Race · November 3, 2026

U.S. Senate · Oregon

4 candidates on the ballot.1,2,3

§1Candidates

Why this matters: Every candidate the state lists for this race on the November ballot, in the state's own order.

David Brock Smith
Republican · Challenger
Jeff Merkley
Democrat, Working Families · Incumbent
Currently serves as a U.S. senator from Oregon.
Gary Lyndon Dye
Libertarian · Challenger
Chris Henry
Progressive, Pacific Green · Challenger

§2Side by side

Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.

Scroll sideways on small screens. Select a name for the full page.
David Brock SmithJeff MerkleyGary Lyndon DyeChris Henry
Party on the ballotRepublican1,2,3Democrat, Working Families1,2,3Libertarian1,2,3Progressive, Pacific Green1,2,3
StatusChallengerIncumbent4ChallengerChallenger
Raised$311,174 through October 14, 20265$5,376,935 through October 14, 20266Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Cash on hand$44,1985$6,621,2506Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Tuition-free collegeNot found in the public sources we checkedHis campaign website says every young person who wants to should have the chance to go to college debt-free, and his voters' pamphlet statement calls for debt-free paths to trade school and college.7,8Not found in the public sources we checkedHis platform supports free or much more affordable community college and public higher education, and relief from unsustainable student debt.9
Campaign finance rulesNot found in the public sources we checked
Limit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United
His campaign website calls for overturning Citizens United and shutting down dark money in elections.7,8		Not found in the public sources we checked
Limit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United
His platform calls for publicly financed federal elections, banning corporate treasury spending in elections as far as the Constitution allows, and a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.9
Drawing district lines (redistricting)Not found in the public sources we checkedHis campaign website calls for ending gerrymandering.7,8Not found in the public sources we checked
Have independent commissions, not lawmakers, draw district lines
His platform calls for independent redistricting processes for congressional and legislative districts.9
Stock trading by members of CongressNot found in the public sources we checkedHis voters' pamphlet statement calls for ending stock trading as part of ending political corruption.8Not found in the public sources we checked
Ban members and their spouses and dependent children from owning or trading individual stocks
His platform calls for banning members of Congress, executive and judicial branch officers, and their spouses from trading individual stocks while in office.9
Data centers and electricity costs
Require data centers to pay the full cost of the power plants and lines they need
His voters' pamphlet statement says data centers strain Oregon's water, farmland and energy costs, and that he would hold them accountable and keep their costs from being shifted onto Oregon households.10		Not found in the public sources we checkedNot found in the public sources we checked
Require data centers to pay the full cost of the power plants and lines they need
His platform calls for data centers to disclose their power and water use, pay fairly for grid upgrades, keep costs off residential ratepayers and be subject to local control over where they are built.9
Health insurance systemNot found in the public sources we checkedHis campaign website says every American should have the opportunity to take part in Medicare for All.7Not found in the public sources we checked
One government plan for everyone (Medicare for All)
His platform calls for universal, publicly financed health care through Medicare for All or an equivalent system, including mental health, dental, vision and long-term care.9,11
Immigration enforcement inside the countryNot found in the public sources we checkedHis voters' pamphlet statement calls for ending ICE operations at schools and warrantless home raids, and for full accountability for civil rights violations.8Not found in the public sources we checkedHis platform calls for replacing ICE's current enforcement model with a humane system of immigration administration and due process, with less reliance on detention.9

Issues only one candidate has addressed

By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.

David Brock Smith — 3 issues
  • Wildfire prevention and forest management
    His campaign website calls for active forest management, fuel reduction and work with landowners to protect homes, and says federal regulations should put the needs and safety of local residents first.12
  • Homelessness
    Enforce bans on public camping and move people into shelters or treatment, including court-ordered treatment for some
    His campaign website says he supports drug and mental health treatment with accountability, and ending permanent street camping.10,12
  • Federal spending levels
    His campaign website calls for no new taxes, eliminating fraud and reducing unnecessary government spending.10,12
Jeff Merkley — 7 issues
  • Ethics rules for Supreme Court justices
    Pass a law setting a binding ethics code, with outside review of complaints and recusal decisions
    His voters' pamphlet statement says the Supreme Court needs reform and a binding code of ethics.8
  • Voting Rights Act protections
    Restore and widen protections by law, such as federal approval of voting changes in places with a history of discrimination (for example, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act)
    His campaign website calls for reinstating and strengthening the Voting Rights Act to stop voter suppression and intimidation.7
  • Voting by mail
    His campaign website supports required early voting periods, vote-by-mail and same-day registration, and his voters' pamphlet statement calls for expanding vote-by-mail and requiring paper ballots.7,8
  • Child care costs
    His campaign website says housing and child care should be affordable for every family, and his voters' pamphlet statement calls for creating affordable day care.7,8
  • Drug prices compared with other countries
    Require that all US buyers pay no more than other wealthy countries do
    His campaign website calls for banning drug companies from charging more for a drug in the United States than they charge in Canada, Europe and Japan.7
  • Large investors buying single-family homes
    His voters' pamphlet statement calls for banning hedge funds from buying single-family homes.8
  • High-speed internet access
    His campaign website calls for putting high-speed broadband in every rural community in America.7
Chris Henry — 24 issues
  • Supreme Court term limits
    Set fixed terms, such as 18 years
    His platform calls for term limits for Supreme Court justices.9
  • Federal minimum wage
    Raise to $15 or more
    His platform calls for a federal minimum wage of $21 an hour indexed to inflation, and his voters' pamphlet statement calls for tripling the $7.25 minimum wage.9,11
  • Gig worker status
    His platform says gig workers and independent contractors should be protected from sham classifications.9
  • Trade agreements
    His platform calls for reviewing the effects of NAFTA and USMCA and requiring enforceable labor and environmental standards in future trade deals, and his voters' pamphlet statement opposes tariffs and free-trade deals that it says let corporations override those protections.9,11
  • Union organizing rules
    Make it easier to form a union (for example, the PRO Act)
    His platform supports card-check union recognition, penalties for union busting, first-contract procedures and repealing provisions of the Taft-Hartley Act.9
  • Ranked-choice voting
    Use ranked-choice voting in more elections
    His platform calls for STAR voting or ranked-choice voting in federal elections and for multi-member congressional districts.9
  • Nuclear power
    Build no new reactors and rely on other energy sources
    His platform opposes new nuclear power development and nuclear subsidies.9
  • Food assistance (SNAP)
    Undo the 2025 changes or expand benefits and eligibility
    His platform calls for expanding school meals and food assistance.9
  • Paid family and medical leave
    His platform calls for expanding paid family and medical leave, paid sick leave and affordable child care.9
  • Iran's nuclear program and sanctions
    Negotiate a deal that eases some sanctions in exchange for verified limits on Iran's nuclear program
    His platform supports recommitting to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and opposes attacks on Iran that bypass lawful authorization.9
  • Military aid to Israel
    Attach conditions, such as limits on how US weapons are used and requirements to let humanitarian aid into Gaza
    His platform calls for ending U.S. military assistance that facilitates serious violations of international humanitarian or human rights law, and for unimpeded humanitarian aid.9
  • Military spending
    Cut military spending
    His voters' pamphlet statement calls for cutting U.S. military spending and ending what it calls pointless wars, and his platform supports closing overseas bases that no longer serve a security purpose.9,11
  • Who decides on military action
    His platform calls for ending unauthorized wars and strengthening Congress's control over the use of force.9
  • Background checks for gun sales
    Require checks for all gun sales, including private sales (with exceptions such as gifts between family members)
    His platform supports universal background checks for gun sales.9
  • Red flag laws
    His platform supports extreme-risk protection orders with due process and opportunities for review.9
  • Asylum rules
    His platform calls for preserving access to asylum and refugee protection and for more immigration courts, judges, interpreters and legal representation.9
  • Border wall and barriers
    Build no new barriers and spend the money on other border security
    His platform opposes expanding the border wall and supports reviewing existing barriers for removal or modification.9
  • Legal status for immigrants here without permission, including Dreamers
    A path to citizenship for most who meet requirements such as background checks
    His platform calls for a fair path to citizenship for long-term undocumented residents and protection for Dreamers and mixed-status families.9
  • Federal disaster aid (FEMA)
    Expand FEMA's funding and role, including more help preparing before disasters
    His platform proposes two dedicated federal disaster-resilience funds, including one to prepare Oregon for a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake.9,11
  • Passenger trains and Amtrak
    Expand funding for passenger rail, including new high-speed lines
    His platform calls for expanding passenger and freight rail, with electrified track to replace diesel engines.9
  • Medicare drug price negotiation
    Expand it to more drugs and to people with private insurance
    His platform calls for negotiating prices on all prescription drugs, not just a select few.9
  • Federal income tax rates
    His platform says he would consider substantially higher tax rates on the highest incomes and lower rates on lower incomes, and his voters' pamphlet statement calls for ending tax breaks for billionaires.9,11
  • Taxes on very large fortunes
    A yearly tax on net worth above a high threshold (such as $50 million)
    His platform calls for a progressive wealth tax, ending stepped-up basis and closing offshore tax shelters.9
  • Who has authority on tribal lands
    Expand tribal governments' authority, including over crimes by non-Native people on tribal lands
    His platform supports strengthening tribal jurisdiction and self-determination in line with treaties and federal law, and returning land to tribal nations where appropriate.9

Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.