Union County’s Federal and State Elected Officials

FEDERAL

The US House of Representatives holds elections every two years. To learn
more about the history and unique powers of the body, visit:
https://www.house.gov/the-house-explained

Senate terms are staggered, and Senators serve 6-year terms. Historians
describe the Senate as the “cooling saucer” for legislation that comes from the
House. For a deep dive into history of the US Senate and its powers, visit:
https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures.htm

US Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat from Portland. Elected in 1996 in
Oregon’s first vote-by-mail election, following Senator Bob Packwood’s
resignation. Next election: 2028.

Senator Wyden pledged in his 1996 campaign to hold an open-to-all town hall
in every county in Oregon every year. His first town hall was in Fossil, Oregon.
He has held 1,110 town halls and counting. Town halls are posted here:
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/town-halls

Social media:
Facebook: @senatorronwyden
Medium: https://medium.com/@RonWyden
Instagram: @ronwyden
Bluesky: @wyden.senate.gov; @senatefinance.bsky.social

Senator Wyden’s official webpage: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/ and
Finance Committee page: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/. Senator Wyden is
ranking member (senior Democrat) on the Senate Finance Committee.

US Senator Jeffrey Merkley, Democrat from Portland. Elected in 2008.
Defeated Republican Senator Gordon Smith of Pendleton. Next election: 2026.

Senator Merkley has committed to the Oregon US Senate tradition of holding
an open-to-all town hall meeting in every county in Oregon every year, more
than 600 overall. Town halls are posted here:
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/connect/town-halls/

Social media:
Facebook: @jeffmerkley
Twitter: @SenJeffMerkley
Instagram: @senjeffmerkley
Bluesky: @jeff-merkley.bsky.social

Senator Merkley’s official webpage: https://www.merkley.senate.gov/, and
Committee pages: https://www.budget.senate.gov/, and
https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/interior-environment-an
d-related-agencies. Senator Merkley is ranking member (senior Democrat) on
the Senate Budget Committee and the Interior & Environment appropriations
subcommittee.

US Congressman Cliff Bentz, Republican from Ontario, Congressional
District 2. Elected in 2020 following the retirement of Representative Greg
Walden. Next election: 2026.

Representative Bentz is the only Republican member of Congress
representing Oregon. He serves all or parts of 20 counties, around 69,000
square miles and nearly two-thirds of the state.

For town halls and other events, visit: https://bentz.house.gov/about/events

Social media:
Facebook: @RepBentz
Twitter: @RepBentz
Instagram: @repbentz

Representative Bentz’s official webpage: https://bentz.house.gov/.
Representative Bentz serves on two committees, the House Natural
Resources Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee.