After Tuesday's election, a handful of newly elected U.S. senators will help reshape the Congress. Senators-elect Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Mark Udall, D-Colo., and Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore. assess their goals and what influence they will have on the 111th Congress.
November 06, 2008 Democrat Merkley Unseats Smith in Oregon Senate Race Democratic challenger Jeff Merkley has been projected the winner of Oregon's Senate race over incumbent Republican Sen. Gordon Smith, bringing the Democrats to at least 55 seats in the Senate. November 05, 2008 Minn., Ore., Ga., Alaska Senate Races Still Unresolved Fueled by a strong nationwide wave of support, Democrats in the Senate picked up five seats previously held by Republicans, expanding their control to at least 54 seats. But races in Minnesota, Georgia, Alaska, and Oregon have yet to be called, all involving Republican incumbents fighting to keep their seats. November 03, 2008 Oregon Republican Smith Struggling to Defend Senate Seat Incumbent Republican Sen. Gordon Smith is lagging behind Democratic challenger and state House Speaker Jeff Merkley in recent polls -- an encouraging sign for Democrats hoping to carve out a 60-seat majority in the Senate on Tuesday. October 27, 2008 Robocalls, Tactics Become Issue As Ore. Senate Race Reaches Home Stretch In a week, Oregonians will decide who will represent them in the U.S. Senate: Pendleton Republican Gordon Smith or Democratic state House Speaker Jeff Merkley. As the race draws to a close, campaign strategy becomes critical. OPB reports on one tactic that has drawn scrutiny.
-- Oregon Public Broadcasting October 22, 2008 In Oregon Senate Race, Incumbent Republican Faces Uphill Battle Oregon Republican Sen. Gordon Smith is facing a tough fight to save his job in a competitive re-election battle against Democratic state House Speaker Jeff Merkley. Smith, known as a centrist, appears to be grappling with the impact of dissatisfaction with Republicans and competition from a conservative third-party candidate.
Jeff Merkley, 51, was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives
in 1998 and became speaker in 2007. Earlier in his career, Merkley
was a national security analyst and worked for Habitat for Humanity
in Portland. He has a bachelor's degree from Stanford University
and a master's degree from Princeton University.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
Gordon Smith
Incumbent
Gordon Smith, 56, the incumbent Republican senator, was first
elected to the U.S. Senate in 1997. Before that, he was an Oregon
state senator from 1992 to 1996, serving as Senate president from
1994 to 1996. Smith was a law clerk for the New Mexico Supreme
Court and an attorney before becoming president of his family's
frozen food company, Smith Frozen Foods, in 1980.
CONSTITUTION PARTY CANDIDATE
David Brownlow
Automation Control Systems Industry
David Brownlow, 51, a former Republican running as the Constitution Party candidate, works in industrial automation control systems. Brownlow is an evangelical Christian who formed the group "Believers Against the War" to reach out to other Christians who oppose the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His favorite politician is Republican Congressman Ron Paul, the former Libertarian Party candidate.
Jeff
Merkley
Gordon
Smith
David
Brownlow
