The 2014 United States Senate election in Oregon took place on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Oregon, concurrently with the election of the Governor of Oregon, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Incumbent Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley successfully ran for reelection to a second term. Despite the national midterm climate being a strong one for Republicans, this was actually a stronger Senate election for him in terms of margin of victory, winning by almost 20% and carrying nine additional counties he had lost in 2008. Primary elections were held on May 20, 2014. Merkley easily won the Democratic nomination, while the Republicans nominated pediatric neurosurgeon Monica Wehby. Initially, the race was considered potentially competitive, but Wehby's campaign began to collapse after she faced multiple allegations of stalking and harassment from former partners, and was found to have plagiarized portions of her campaign website.

Background Democrat Jeff Merkley, the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives, had narrowly defeated two-term Republican incumbent Gordon H. Smith with 49% of the vote in 2008.

Democratic primary Candidates Declared William Bryk, attorney from New York and perennial candidate Pavel Goberman, fitness instructor and perennial candidate Jeff Merkley, incumbent senator

Results

Republican primary Candidates Declared Mark Callahan, information technology consultant and perennial candidate Jason Conger, state representative Tim Crawley, attorney Jo Rae Perkins, former Chairwoman of the Linn County Republican Party and candidate for Mayor of Albany in 2010 Monica Wehby, pediatric neurosurgeon

Withdrew Sam Carpenter, businessman

Declined Bruce Hanna, state representative Rick Miller, owner and founder of Avamere Gordon H. Smith, former U.S. Senator Greg Walden, U.S. Representative and Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee

Endorsements

Polling Poll source MarkCallahan JasonConger TimCrawley Jo RaePerkins MonicaWehby UndecidedBenenson Strategy GroupBenenson Strategy Group April 14–17, 2014 410 ± ? — 24% — — 22% 55%Wenzel StrategiesWenzel Strategies May 1–4, 2014 607 ± ? 4% 22% 3% 3% 43% 26%Public Opinion StrategiesPublic Opinion Strategies May 12–13, 2014 500 ± 4.38% 2% 24% 2% 2% 41% 26%

Results

Independents The filing deadline for independent candidates is August 26, 2014. In order to qualify, a candidate must submit 17,893 signatures of registered voters or obtain signatures from at least 1,000 electors at a valid assembly of electors.

Candidates Declared Karl King, massage therapist

General election Debates Complete video of debate, October 14, 2014

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014

Polling Poll source JeffMerkley (D) MonicaWehby (R) Other UndecidedHarper Polling April 1–2, 2014 670 ± 3.91% 46% 34% — 20%Benenson Strategy Group April 14–17, 2014 600 ± 4% 52% 32% — 16%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports May 21–22, 2014 750 ± 4% 47% 37% 5% 11%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 22–27, 2014 956 ± 3.2% 50% 36% — 15%The Tarrance Group*The Tarrance Group* June 1–3, 2014 615 ± 4.1% 41% 39% 9%Karl King (I) 5%, Mike Montchalin (L) 4% 11%SurveyUSASurveyUSA June 5–9, 2014 560 ± 4.2% 50% 32% 9% 9%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov July 5–24, 2014 2,088 ± 2.6% 53% 39% 1% 7%SurveyUSASurveyUSA August 1–5, 2014 564 ± 4.2% 52% 33% 7% 9%Moore Information^Moore Information^ August 5–9, 2014 500 ± 4% 47% 38% — 16%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov August 18 – September 2, 2014 1,541 ± 4% 51% 39% 1% 9%Rasmussen Reports September 2–3, 2014 750 ± 4% 48% 35% 5% 12%Polling Company/WomanTrendPolling Company/WomanTrend September 9–11, 2014 600 ± 4% 42% 34% 7%Christina Lugo (G) 4%, Mike Montchalin (L) 3% 14%SurveyUSASurveyUSA September 22–24, 2014 568 ± 4.2% 52% 32% 8% 8%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov September 20 – October 1, 2014 1,508 ± 3% 52% 39% 1% 8%DHM Research October 2014 ? ± 4.3% 47% 26% 6% 19%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 16–19, 2014 561 ± 4.2% 53% 32% 7% 8%CBS News/NYT/YouGov October 16–23, 2014 1,421 ± 4% 51% 39% 1% 9%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 23–27, 2014 552 ± 4.3% 53% 32% 8% 6%Elway ResearchElway Research October 26–27, 2014 403 ± 5% 49% 30% 3%Christina Lugo (G) 1%, Mike Montchalin (L) 2% 18%

^ Internal poll for Dennis Richardson campaign * Internal poll for Monica Wehby campaign

Poll source JeffMerkley (D) AllenAlley (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 686 ± 3.7% 43% 37% — 20%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling December 3–5, 2012 614 ± 4% 53% 36% — 12%

Poll source JeffMerkley (D) JasonAtkinson (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 686 ± 3.7% 43% 34% — 23%

Poll source JeffMerkley (D) JasonConger (R) Other UndecidedHarper Polling April 1–2, 2014 670 ± 3.91% 47% 40% — 12%Benenson Strategy Group April 14–17, 2014 600 ± 4% 50% 34% — 16%

Poll source JeffMerkley (D) BruceHanna (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 686 ± 3.7% 43% 35% — 23%Public Policy Polling December 3–5, 2012 614 ± 4% 52% 34% — 14%

Poll source JeffMerkley (D) GordonSmith (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 3–5, 2012 614 ± 4% 47% 43% — 10%

Poll source JeffMerkley (D) BruceStarr (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling December 3–5, 2012 614 ± 4% 52% 32% — 16%

Poll source JeffMerkley (D) GregWalden (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 686 ± 3.7% 40% 42% — 18%Public Policy Polling December 3–5, 2012 614 ± 4% 47% 42% — 11%

Results

By county County Jeff MerkleyDemocratic Monica WehbyRepublican All others Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Baker 2,334 33.0% 4,238 60.0% 491 6.9% -1,904 -27.0% 7,063 Benton 23,073 62.4% 11,452 31.0% 2,468 6.7% 11,621 31.4% 36,993 Clackamas 79,219 51.4% 64,447 41.8% 7,267 9.8% 14,772 9.6% 154,205 Clatsop 8,148 56.8% 5,143 35.9% 1,047 7.3% 3,005 20.9% 14,338 Columbia 9,957 50.3% 7,879 39.8% 1,953 9.9% 2,078 10.5% 19,789 Coos 11,521 48.5% 10,294 43.4% 1,920 8.1% 1,227 5.1% 23,735 Crook 3,233 36.6% 4,874 55.2% 716 8.1% -1,641 -18.6% 8,823 Curry 4,371 45.6% 4,470 46.6% 742 7.7% -99 -1.0% 9,583 Deschutes 34,680 50.6% 29,114 42.5% 4,779 6.9% 5,566 8.1% 68,573 Douglas 16,401 40.1% 21,112 51.7% 3,343 8.2% -4,711 -11.6% 40,856 Gilliam 366 42.0% 440 50.5% 66 7.6% -74 -8.5% 872 Grant 1,051 32.8% 1,943 60.6% 213 6.7% -892 -27.8% 3,207 Harney 911 31.1% 1,784 61.0% 230 7.9% -873 -29.9% 2,925 Hood River 5,139 62.8% 2,540 31.0% 510 6.3% 2,599 31.8% 8,189 Jackson 40,740 50.0% 34,619 42.5% 6,040 7.5% 6,121 7.5% 81,399 Jefferson 2,809 41.5% 3,440 50.8% 518 7.7% -631 -9.3% 6,767 Josephine 14,218 42.6% 15,722 47.1% 3,452 10.3% -1,504 -4.5% 33,392 Klamath 8,150 36.1% 12,522 55.5% 1,898 8.4% -4,372 -19.4% 22,570 Lake 966 30.7% 1,930 61.4% 246 9.8% -964 -30.7% 3,142 Lane 89,269 62.2% 44,815 31.2% 9,511 6.6% 44,454 31.0% 143,595 Lincoln 11,484 59.3% 6,360 32.8% 1,523 7.9% 5,124 26.5% 19,367 Linn 18,050 42.3% 20,664 48.5% 3,923 9.2% -2,614 -6.2% 42,637 Malheur 2,051 27.6% 4,755 64.1% 614 8.3% -2,704 -36.5% 7,420 Marion 48,581 48.6% 43,917 43.9% 7,543 7.6% 4,664 4.7% 100,041 Morrow 1,119 35.9% 1,722 55.3% 273 8.7% -603 -19.4% 3,114 Multnomah 216,613 74.6% 53,035 18.3% 20,696 7.2% 162,578 56.3% 290,344 Polk 14,356 48.5% 13,118 44.4% 2,102 7.1% 1,238 4.1% 29,576 Sherman 283 33.1% 523 61.2% 49 5.8% -240 -28.1% 855 Tillamook 5,463 52.1% 4,187 39.9% 831 7.9% 1,276 12.2% 10,481 Umatilla 6,655 35.6% 10,676 57.1% 1,367 7.3% -4,021 -21.5% 18,698 Union 3,816 38.0% 5,498 54.7% 732 7.3% -1,682 -16.7% 10,046 Wallowa 1,215 34.2% 2,140 60.3% 193 5.4% -925 -26.1% 3,548 Wasco 4,563 50.2% 3,787 41.7% 741 8.1% 776 8.5% 9,091 Washington 106,769 56.2% 69,406 36.5% 13,796 7.3% 37,363 19.7% 189,971 Wheeler 275 40.5% 344 50.7% 60 8.8% -69 -10.2% 679 Yamhill 16,688 46.7% 15,937 44.6% 3,109 8.7% 751 2.1% 35,734Totals814,53755.7%538,84736.9%108,2347.4%275,69018.8%1,461,618 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Clackamas (largest city: Lake Oswego) Coos (largest city: Coos Bay) Deschutes (largest city: Bend) Jackson (largest city: Medford) Marion (largest city: Salem) Tillamook (largest city: Tillamook) Polk (largest city: Salem) Wasco (largest municipality: The Dalles) Yamhill (largest city: McMinnville)

See also 2014 United States Senate elections 2014 United States elections 2014 Oregon gubernatorial election

References

External links U.S. Senate elections in Oregon, 2014 at Ballotpedia Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets

Official campaign websites (Archived) Jeff Merkley for U.S. Senate incumbent Mark Callahan for U.S. Senate Jason Conger for U.S. Senate Tim Crawley for U.S. Senate Pavel Goberman for U.S. Senate Karl King for U.S. Senate Jo Rae Perkins for U.S. Senate