Oregon — U.S. Senate

Jeff Merkley

Supports infrastructure investment and progressive economic policy

Merkley advocates for creating jobs through large-scale infrastructure investments in roads, bridges, jetties, and rural high-speed broadband. He opposes trade policies that export American jobs and supports government programs to lower costs for housing, education, and child care.

• Invest in federal infrastructure including roads, bridges, docks, jetties, and rural broadband
• Reform trade policies that ship American jobs overseas
• Oppose corporate tax cuts and promote investments in working families

“We can create millions of good-paying jobs rebuilding America’s infrastructure from roads and bridges to docks and jetties.”

David Brock Smith

Opposes new taxes and seeks spending cuts

Smith focuses on lowering the cost of living for Oregon families and retaining local businesses. He pledges to block new taxes, support small businesses, eliminate government fraud, and reduce unnecessary spending.

• Pledge no new taxes on families and businesses
• Cut unnecessary government spending and eliminate fraud
• Provide incentives for local business and job growth

“That means no new taxes, more support for our local businesses, eliminating fraud, and reducing unnecessary government spending.”

Jeff Merkley

Supports Green New Deal and 100% clean energy

Merkley frames climate change as an urgent global emergency worsening Pacific Northwest wildfires and extreme weather. He advocates for a Green New Deal, a complete transition to renewable energy, and increased federal firefighting appropriations to end fire borrowing.

• Enact a Green New Deal to generate clean energy jobs
• Transition the nation to 100% clean and renewable energy sources
• Increase federal firefighting funds to prevent budget borrowing from other programs

“We must invest in a shift to 100% clean and renewable energy sources. And we need a Green New Deal to ensure that as we drive this transition, we create millions of good-paying family jobs”

David Brock Smith

Supports active forest management and timber production

Smith prioritizes active forest management, fuel reduction, and private landowner collaboration to prevent catastrophic wildfires. He argues this approach protects local communities while boosting rural timber jobs and housing production materials.

• Expand active forest management and fuel reduction initiatives
• Partner with local landowners to protect rural homes and property
• Utilize locally sourced timber to support housing manufacturing and rural job growth

“I have and will continue to lead the state to address the desperate need for active forest management, fuel reduction, and working with landowners to better protect homes and communities.”

Jeff Merkley

Supports expanding affordable housing and community care

Merkley connects the homelessness crisis to broader economic challenges, arguing that affordable housing and child care must be accessible to every family across all communities.

• Expand federal investments in affordable housing
• Strengthen economic foundation programs for struggling families

“Housing and child care should be affordable in every community and to every family.”

David Brock Smith

Opposes street camping and demands treatment accountability

Smith sharply criticizes current state and municipal spending on homelessness, calling for an end to permanent street camping. He advocates for accountable drug and mental health treatment programs rather than unconditioned aid.

• Ban permanent street camping statewide
• Implement mandatory drug and mental health treatment with strict accountability
• Support local homeowners and business owners against radical activist policies

“We need drug and mental health treatment that works, and I have and will continue to fight for treatment and accountability, as well as an end to permanent street camping.”

Jeff Merkley

Supports campaign finance limits and voting access expansion

Merkley advocates comprehensive democratic reforms, including overturning Citizens United to eliminate dark money and banning gerrymandering. He supports nationwide vote-by-mail, same-day voter registration, strengthening the Voting Rights Act, and replacing the Electoral College with direct popular presidential elections.

• Overturn Citizens United and eliminate dark money from elections
• Ban partisan gerrymandering and restore the Voting Rights Act
• Replace the Electoral College with direct national popular vote
• Establish federal standards for early voting, vote-by-mail, and same-day registration

“We must reclaim our Constitution. Put an end to gerrymandering. Overturn Citizens United and shut down the dark money.”

David Brock Smith

Supports eliminating fraud and increasing government accountability

Smith argues that political leaders in Salem and Washington have become disconnected from everyday citizens. He emphasizes eliminating government fraud, cutting unnecessary federal spending, and restoring common-sense representation.

• Eliminate fraud across government programs
• Restore common-sense accountability and rural representation in Washington

“You deserve a voice in Washington that is actually advocating for solutions, not just trying to grab headlines and sound bites.”

Jeff Merkley

Opposed mandatory federal detention rules for certain non-citizens

Merkley's record on public safety includes voting against federal legislation such as the Laken Riley Act, which mandated federal detention for undocumented individuals arrested for certain property crimes.

• Voted against the Laken Riley Act in the 119th Congress

David Brock Smith

Supports law enforcement and strict criminal penalties

Smith places strong emphasis on supporting law enforcement officers and curbing rising crime rates. He advocates for strict accountability for repeat criminal offenders and restoring legal consequences.

• Support and back law enforcement officers
• Impose strict accountability and penalties for repeat criminal offenders
• Restore legal consequences to protect local neighborhoods

“I support law enforcement, accountability for repeat offenders, and restoring consequences that keep our kids and communities safe.”

Jeff Merkley

Supports Medicare for All and drug price caps

Merkley advocates for giving all Americans the option to join Medicare for All to streamline system costs. He also supports capping prescription drug prices by preventing pharmaceutical companies from charging higher prices in the United States than in other developed nations.

• Provide access to a cost-effective Medicare for All program
• Cap U.S. drug prices at rates charged in Canada, Europe, and Japan
• Supported Oregon Measure 111 establishing a state constitutional right to healthcare

“We should give every American the opportunity to participate in simple, seamless, cost-effective Medicare for All.”

Jeff Merkley

Supports debt-free college and vocational education expansion

Merkley supports federal policies to lower elementary school class sizes, restore shop and technical education classes, and ensure young people can attend college debt-free. He also advocates for making child care affordable.

• Enact debt-free college programs for students
• Reduce class sizes and expand career and technical education in public schools
• Make quality child care affordable for working families

“We should reduce class sizes in elementary schools, bring back shop classes and technical education, and give every young person who wants to the chance to go to college debt-free.”