- See Jeff Merkley's sponsored bills →Jeff MerkleyDemocraticIncumbent✓ Verified$5.2M raised
- David SmithRepublican✓ Verified$291K raised
Where they stand
Sources under every entry. Sentences are AI-written from the linked source.
Where they differ: David Smith supports incentivizing job growth and making homes more affordable without new taxes or unnecessary government spending, and he leads efforts for active forest management and wildfire prevention to protect communities and promote rural jobs 1210. Jeff Merkley supports creating good-paying jobs through infrastructure rebuilding and rural broadband investment, raising the minimum wage to a living wage, and advocates for workers' rights; he also supports bold climate action through 100% clean energy investment and a Green New Deal 3411.
AI-written comparison of the sourced entries below. Generated Oct 17, 2026.
| Issue | Jeff MerkleyDemocratic | David SmithRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Economy & Jobs | Merkley supports creating millions of good-paying jobs by rebuilding infrastructure and investing in rural broadband to ensure opportunity for all working families. Merkley supports raising the minimum wage to a living wage and phasing out subminimum wages to ensure full-time workers do not live in poverty, and advocates for workers' rights to organize and safe workplaces. Merkley votes nay on resolutions disapproving financial regulations by the Treasury and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. | Smith supports common-sense solutions to incentivize job growth, make homes more affordable, and bring back the American Dream for Oregonians without new taxes or unnecessary government spending. Smith says he will fight to make everyday life more affordable for working families. |
| Where they differ on Economy & Jobs: David Smith supports solutions to incentivize job growth and make homes more affordable without new taxes or unnecessary government spending, and he aims to make everyday life more affordable for working families 12. Jeff Merkley supports creating good-paying jobs through infrastructure rebuilding and rural broadband investment, raising the minimum wage to a living wage, phasing out subminimum wages, and advocates for workers' rights and safe workplaces 34. Merkley voted against resolutions disapproving financial regulations by the Treasury and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 5. | ||
| Healthcare | Merkley supports Medicare for All to provide simple, cost-effective healthcare and wants to ban drug companies from charging more than prices in Canada, Europe, and Japan. Merkley supports access to quality, affordable health care as a human right, fights high prescription drug prices, supports Medicare for All, and advocates for full reproductive health care including abortion access. | No public position found. Check their site ↗ |
| Immigration | Merkley votes nay on the Laken Riley Act immigration bill. | No public position found. Check their site ↗ |
| Public Safety & Crime | Merkley supports federal investments to expand mentorship, advocacy, and public safety infrastructure to keep communities safe and support youth, including funding for behavioral health courts and child advocacy program… Merkley votes nay on the HALT Fentanyl Act. | Smith supports law enforcement, accountability for repeat offenders, and restoring consequences to keep kids and communities safe amid rising crime in Oregon. Smith wants to restore safety to Oregon streets and address addiction and homelessness with accountability. |
| Where they differ on Public Safety & Crime: David Smith supports law enforcement, accountability for repeat offenders, and restoring consequences to keep kids and communities safe amid rising crime in Oregon 1. He also wants to restore safety to Oregon streets and address addiction and homelessness with accountability 2. Jeff Merkley supports federal investments to expand mentorship, advocacy, and public safety infrastructure to keep communities safe and support youth, including funding for behavioral health courts and child advocacy programs 3. Merkley voted nay on the HALT Fentanyl Act 4. | ||
| Abortion | Merkley supports protecting access to abortion care, restoring Roe v. Wade protections, and ending the Hyde Amendment to ensure full reproductive health care access. | No public position found. Check their site ↗ |
| Taxes & Government Spending | Merkley opposes a rigged economy and tax system that favors the wealthy and supports reclaiming the Constitution to end dark money and corporate influence in politics. Merkley votes yea on some appropriations and continuing resolutions but nay on others including the budget resolution and certain appropriations bills. | No public position found. Check their site ↗ |
| Energy & Environment | Merkley supports bold action to reverse the climate crisis by investing in 100% clean and renewable energy and implementing a Green New Deal to create jobs and support frontline communities. Merkley votes nay on multiple joint resolutions disapproving Bureau of Land Management rules related to land and resource management. | Smith leads efforts for active forest management, fuel reduction, and working with landowners to prevent wildfires and protect Oregon communities while promoting rural jobs and local timber use. |
| Where they differ on Energy & Environment: David Smith leads efforts for active forest management, fuel reduction, and collaborates with landowners to prevent wildfires, protect Oregon communities, and promote rural jobs and local timber use 1. Jeff Merkley supports bold action to reverse the climate crisis by investing in 100% clean and renewable energy and implementing a Green New Deal to create jobs and support frontline communities 2. Merkley also votes nay on multiple joint resolutions disapproving Bureau of Land Management rules related to land and resource management 3. | ||
| Foreign Policy & Defense | Merkley opposes Trump's illegal war in Iran, highlighting its negative impact on farmers, truckers, and food supply. Merkley opposes uncritical acceptance of Saudi nuclear program promises and fights to prevent dangerous deals that could threaten security. Merkley votes yea on resolutions directing removal of US forces from Iran, terminating national emergencies imposing tariffs, and on the SEED Act. | No public position found. Check their site ↗ |