Oregon Senate race 2026: Smith vs. Merkley
General election, November 3, 2026 · U.S. Senate in Oregon. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D), incumbent
David Brock Smith
Oregon state senator from Port Orford, former state representative and Curry County commissioner; Republican nominee for U.S. Senate against Jeff Merkley.
Read the documented profile of David Brock SmithJeff Merkley
American politician; U.S. senator from Oregon since 2009; 2026 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate from Oregon
The general-election field as the board records it: David Brock Smith (R) vs. Jeff Merkley (D)
The race at a glance
Board data as of . Ratings are the raters' own current calls; polls are the newest public ones with their field dates; money is what the committees reported. Nothing here is a forecast.
- Seat
- Sen. Jeff Merkley (D), incumbent
- Ratings
- Cook Solid D; Sabato Safe D; Inside Elections Solid D (as read )
- Newest public polling
- 1 general-election poll tracked
- Reported money
- FEC: Smith cash on hand $28,980 (as read )
- Notable
- Measured on the Ledger's Senate battleground board, .
Key dates in Oregon
Read from the Oregon Secretary of State, Elections Division. The full guide, with the official tools, is on the Oregon page.
- Voter registration deadlineOctober 13, 2026 — 21 days before Election Day — is the last day to register to vote in the November 3, 2026 general election. Registration cards postmarked by that date, or registrations submitted online no later than 11:59 pm that day, are valid. If you are already registered in Oregon, you can update your voter registration information until 8 p.m. on Election Day and still vote. If you will become a U.S. citizen after the cutoff day but before Election Day, you can still vote: contact your county elections office before the cutoff day to let them know. sos.oregon.gov
- Online registration deadlineOctober 13, 2026, by 11:59:59 p.m. Pacific Time, the 21st calendar day before the election: a new registrant must submit the online registration by then to be eligible to vote in this election. The Secretary of State's 2026 registration flyer prints this deadline as “Tuesday, October 13th by 11:59:59 p.m. PST”. sos.oregon.gov
- Deadline to return your ballot (postmarked by Election Day, or in an official drop box by 8 pm)November 3, 2026 is the last day to return your ballot. A ballot that is mailed must be postmarked by Election Day, and November 10, 2026 is the last day for valid postmarked ballots to be received by mail. A ballot deposited in an official drop box must be received by 8 pm on Election Day. The Secretary of State advises mailing your ballot at least 1 week before Election Day and, if you mail it close to Election Day, visiting a USPS office for a free manual postmark. sos.oregon.gov
- Election DayNovember 3, 2026. Oregon will hold a statewide general election that day, and all registered voters can participate, regardless of their party affiliation. sos.oregon.gov
- Election Day hours: County Clerk's offices and official drop sitesOregon is an all vote-by-mail state, so there are no polling-place hours to list. On Election Day, November 3, 2026, the County Clerk's office is open 7 am - 8 pm and official drop sites are open until 8 pm; a ballot deposited in an official drop box must be received by 8 pm. The Secretary of State's calendar prints no time zone for these hours. sos.oregon.gov
Voting in Oregon: dates, rules and official tools
Questions and answers
Who is running for U.S. Senate in Oregon in 2026?
David Brock Smith (R) vs. Jeff Merkley (D) (as of Sep 15, 2026).
When is the election?
The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Voter registration deadline: October 13, 2026 — 21 days before Election Day — is the last day to register to vote in the November 3, 2026 general election. Registration cards postmarked by that date, or registrations submitted online no later than 11:59 pm that day, are valid. If you are already registered in Oregon, you can update your voter registration information until 8 p.m. on Election Day and still vote. If you will become a U.S. citizen after the cutoff day but before Election Day, you can still vote: contact your county elections office before the cutoff day to let them know.
How do the raters see this race?
Cook Solid D; Sabato Safe D; Inside Elections Solid D (as read Sep 15, 2026) (as of Sep 15, 2026).
What do the polls show?
1 general-election poll tracked (as of Sep 15, 2026).
How much money has been reported?
FEC: Smith cash on hand $28,980 (as read Sep 15, 2026) (as of Sep 15, 2026).