Jeffrey Merkley — Democrat Candidate for U.S. Senate in Oregon, 2026

Senator Merkley actively opposes increased funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stating he will vote against homeland security spending that includes it. He co-introduced the ICE Out of Our Faces Act to ban federal use of facial recognition technology and legislation enabling individuals to sue ICE and CBP for constitutional violations. He emphasizes accountability and the protection of civil liberties.

““For years, I’ve been ringing the alarm bells about the dangers of a national surveillance state built on facial recognition technology. Now, we’re seeing Trump’s lawless federal agents deploy this technology on our streets across the nation as he tries to tighten his authoritarian grip,” said Senator Merkley. “Without oversight, this technology is dangerous in the hands of any government, and the Trump Administration is abusing it to trampling on privacy, freedom of speech, and civil liberties. All freedom-loving Americans must join us to stand up to this assault on folks’ fundamental rights.” (Source: jayapal.house.gov, February 5, 2026)”

Senator Merkley opposes cuts to healthcare and advocates for extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies to ensure more Americans can afford health care. He voted against legislation that funded the government but did not extend ACA's enhanced premium tax credits, citing it as a brutal blow to affordable care. Merkley also supports a Medicare option, believing it would create competition and lower overall health care costs for Americans, and co-introduced the Restoring Patient Protections and Affordability Act to renew enhanced premium tax credits for three years.

““The vote tonight to reopen the government with no deal on health care is a brutal blow to all those who have stood together to save affordable health care for more than 20 million Americans. I strived to stop this outcome. I will vote ‘NO’ tonight with every fiber of my being.” - Senator Jeff Merkley, merkley.senate.gov, 'Merkley: Voting No with Every Fiber of My Being'”

Senator Jeff Merkley, as Ranking Member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, voted for the Interior-Environment Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations bill. He views this bill as a solid stride toward protecting public lands, waters, and the outdoor economy by addressing wildfire threats, modernizing water infrastructure, and investing in climate initiatives. Merkley advocates for funding to combat the climate crisis and protect against corporate polluters, supporting provisions like $4.25 billion for wildfire suppression and $3.27 billion for the National Park Service.

“Oregonians turned out in record numbers during my town halls last year and delivered a clear message: Congress must fight back against harmful funding cuts and do everything it can to protect our public lands, waters, and outdoor-driven economy. The FY 2026 Interior-Environment funding bill doesn’t go as far as I’d hoped, but it takes a solid stride toward taking on wildfire and smoke threats, supporting wildland firefighters, modernizing our water infrastructure, and fulfilling our trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribes. This bill also helps reassert Congress’ Power of the Purse in the face of President Trump’s authoritarian power grab and illegal funding cuts." (Jeff Merkley, merkley.senate.gov, regarding the Interior-Environment Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations bill)”

Jeffrey Merkley strongly supports abortion rights, advocating for unrestricted access to services. He has received 100% ratings from NARAL and Planned Parenthood, indicating his consistent stance. Merkley has also actively led efforts such as the Access to Birth Control Act and signed the MARCH for Military Women Act to expand reproductive care for military women, including exceptions for rape or incest.

Senator Jeffrey Merkley advocates for a foreign policy centered on diplomacy and limiting presidential military power, emphasizing Congress's constitutional role in declaring war. He has voted to end wars, stop new conflicts, and condemn military escalations, particularly criticizing former President Trump's actions in Iran as unconstitutional. Merkley supports working with allies and believes military force should only be authorized by Congress under extraordinary circumstances involving an imminent threat.

““The most important aspect of this vote is that it puts people on record where they stand, and it creates a debate over the issues. It isn’t at all rising to the level of what Congress should be doing, which is holding a debate on an authorization before a war is launched. But under these circumstances, at least it creates a public debate and a vote to show where individuals stand, which allows the public, in a republic, to say, ‘Hey, member of Congress, my Senator, my House member, I like what you’re doing, or I don’t like what you’re doing.’ And that, in other words, at least it’s flexing the muscles of a democracy, even though we understand that in this case, it takes a simple majority.” - Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, as quoted by Allison Frost (OPB), March 3, 2026”

Research pending more substantial sources.

Senator Jeff Merkley has stated his opposition to gun policies that he believes prioritize the gun lobby over public safety. He supports closing loopholes in the background check system, citing that 90% of Americans, including majorities of gun owners, desire these changes. Merkley views it as unacceptable that individuals on terrorist watch lists can be denied plane access but still purchase firearms.

““It’s incomprehensible and shameful that 53 Senators put a higher priority on pleasing the gun lobby than keeping weapons out of the hands of suspected terrorists, known criminals, and the dangerously disturbed. There are very few proposals in American politics that enjoy near-universal support, but closing loopholes in the background check system does. Ninety percent of Americans want to close the gun show loophole. Even majorities of gun owners and NRA members support these common-sense proposals. [...] Oregon is a state with a deep tradition of hunting and target shooting, but Oregonians know that their rights are not compromised by measures to protect the public from guns in the hands of people who would do harm with them, which is why Oregonians have closed background check loopholes. It makes no sense that individuals on the terrorist watch list are denied access to planes but given full access to an armory of weapons. It is disturbing and disappointing that Senators are refusing to make this common-sense change after this latest horrible terrorist hate crime.” - Senator Jeff Merkley, eNews Park Forest, June 20, 2016”