Oregon
Who is Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley? Why is he giving a marathon Senate speech? What to know.
WASHINGTON – Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley is the latest Democrat to take a protracted stand against President Donald Trump, holding a marathon speech on the Senate floor that has stretched for over 20 hours amid an ongoing federal government shutdown.
Merkley, who took the floor at 6:21 p.m. on Oct. 21, knocked the Trump administration’s policies and actions, which he argued are dragging the country into authoritarianism.
“I don’t believe there’s a single senator here in the United States Senate who wants to see freedom crushed and authoritarian rule established here in the United States of America … Our founders did not want the president to be a king,” he said.
His speech comes as Republicans and Democrats have been unable to strike a funding deal to reopen the government. Democrats have made healthcare the focus of their demands, urging Republicans to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of December.
Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, went viral earlier this year when he gave the longest-ever speech on the Senate floor, which lasted 25 hours and five minutes. Booker beat the record set by the late South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond, a Democrat-turned-Republican, who gave a speech on the Senate floor lasting 24 hours and 18 minutes for his filibuster against the 1957 Civil Rights Act.
If Merkley continues his talk-a-thon past 7:26 p.m. on Oct. 22, he could officially beat Booker’s record.
Who is Jeff Merkley?
Merkley, 68, was first elected to the Senate in 2008 and has held onto his seat ever since. He is up for reelection in 2026.
Before serving in Congress, Merkley served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009 and was speaker of the House from 2007 to 2009. He previously worked as a national security analyst for the Pentagon and the Congressional Budget Office, executive director of the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity’s Portland chapter and president of the World Affairs Council of Oregon.
He’s a strong proponent of LGBTQ+ rights and expanding healthcare access. In April, he teamed up with Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, Booker and Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Takano, D-California, to reintroduce the Equality Act, a bill aimed at prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodations and other settings.
He fiercely championed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a landmark piece of legislation under the Obama administration.
Merkley was the first senator to endorse progressive firebrand Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential bid, writing in a New York Times op-ed at the time that, “As we look toward the next administration, there is far more work to do. We need urgency. We need big ideas. We need to rethink the status quo.”
Contributing: Zach Schermele, USA TODAY
The Oregon Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 8, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing
37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 8 drawing
1PM: 8-8-1-3
4PM: 2-2-2-8
7PM: 7-2-7-4
10PM: 1-7-4-6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Oregon Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 7:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 7:59 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 4: 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily.
- Win for Life: 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Megabucks: 7:29 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Oregon editor. You can send feedback using this form.
MEDFORD, Ore. — Fire crews quickly knocked down a trailer fire Monday night that threatened a nearby home in the 3000 block of Table Rock Road, displacing one resident.
Firefighters responded around 9:20 p.m. Monday, May 4. Engine 14 arrived to find a trailer on fire and the flames threatening a nearby residence. Crews knocked the fire down within eight minutes of arrival.
No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported. One resident was displaced as a result of the fire.
The cause is believed to be related to the use of an outdoor fire pit, where embers likely ignited nearby combustible materials. Officials said the fire spread from pallets and other items to the RV, causing extensive damage to the RV and minor damage to the exterior of the home.
With warmer, drier weather approaching, officials warned fire risk increases and urged people to follow outdoor fire safety tips. They recommend using a screen on outdoor fires when burning wood, choosing approved propane free-standing fire pits rather than wood-fueled options, keeping combustible materials at least 15 feet away, and discarding cigarettes, ash, embers and other smoldering materials in a non-combustible container filled with water.
Medford Police, Mercy Flights Inc. and Jackson County Fire District 3 assisted on the incident.
The Oregon Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 7, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 7 drawing
1PM: 3-4-3-4
4PM: 3-9-2-9
7PM: 6-6-4-2
10PM: 7-1-1-8
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Oregon Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 7:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 7:59 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 4: 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily.
- Win for Life: 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Megabucks: 7:29 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Oregon editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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