Jeff Merkley — U.S. Senator from Oregon
Jeff Merkley is a Democrat Senator representing Oregon, serving a term from 2021-01-03 to 2027-01-03.
Overview
| Party | Democrat |
|---|---|
| Chamber | Senator |
| State | Oregon |
| Current term | 2021-01-03 – 2027-01-03 |
| Born | 1956-10-24 |
| Bioguide ID | M001176 |
Election & Term History
Jeff Merkley has held 3 terms in Congress on record, first elected in 2009.
| Term | Office | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 2009-01-06 – 2015-01-03 | U.S. Senator from Oregon | Democrat |
| 2015-01-06 – 2021-01-03 | U.S. Senator from Oregon | Democrat |
| 2021-01-03 – 2027-01-03 | U.S. Senator from Oregon | Democrat |
Voting Record
In the 119th Congress, Jeff Merkley has cast 878 recorded votes. Based on DW-NOMINATE ideology scoring (Voteview, UCLA) -- a standard academic measure derived from actual roll-call vote patterns, not self-description -- Jeff Merkley is more liberal than 84% of Senate Democrats on the liberal-conservative spectrum this Congress.
| Ideology score (DW-NOMINATE, dim. 1) | -0.452 |
|---|---|
| Position within party | more liberal than 84% of Senate Democrats |
| Recorded votes this Congress | 878 |
| Votes with own party | 96.4% of contested roll-call votes |
| Missed votes | 7 of 890 (0.8%) |
Scale runs roughly -1 (most liberal) to +1 (most conservative); scores are relative rankings among the member's own chamber and party, not an absolute measure. "Votes with own party" compares each Yea/Nay vote to that party's majority position on the same roll call, for every recorded vote so far in the 119th Congress.
Frequently Asked Questions
What party is Jeff Merkley in?
Jeff Merkley is a Democrat, currently serving as U.S. Senator from Oregon.
How long has Jeff Merkley served in Congress?
Jeff Merkley's first term on record began in 2009, and their current term runs from 2021-01-03 to 2027-01-03.
How does Jeff Merkley's voting record compare to the rest of their party?
Based on DW-NOMINATE ideology scoring (Voteview, UCLA), Jeff Merkley is more liberal than 84% of Senate Democrats in the 119th Congress, having cast 878 recorded votes.
How often does Jeff Merkley vote with their own party?
Jeff Merkley has voted with the majority of their own party on 96.4% of contested roll-call votes so far in the 119th Congress, missing 7 of 890 recorded votes (0.8%).