Jeffrey Alan "Jeff" Merkley (born October 24, 1956) is the junior United States Senator from Oregon. A member of the Democratic Party, Merkley was a five-term member of the Oregon Legislative Assembly 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 defeated Monica Wehby in the 2014 U.S.