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Jeff Merkley
American politician (born 1956) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jeffrey Alan "Jeff" Merkley (born October 24, 1956) is an American politician. He is the junior United States Senator from Oregon. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Quick Facts United States Senator from Oregon, Preceded by ...
Jeff Merkley | |
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United States Senator from Oregon | |
Assumed office January 3, 2009 | |
Preceded by | Gordon Smith |
64th Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
In office January 3, 2007 ā January 3, 2009 | |
Preceded by | Karen Minnis |
Succeeded by | Dave Hunt |
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 47th district | |
In office January 3, 1999 ā January 2, 2009 | |
Preceded by | Frank Shields |
Succeeded by | Jefferson Smith |
Personal details | |
Born | Jeffrey Alan Merkley (1956-10-24) October 24, 1956 (age 67) Myrtle Creek, Oregon, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Mary Sorteberg |
Alma mater | Stanford University Princeton University |
Website | Senate website |
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Merkley was a five-term member of the Oregon House of Representatives representing House District 47, located in eastern Multnomah County within the Portland city limits. He also served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.
He defeated two-term Republican incumbent Gordon Smith in the 2008 U.S. Senate election and easily defeated Monica Wehby in the 2014 U.S. Senate election.
Merkely was the first member of the Senate to endorse Bernie Sanders in his bid for the Democratic nomination for President.[1]