from areas of military influence. |
| Foreign Policy International Interaction | For | Is for the cooperation and aid of foreign powers. Has stated the importance of international cooperation. Has voted against the use of military cooperation for the efforts such as withdrawing forces from the Middle east. Co-Sponsored the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy act. |
| United Nations power | For | Has backed UN funding and stated that it is time the US starts showing more interest in international institution and stop being so uptight with money owed. |
| Nationalism | Unknown | Has made clear stance on this issue |
| Free Markets | Nuance | Has had mixed votes about this issue. Has stated that he backs NAFTA, but still need reforming. Voted against free trade agreement with Korea in 2011, For United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act and voted against the United States entering the arms market. |
| Brexit | Unknown | Has made no clear stance on this issue. |
| Affirmative Action | For | Merkley has voted for Paycheck and Minimum Wage fairness acts and Employee Non-Discrimination act. |
| Government Spending | Unknown | Has made no clear stance on this issue. |
| Charter Schools | Unknown | Has made no clear stance on this issue. |
| Common Core | Unknown | Has made no clear stance on this issue. N/A |
| Clean Energy | Nuance | Has had mixed votes on this issue. Voted against Dan Brouillette who is for clean energy. Has voted to implement any new buildings have solar panels in 2007. Voted against the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015. |
| Religious Freedom | Unknown | Has made no clear stance on this issue. N/A |
| Separation of Church and State | Unknown | Has made no clear stance on this issue. |
| Slavery Reparations | For | Has Cosponsered a bill that would back slavery reparations called Bookers Bill. |
| Border Control | Nuance | Has mixed votes on this issue. Voted against the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019, The dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act, and for the Immigration Security and Opportunity Act. |
| Passenger Profiling | Unknown | Has made no clear stance on this issue. |
| DACA | For | Has openly backed the Dreamers act and saving those enrolled with DACA. |
| Sanctuary Cities | Nuance | Merkley has stated his dislike for the policy to stop funding for these areas, and that to deputize police to federal bureaucrats makes those counties and cities less safe. Has not said they were a good thing though. |
| Legalizing Marijuana | For | Has openly back Marijuana and proposed an amendment to grant banks the opportunity to back cannabis business even if in state that is still illegal. More accurately it shields banks that would open accounts for legal marijuana businesses. |