U.S. Senator from Oregon · Class II
Jeff Merkley
From public records: votes from Voteview, bills from congress.gov, money from FEC filings · votes updated Nov 4, 2026 · How we measure
Position · −0.45
- In office
- Senate 2009–now
17 years in CongressMore senior than 66% of the Senate - Committees
- Budget Ranking Member
- Environment and Public Works 3rd minority
- Appropriations 5th minority
- Age
- 70
2026 election
On the November ballot
General election Nov 3, 2026
Facing
- RDavid Brock Smith$311K
Counts, not a score: statements as the Statements tab counts them, bills by introduction date, roll calls the member voted in, breaks on party-line votes.
StatementsBills
Words go to Government Operations and Politics, Armed Forces and National Security and Health; bills go to Health and International Affairs.
- He talks most about: Government Accountability (Government Operations and Politics), Government Spending (Government Operations and Politics), Immigration Enforcement (Immigration), Armed Forces & National Security (Armed Forces and National Security), Wildfire Recovery (Emergency Management).
- 138 bills sponsored, most on Health.
Ranking member on the Budget Committee, more senior than 66% of the Senate, in the minority.
- 17 years in Congress: more senior than 66% of the Senate.
- Minority: Democrats and the independents who caucus with them hold 47 of 100 seats.
His cosponsorships on Republican bills
Closest within his party
Closest across the aisle
Closest across the aisle Pro The members of the other party who vote most like Merkley.
Free account See ProAgreement on contested votes where both cast yea or nay, this Congress · Voteview
14% of his cosponsorships go to Republican bills (peer median 19%); closest in his party: Van Hollen and Murphy.
- Other-party share of cosponsors on his own bills: not yet tracked.
- Caucus memberships: not yet tracked.
His billsExpected for a peer
1.20expected 0.64 · average member 1.00
2 of 114 bills passed the Senate; 0 became law; effectiveness 1.20 against a peer median of 0.64.
- On the move: S. 5602 (out of committee), S. 5603 (out of committee), S. 1874 (out of committee).
- Amendments offered and adopted, earmarks in dollars: not yet tracked.
119th Congress so far · bills from congress.gov
With his party on all 15 areas with 10 or more party-line votes so far.
Major bills of the Congress · final passage
- H.R. 1 One Big Beautiful Bill Act Jul 1, 2025 NAY D 0–47
- H.R. 5371 Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 Nov 10, 2025 NAY D 8–39
- H.R. 1968 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 Mar 14, 2025 NAY D 2–45
- H.R. 7148 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 Jan 30, 2026 NAY D 23–24
- H.R. 4 Rescissions Act of 2025 Jul 17, 2025 NAY D 0–46
- S. 2 Secure America Act Jun 5, 2026 NAY D 0–46
- H.J.Res. 89 Providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Motor Vehicle and Engine and Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; The 'Omnibus' Low NOX Regulation; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision". May 22, 2025 NAY D 0–46
- H.J.Res. 88 Providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Advanced Clean Cars II; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision". May 22, 2025 — D 1–44
- H.J.Res. 35 Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Waste Emissions Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems: Procedures for Facilitating Compliance, Including Netting and Exemptions". Feb 27, 2025 NAY D 0–47
- H.J.Res. 87 Providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Motor Vehicle and Engine Pollution Control Standards; Heavy-Duty Vehicle and Engine Emission Warranty and Maintenance Provisions; Advanced Clean Trucks; Zero Emission Airport Shuttle; Zero-Emission Power Train Certification; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision". May 22, 2025 NAY D 0–45
Voted with his party on 9 of the 9 he voted on.
The same ten bills on every profile, chosen by a rule from the roll calls, statements and lobbying filings on file · Method · party column: Democrats yea–nay on that roll call.
Votes with Democrats on 100% of party-line votes, breaks 4 times (peer median 22).
- Position: −0.45, inside the Democratic middle 80%.
- Most breaks by area: Energy & environment 1 of 26, International Affairs 1 of 31, Armed Forces & National Security 1 of 42.
Distance from party, not an ideology score · areas under 10 party-line votes not shown.
Where the money comes from, 2025–26
Small-dollar individualsLarge individualsPACs and other committeesTransfers and other
77% of what he raised came from individuals; 36% came in gifts of $200 or less (chamber median 23%).
$5.4M raised, 11% from PACs and other committees (chamber median 15%).
- Last general election for the seat (2020): won by 17.6 points.
34 PACs of the 39 that gave belong to organizations that lobbied on bills he faced a vote on, cosponsored or sponsored.
Top lobbying issues of the organizations behind the PACs that gave to him: Budget/Appropriations, Taxation and Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace.
What each PAC gave Pro Amounts, the full list and each organization’s lobbying are part of Pro.
Free account See ProParty split is the PAC’s giving to all federal candidates · FEC
What those organizations lobby on
202 bills
Merkley voted Yea on 6, Nay on 21, did not vote on 2, and sponsored or cosponsored 173 with no recorded vote.
Positions are being checked before they go public; this question fills in when they are.