Search for...
OnTheIssuesLogo

Jeff Merkley on SenateMatch

 

 



VoteMatch Responses
(Click here for VoteMatch quiz)
VoteMatch Question & Answer
(Click on question for explanation and background)
Based on these stances:
(Click on topic for excerpt & citation)
Strongly Favors topic 1:
Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right
(+5 points on Social scale)
Abortions should always be legally available: Strongly Favors topic 1
100 percent ratings from NARAL and Planned Parenthood: Strongly Favors topic 1
Led the fight to pass the Access to Birth Control Act: Favors topic 1
Public funding for stem cell research: Favors topic 1
Let military perform abortions in cases of rape or incest: Favors topic 1
Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1
Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 1
Keep federal funding for family planning clinics: Strongly Favors topic 1
Born-Alive Survivors bill tries to illegalize abortion: Favors topic 1
Judicially liberal, according to CC survey: Favors topic 1
Pro-Planned Parenthood, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 1
Anti-parental notification, according to CC survey: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2:
Legally require hiring women & minorities
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Apply affirmative action to state hiring: Strongly Favors topic 2
Ensure that women earn equal pay for equal work: Strongly Favors topic 2
More funding & services for victims of domestic violence: Strongly Favors topic 2
Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender: Strongly Favors topic 2
Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2
Stronger enforcement against gender-based pay discrimination: Favors topic 2
Favors topic 3:
Support transgender and LGBTQ+ rights
(+2 points on Social scale)
Ok to define marriage against polygamy or same-sex: Strongly Opposes topic 3
Ok to define marriage against polygamy or same-sex: Strongly Opposes topic 3
Co-sponsored Equality & Family Fairness Act for gay equality: Strongly Favors topic 3
Oregon Equality Act: sexual orientation is a civil right: Strongly Favors topic 3
Sponsored the Employment Non-Discrimination Act: Strongly Favors topic 3
Repeal Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and reinstate discharged gays: Favors topic 3
Prohibit sexual-identity discrimination at schools: Strongly Favors topic 3
Enforce against anti-gay discrimination in public schools: Strongly Favors topic 3
Let states recognize same sex marriage: Favors topic 3
Pro-transgender bathrooms, according to CC survey: Favors topic 3
Opposes topic 4:
America was founded on Christian values
(+2 points on Social scale)
Supports workfare and 2-year welfare limits: Favors topic 4
Religious freedom means no religious registry: Strongly Opposes topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 5:
Expand ObamaCare
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Health care for all Americans: Strongly Favors topic 5
Support Healthy Americans Act: universal comprehensive care: Strongly Favors topic 5
Merge Alzheimers diagnosis and care benefit: Favors topic 5
Expand the National Health Service Corps: Strongly Favors topic 5
Expand health services for women veterans: Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6:
Privatize Social Security
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Privatization would melt away retirement in stock crash: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Fight efforts to privatize; honor promises to seniors: Opposes topic 6
Sponsored keeping CPI for benefits instead of lower "Chained CPI": Strongly Opposes topic 6
Rated 100% by ARA, indicating a pro-Trust Fund stance: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7:
Vouchers for school choice
(-5 points on Economic scale)
History making efforts that improved education in Oregon: Opposes topic 7
Fully fund public schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7
$25B to renovate or repair elementary schools: Opposes topic 7
Sponsored extending subsidized federal student loan rates until 2015: Opposes topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8:
Businesses have a right to pollute
(+5 points on Social scale)
Sustainable forest harvest important for economy: Opposes topic 8
Sustainable harvests on public lands: Opposes topic 8
Regulate all dog breeders down to kennels of 50 dogs: Opposes topic 8
Sponsored enforcing against illegal ocean fishing: Opposes topic 8
Require labeling genetically engineered food: Opposes topic 8
Deregulating banks encourages discriminatory practices: Opposes topic 8
Keep restrictive rules for predator control in Alaska: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Favors topic 9:
Stricter punishment reduces crime
(-3 points on Social scale)
Opposes the death penalty: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Increase rehabilitation & alternatives to incarceration: Opposes topic 9
Mandatory minimum sentence for some 1st-degree sex offenders: Strongly Favors topic 9
More state troopers; more crime labs; more funding: Favors topic 9
Worked hard to get better laws to deal with criminals: Favors topic 9
First step: reduce recidivism & mass incarceration: Opposes topic 9
Rated 55% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues: Neutral on topic 9
Let ex-cons apply freely, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 9
No opinion on topic 10:
Absolute right to gun ownership
(0 points on Economic scale)
Maintain restrictions on purchase & possession of firearms: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Co-sponsored background check for every firearm sale: Strongly Favors topic 10
Pro-gun rights, according to CC survey: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Sponsored bill for background checks for private transfers: Strongly Favors topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11:
Higher taxes on the wealthy
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Tax credits to families to make child care affordable: Favors topic 11
No state sales tax: Opposes topic 11
Repeal $18 billion in tax breaks given to big oil companies: Favors topic 11
Supports raising taxes on earnings over $250,000 per year: Strongly Favors topic 11
Minimum tax rate of 30% for those earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 11
Reducing tax rates balloons federal deficit & cuts programs: Favors topic 11
Undo tax cuts, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 11
Keep inheritance tax, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 11
Favors topic 12:
Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens
(+2 points on Social scale)
Rated 90% by Oregonians for Immigration Reform: Opposes topic 12
State of the Union: protest child separation at border: Strongly Favors topic 12
Provide lawyers and evidence for children being deported: Favors topic 12
Terminate national emergency at the Southern border: Favors topic 12
Increase both high-skill and family-based visa caps: Favors topic 12
Anti-border security, according to CC survey: Favors topic 12
Sponsored bill to disallow religion-based immigration ban: Strongly Favors topic 12
Opposes topic 13:
Support & expand free trade
(-3 points on Economic scale)
Include real & enforceable labor & environmental standards: Opposes topic 13
Cancel or fix unfair trade deals: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Strengthen the Buy American Act: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Support free-trade, but wait on Trans-Pacific Partnership: Favors topic 13
Review free trade agreements biennially for rights violation: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Declare Turkish rebar subject to anti-dumping duties: Strongly Opposes topic 13
Voted FOR reauthorizing Ex-Im Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13
$25B more loans from Export-Import Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13
Implement USMCA for improved North American trade: Strongly Favors topic 13
Rated 50% by the USAE, indicating a mixed record on trade: Neutral on topic 13
Ban imports from Xinjiang made by Uyghur forced labor: Opposes topic 13
Opposes topic 14:
Stay away from the UN & Globalism
(-3 points on Economic scale)
In a dangerous world, we need to work with other nations: Opposes topic 14
Investigate Saudi interference in US criminal cases: Opposes topic 14
Invest in working with our allies, not power of military: Opposes topic 14
Enforce humanitarian aid access to South Sudan: Opposes topic 14
Sponsored bill to monitor forced Uyghur labor in Xinjiang: Strongly Favors topic 14
Sponsored bill to oppose Israeli annexation of West Bank: Strongly Opposes topic 14
No opinion on topic 15:
Peace through Strength
(0 points on Social scale)
Honor America's veterans and take good care of them: Favors topic 15
Persuasive evidence & clear objectives before military force: Opposes topic 15
Led effort to address disposing of nuclear materials: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Funding wars separately is gimmick against sequestration: Opposes topic 15
Exempt Veterans Affairs from federal hiring freeze: Favors topic 15
Secure the grid, according to CC survey: Strongly Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16:
Make voter registration easier
(+5 points on Social scale)
Spending limits on campaigns, plus full disclosure: Strongly Favors topic 16
We the People democracy: extend vote to DC & territories: Strongly Favors topic 16
Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures: Strongly Favors topic 16
Matching fund for small donors, with debate requirements: Favors topic 16
Corporate political spending is not free speech: Favors topic 16
Statehood for the District of Columbia: Favors topic 16
Public financing of federal campaigns by voter vouchers: Favors topic 16
Sponsored bill for election holiday & easier voting access: Strongly Favors topic 16
Sponsored bill to expand voter registration and voter access: Strongly Favors topic 16
Favors topic 17:
Stay out of foreign wars
(+2 points on Social scale)
9/11 justified eliminating Taliban, but not nation-building: Favors topic 17
Redeploy American combat troops out of Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17
Signed onto "A Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq": Strongly Favors topic 17
Opposed the war from the start: Strongly Favors topic 17
Staying in Afghanistan will not make America safer: Strongly Favors topic 17
Iranian nuclear weapons: prevention instead of containment: Strongly Opposes topic 17
Sponsored shutting down Iranian foreign reserves: Opposes topic 17
Iran must accept long-term intrusive nuke inspection: Opposes topic 17
Hold Assad accountable for slaughter of civilians: Opposes topic 17
Stay out of Israeli wars, according to CC survey: Favors topic 17
No military force against Iran without Congress approval: Strongly Favors topic 17
Sponsored resolution to repeal 2002 AUMF against Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18:
Prioritize green energy
(-5 points on Economic scale)
Sustainable, renewable energy to combat global warming: Strongly Favors topic 18
Set a 25 percent renewable energy national standard by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18
Cap greenhouse gases with international collaboration: Strongly Favors topic 18
Climate change is real, and it's bad for our economy: Strongly Favors topic 18
Supports 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050: Strongly Favors topic 18
Incentives to cities for the reduction of emissions: Favors topic 18
$5 billion in tax credits for alternative energy projects: Favors topic 18
50% clean and carbon free electricity by 2030: Strongly Favors topic 18
Green New Deal: 10-year national mobilization: Favors topic 18
Opposes topic 19:
Marijuana is a gateway drug
(+2 points on Social scale)
Toughen laws against meth traffickers: Favors topic 19
Step up enforcement to combat meth: Strongly Favors topic 19
Positives of pot legalization outweigh the negatives: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Exclude industrial hemp from definition of marijuana: Opposes topic 19
Exempt industrial hemp from marijuana laws: Opposes topic 19
Rated A by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Sponsored bank immunity for services to marijuana businesses: No opin. on topic 19
Favors topic 20:
Stimulus better than market-led recovery
(-3 points on Economic scale)
Bailout bill is a $700-million blank check: Opposes topic 20
Strengthen the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Favors topic 20
Minimum wage should be left to the states: Opposes topic 20
Supports raising taxes on earnings over $250,000 per year: Favors topic 20
Rated 86% by UFCW, indicating an anti-management/pro-labor record: Favors topic 20
Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2016: Favors topic 20
Voted YES on $900 billion COVID relief package: Favors topic 20
$1.9 trillion ARPA bill for COVID relief: Favors topic 20

Jeff Merkley is a Hard-Core Liberal
(Click for details)

Other candidates' VoteMatch: Jeff Merkley on the issues:
OR Gubernatorial:
Bud Pierce
Casey Kulla
Christine Drazan
Julian Bell
Kerry McQuisten
Nicholas Kristof
Paul Romero
Tina Kotek
Tobias Read
OR Senatorial:
Jason Beebe
Jo Rae Perkins
Paul Romero
Ron Wyden

Took office as of Jan. 2023:
AL:Katie Britt(R)
MO:Eric Schmit(R)
NC:Ted Budd(R)
OH:J. D. Vance(R)
OK:Markwayne Mullin(R)
PA:John Fetterman(D)
VT:Peter Welch(D)

Left office as of Jan. 2023:
AL:Richard Shelby(R)
MO:Roy Blunt(R)
NC:Richard Burr(R)
OH:Rob Portman(R)
OK:Jim Inhofe(R)
PA:Pat Toomey(R)
VT:Patrick Leahy(D)
Senate races 2024:
AZ: Kyrsten Sinema(I,incumbent)
vs.Ruben Gallego(D)
vs.Kari Lake(R)
vs.Mark Lamb(R)
CA: Laphonza Butler(D,retiring)
vs.Adam Schiff(D nominee)
vs.Steve Garvey(R nominee)
vs.Gail Lightfoot(L)
vs.Barbara Lee(D, lost primary)
vs.Katie Porter(D, lost primary)
CT: Chris Murphy(D,incumbent)
vs.John Flynn(R)
vs.Robert Hyde(I, on ballot)
DE: Tom Carper(D,retiring)
vs.Eric Hansen(R)
vs.Mike Katz(I)
vs.Lisa Blunt Rochester(D)
FL: Rick Scott(R,incumbent)
vs.Debbie Mucarsel-Powell(D)
HI: Mazie Hirono(D,incumbent)
vs.Bob McDermott(R)
IN: Mike Braun(R,retiring)
vs.Jim Banks(R nominee)
vs.Valerie McCray(D nominee)
vs.Marc Carmichael(D, lost primary)
MA: Elizabeth Warren(D,incumbent)
vs.Shiva Ayyadurai(R)
vs.John Deaton(R)
MD: Ben Cardin(D,retiring)
vs.Larry Hogan(R)
vs.Robin Ficker(R)
vs.Angela Alsobrooks(D)
vs.David Trone(D)
ME: Angus King(I,incumbent)
vs.Demi Kouzounas(R)
vs.David Costello(D)
MI: Debbie Stabenow(D,retiring)
vs.Leslie Love(D)
vs.Peter Meijer(R)
vs.James Craig(R)
vs.Mike Rogers(R)
vs.Elissa Slotkin(D)
MN: Amy Klobuchar(DFL,incumbent)
vs.Royce White(R)
vs.Steve Carlson(DFL)
MO: Josh Hawley(R,incumbent)
vs.Karla May(D)
vs.Lucas Kunce(D)
MS: Roger Wicker(R,incumbent)
vs.Dan Eubanks(R)
vs.Ty Pinkins(D)
MT: Jon Tester(D,incumbent)
vs.Tim Sheehy(R)
vs.Brad Johnson(R,lost primary)
ND: Kevin Cramer(R,incumbent)
vs.Katrina Christiansen(D)

NE: Peter Ricketts(R,incumbent,2-year seat)
vs.Preston Love(D)
Deb Fischer(D,incumbent,6-year seat)
vs.Dan Osborn(I)
NJ: Bob Menendez(I,resigned)
vs.George Helmy(D,incumbent)
vs.Andy Kim(D)
vs.Curtis Bashaw(R)
vs.Tammy Murphy(D,withdrew)
NM: Martin Heinrich(D,incumbent)
vs.Nella Domenici(R)
NV: Jacky Rosen(D,incumbent)
vs.Jim Marchant (R)
vs.Sam Brown(R)
NY: Kirsten Gillibrand(D,incumbent)
vs.Mike Sapraicone(R)
vs.Josh Eisen(R,withdrew May 1)
OH: Sherrod Brown(D,incumbent)
vs.Bernie Moreno(R nominee)
vs.Frank LaRose(R, lost primary)
vs.Matt Dolan(R, lost primary)
PA: Bob Casey(D,incumbent)
vs.David McCormick(R)
RI: Sheldon Whitehouse(D,incumbent)
vs.Patricia Morgan(R)
vs.Allen Waters(R,withdrew)
TN: Marsha Blackburn(R,incumbent)
vs.Gloria Johnson(D)
vs.Marquita Bradshaw(D)
TX: Ted Cruz(R,incumbent)
vs.Colin Allred(D)
vs.Roland Gutierrez(D,lost primary)
vs.Carl Sherman(D,lost primary)
UT: Mitt Romney(R,retiring)
vs.John Curtis(R)
vs.Trent Staggs(R)
vs.Brad Wilson(R)
vs.Caroline Gleich(D)
VA: Tim Kaine(D,incumbent)
vs.Scott Parkinson(R)
VT: Bernie Sanders(I,incumbent)
vs.Gerald Malloy(R)
WA: Maria Cantwell(D,incumbent)
vs.Raul Garcia(R)
WI: Tammy Baldwin(D,incumbent)
vs.Eric Hovde(R)
vs.Phil Anderson(L)
WV: Joe Manchin III(D,retiring)
vs.Don Blankenship(D)
vs.Jim Justice(R)
vs.Alex Mooney(R)
vs.Glenn Elliott(D)
WY: John Barrasso(R,incumbent)
vs.Reid Rasner(R)
vs.Scott Morrow(D)
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Campaign Finance
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Gay Issues
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Iraq/Mideast
Infrastructure
Jobs/Farming
Medicare/Rx
Principles
Social Security
Tax Reform
Technology
War/Peace
Welfare/Poverty

All Jeff Merkley's positions
Other OR politicians
OR Archives

Retiring in 2024 election:
AZ:Sinema(I)
CA:Butler(D)
DE:Carper(D)
IN:Braun(R)
MD:Cardin(D)
MI:Stabenow(D)
UT:Romney(R)
WV:Manchin(D)
[Title9]

Page last updated: Jun 08, 2025; copyright 1999-2022 Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org