List of United States Senators from Oregon

Last updated August 19, 2019

Current delegation

Oregon was admitted to the Union on February 14, 1859. Its current U.S. Senators are Democrats Ron Wyden (serving since 1996) and Jeff Merkley (serving since 2009).

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region on the West Coast of the United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. The parallel 42° north delineates the southern boundary with California and Nevada.

The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United States or America, is a country comprising 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories, and various possessions. At 3.8 million square miles, the United States is the world's third or fourth largest country by total area and is slightly smaller than the entire continent of Europe's 3.9 million square miles. With a population of over 327 million people, the U.S. is the third most populous country. The capital is Washington, D.C., and the most populous city is New York City. Most of the country is located contiguously in North America between Canada and Mexico.

The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress which, along with the United States House of Representatives—the lower chamber—comprises the legislature of the United States. The Senate chamber is located in the north wing of the Capitol Building, in Washington, D.C.

Prior to 1906, U.S. Senators were elected by the Oregon Legislative Assembly. In 1904, Oregon voters passed a ballot measure that required U.S. Senators to be selected by a popular vote and then endorsed by the state legislature. Beginning in 1914, U.S. Senators were directly elected by popular vote on the basis of the 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to two-year terms. There are no term limits for either house in the Legislative Assembly.

The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established the popular election of United States senators by the people of the states. The amendment supersedes Article I, §3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which senators were elected by state legislatures. It also alters the procedure for filling vacancies in the Senate, allowing for state legislatures to permit their governors to make temporary appointments until a special election can be held.

List of Senators

#	Senator	Party	Years in office	Electoral history	T e r m	C o n g r e s s	T e r m	Electoral history	Years in office	Party	Senator	#
Class 2 Class 2 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 1996, 2002, 2008, and 2014. The next election will be in 2020.						C o n g r e s s	Class 3 Class 3 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 1998, 2004, 2010, and 2016. The next election will be in 2022.
1	Delazon Smith	Democratic	February 14, 1859 – March 3, 1859	Elected in 1859. Lost re-election.	1	35th	1	Elected in 1859. Retired.	February 14, 1859 – March 3, 1861	Democratic	Joseph Lane	1
Vacant			March 3, 1859 – October 1, 1860	Legislature failed to elect.	2	36th
2	Edward D. Baker	Republican	October 1, 1860 – October 21, 1861	Elected late in 1860. Died.		36th
2	Edward D. Baker	Republican	October 1, 1860 – October 21, 1861	Elected late in 1860. Died.		37th	2	Election year unknown. Lost re-election.	March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1867	Democratic	James Nesmith	2
Vacant			October 21, 1861 – February 27, 1862
3	Benjamin Stark	Democratic	February 27, 1862 – September 12, 1862	Appointed to continue Baker's term. Retired when successor elected.
4	Benjamin F. Harding	Democratic	September 12, 1862 – March 3, 1865	Elected to finish Baker's term. Retired.
4	Benjamin F. Harding	Democratic	September 12, 1862 – March 3, 1865	Elected to finish Baker's term. Retired.		38th
5	George H. Williams	Republican	March 4, 1865 – March 3, 1871	Elected in 1864. Lost re-election.	3	39th
						40th	3	Election year unknown. Retired.	March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1873	Republican	Henry W. Corbett	3
						41st
6	James K. Kelly	Democratic	March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1877	Elected in 1870. Retired.	4	42nd
						43rd	4	Elected in 1872. Lost re-election.	March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1879	Republican	John H. Mitchell	4
						44th
7	La Fayette Grover	Democratic	March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883	Election year unknown. Retired.	5	45th
						46th	5	Election year unknown. Retired.	March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1885	Democratic	James H. Slater	5
						47th
8	Joseph N. Dolph	Republican	March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1895	Elected in 1882.	6	48th
						49th	6		March 3, 1885 – November 18, 1885	Vacant
						49th		Elected late in 1885.	November 18, 1885 – March 3, 1897	Republican	John H. Mitchell	6
						50th
				Re-elected in 1888. Lost re-election.	7	51st
						52nd	7	Re-elected in 1890. Lost re-election.
						53rd
9	George W. McBride	Republican	March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1901	Elected February 23, 1895.^[4] Lost renomination.	8	54th
						55th	8		March 3, 1897 – October 7, 1898	Vacant
						55th		Elected late in 1898. Retired.	October 7, 1898 – March 3, 1903	Republican	Joseph Simon	7
						56th
10	John H. Mitchell	Republican	March 4, 1901 – December 8, 1905	Elected February 24, 1901. Died.	9	57th
						58th	9	Elected February 21, 1903.^[5] Lost re-election.	March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1909	Republican	Charles W. Fulton	8
						59th
Vacant			December 8, 1905 – December 21, 1905
11	John M. Gearin	Democratic	December 21, 1905 – January 23, 1907	Appointed to continue Mitchell's term. Retired when successor elected.
12	Frederick W. Mulkey	Republican	January 23, 1907 – March 3, 1907	Elected to finish Mitchell's term.^[6]^[7] Retired.
13	Jonathan Bourne, Jr.	Republican	March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1913	Elected January 22, 1907.^[6]^[7] Lost renomination.	10	60th
						61st	10	Elected January 19, 1909.^[7]	March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1921	Democratic	George E. Chamberlain	9
						62nd
14	Harry Lane	Democratic	March 4, 1913 – May 23, 1917	Elected January 21, 1913.^[7] Died.	11	63rd
						64th	11	Re-elected in 1914. Lost re-election.
						65th
Vacant			May 23, 1917 – May 29, 1917
15	Charles L. McNary	Republican	May 29, 1917 – November 5, 1918	Appointed to continue Lane's term. Not elected to finish Lane's term.
16	Frederick W. Mulkey	Republican	November 6, 1918 – December 17, 1918	Elected to finish Lane's term. Resigned early to give successor preferential seniority.
17	Charles L. McNary	Republican	December 18, 1918 – February 25, 1944	Appointed to finish Lane/Mulkey's term, having already been elected to the next term.
				Elected in 1918.	12	66th
						67th	12	Elected in 1920. Lost re-election.	March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1927	Republican	Robert N. Stanfield	10
						68th
				Re-elected in 1924.	13	69th
						70th	13	Elected in 1926.	March 4, 1927 – January 31, 1938	Republican	Frederick Steiwer	11
						71st
				Re-elected in 1930.	14	72nd
						73rd	14	Re-elected in 1932. Resigned.
						74th
				Re-elected in 1936.	15	75th
									January 31, 1938 – February 11, 1938	Vacant
								Appointed to continue Steiwer's term. Retired when successor elected.	February 11, 1938 – November 9, 1938	Democratic	Alfred E. Reames	12
								Elected to finish Steiwer's term. Retired.	November 9, 1938 – January 3, 1939	Republican	Alexander G. Barry	13
						76th	15	Elected in 1938. Lost renomination.	January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1945	Republican	Rufus C. Holman	14
						77th
				Re-elected in 1942. Died.	16	78th
Vacant			February 25, 1944 – March 13, 1944
18	Guy Cordon	Republican	March 13, 1944 – January 3, 1955	Appointed to continue McNary's term. Elected November 7, 1944 to finish McNary's term.
						79th	16	Elected in 1944.	January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1969	Republican ^[8]	Wayne Morse	15
						80th
				Re-elected in 1948. Lost re-election.	17	81st
						82nd	17	Re-elected in 1950.
						82nd				Independent ^[8]
						83rd				Independent ^[8]
19	Richard L. Neuberger	Democratic	January 3, 1955 – March 9, 1960	Elected in 1954. Died.	18	84th				Democratic ^[8]
						85th	18	Re-elected in 1956.
						86th
Vacant			March 9, 1960 – March 23, 1960
20	Hall S. Lusk	Democratic	March 23, 1960 – November 9, 1960	Appointed to continue Neuberger's term. Retired when successor elected.
21	Maurine Brown Neuberger	Democratic	November 9, 1960 – January 3, 1967	Elected to finish her husband's term.
				Elected to full term in 1960. Retired.	19	87th
						88th	19	Re-elected in 1962. Lost re-election.
						89th
22	Mark Hatfield	Republican	January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1997	Elected in 1966.	20	90th
						91st	20	Elected in 1968.	January 3, 1969 – October 1, 1995	Republican	Bob Packwood	16
						92nd
				Re-elected in 1972.	21	93rd
						94th	21	Re-elected in 1974.
						95th
				Re-elected in 1978.	22	96th
						97th	22	Re-elected in 1980.
						98th
				Re-elected in 1984.	23	99th
						100th	23	Re-elected in 1986.
						101st
				Re-elected in 1990. Retired.	24	102nd
						103rd	24	Re-elected in 1992. Resigned.
						104th		Re-elected in 1992. Resigned.
									October 1, 1995 – February 6, 1996	Vacant
								Elected to finish Packwood's term.	February 6, 1996 – Present	Democratic	Ron Wyden	17
23	Gordon Smith	Republican	January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2009	Elected in 1996.	25	105th		Elected to finish Packwood's term.
						106th	25	Re-elected in 1998.
						107th
				Re-elected in 2002. Lost re-election.	26	108th
						109th	26	Re-elected in 2004.
						110th
24	Jeff Merkley	Democratic	January 3, 2009 – Present	Elected in 2008.	27	111th
						112th	27	Re-elected in 2010.
						113th
				Re-elected in 2014.	28	114th
						115th	39	Re-elected in 2016.
						116th
To be determined in the 2020 election.					29	117th
To be determined in the 2020 election.					29	118th	29	To be determined in the 2022 election.
#	Senator	Party	Years in office	Electoral history	T e r m		T e r m	Electoral history	Years in office	Party	Senator	#
Class 2							Class 3

Living former U.S. Senators from Oregon

As of January 2019^[update], there are two living former U.S. Senators from Oregon. The most recent to die was Mark Hatfield (served January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1997) on August 7, 2011, who was also the most recently serving to die.

Mark Hatfield American politician, former governor of Oregon

Mark Odom Hatfield was an American politician and educator from the state of Oregon. A Republican, he served for 30 years as a United States Senator from Oregon, and also as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. A native Oregonian, he served in the United States Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II after graduating from Willamette University. After the war he earned a graduate degree from Stanford University before returning to Oregon and Willamette as a professor.

Senator	Class	Term of office	Date of birth (and age)
Bob Packwood	3	January 3, 1969 – October 1, 1995	(1932-09-11) September 11, 1932 (age 86)
Gordon H. Smith	2	January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2009	(1952-05-25) May 25, 1952 (age 67)

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References

↑ "Initiative, Referendum and Recall Introduction". Oregon Blue Book. Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State. 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
↑ "U.S. Senators from Oregon". Oregon Blue Book. Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State. 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
↑ Carey, Charles Henry (1922). History of Oregon. Chicago, Illinois: Pioneer Publishing. pp. 837–838.
↑ "George Wycliffe McBride". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. United States Congress. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
↑ "OREGON SENATOR CHOSEN". The New York Times. February 22, 1903. p. 3.
1 2 The World Almanac and Encyclopedia 1908. The Press Publishing Co., New York World. 1907. p. 263.
1 2 3 4 Selected by popular vote, but formally elected by the state legislature
1 2 3 Wayne Morse was elected as a Republican in 1944 and re-elected as a Republican in 1950. He changed to Independent in 1952 and to Democratic in 1955. He was re-elected as a Democrat in 1956 and 1962.

External links

"U. S. Senators from Oregon". Oregon State Archives. Retrieved May 25, 2011.

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[obbinit-1] "Initiative, Referendum and Recall Introduction". Oregon Blue Book. Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State. 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2011.

[obbsen-2] "U.S. Senators from Oregon". Oregon Blue Book. Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State. 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2011.

[carey-3] Carey, Charles Henry (1922). History of Oregon. Chicago, Illinois: Pioneer Publishing. pp. 837–838.

[Ore1895-4] "George Wycliffe McBride". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. United States Congress. Retrieved October 27, 2016.

[NYTOR1903-5] "OREGON SENATOR CHOSEN". The New York Times. February 22, 1903. p. 3.

[WorldAlmanac1907-6] 1 2 The World Almanac and Encyclopedia 1908. The Press Publishing Co., New York World. 1907. p. 263.

[selected-7] 1 2 3 4 Selected by popular vote, but formally elected by the state legislature

[Morse-8] 1 2 3 Wayne Morse was elected as a Republican in 1944 and re-elected as a Republican in 1950. He changed to Independent in 1952 and to Democratic in 1955. He was re-elected as a Democrat in 1956 and 1962.

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