U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley Discusses the 2018 Elections

Join us for a conversation with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley as City Club launches its midterm election coverage.

On September 7, Senator Merkley will share his perspective on the national mood leading up to the elections. We'll ask him about whether Democrats can build a coalition to gain a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and what's being done at the national level to protect election integrity, including Oregon's vote-by-mail system. 

This Friday Forum promises to be a fascinating look at how one of our country's top Democrats is viewing the election ahead. Bring your questions!

About Senator Merkley

The son of a millwright, Jeff Merkley was born in a small town in Southern Oregon, and his family moved with the timber economy while he was growing up.

Jeff began his career in public service as an intern with Oregon’s former Republican Senator Mark Hatfield.

After working in Washington D.C. in both the Pentagon and at the Congressional Budget Office, Jeff came back to Oregon to work with families to build homes as the head of Portland’s Habitat for Humanity. 

He later was the President of the Oregon World Affairs Council and was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1998. In 2007, he became Speaker of the Oregon House and held that post until his election to the U.S. Senate. In 2009, he was sworn into the same senate seat once held by Mark Hatfield. 

In the nine years he’s been in office, Jeff has been relentlessly focused on getting our nation back on track and making our country work for ‘We the People’ once more. Making the ‘American Dream’ a reality for others is what got Jeff involved in public life and is what keeps him fighting for America’s working families.

Moderator

Marissa Madrigal is the former Interim Chair for Multnomah County. She grew up in Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Ridgefield, Washington. She earned credits from Clark College while still in high school and entered the University of Washington at 18 holding junior status. After graduating with a degree in zoology, she began writing and publishing a local magazine. Marissa holds a Master’s in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School and brings deep knowledge in finance, operations, and personnel management. She is active across the community and a frequent Friday Forum moderator.