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Photograph of Ron Wyden

Ron Wyden

U.S. Senate · OR · Democrats · since 2023

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Candidate for U.S. Senate · OR

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Biography

Overview

Ron Wyden is a Democrat and the senior United States senator from Oregon, serving since 1996. Before his Senate career, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 to 1996, representing Oregon's 3rd congressional district. Born in Wichita, Kansas, Wyden received a law degree from the University of Oregon but has never been a member of the Oregon State Bar. He is known for his libertarian-leaning stances within the Democratic Party, particularly his advocacy for privacy rights, internet freedom, civil liberties, and limiting government surveillance. Wyden serves as ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee.

Career

Wyden played an influential role in the passage of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which shaped internet liability standards. He successfully blocked congressional attempts to override Oregon's Death with Dignity Act by threatening filibuster in 2000 and defended it through amicus briefs and communication with President George W. Bush. In the House, he was reelected seven times, never with less than 70% of the vote. He has been a prominent advocate for surveillance reform and privacy protections, including his questioning of NSA practices before Edward Snowden's revelations. Wyden has worked on bipartisan efforts on healthcare, prescription drug benefits, net neutrality protections, and LGBTQIA+ rights, including being the first U.S. Senate candidate to publicly support same-sex marriage in 1995.

Prior political experience

Wyden was first elected to the House in 1980 at age 31, defeating incumbent Representative Bob Duncan in the Democratic primary and winning the general election with 71% of the vote. He was reelected seven times to the House, never with less than 70% of the vote. In 1996, Wyden won a special election to the Senate by defeating Gordon Smith by just over 18,000 votes, with a significant margin in Multnomah County. He was elected to a full term in 1998 with 61% of the vote. In subsequent Senate elections, Wyden won reelection in 2004 with 64%, 2010 with 57%, 2016 with 57%, and 2022 with 56%.

Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Ideology

Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)

Liberal
Conservative
119th Congress-0.334

Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)

−1
+1
-0.487
Source: Voteview DW-NOMINATE · 659 scored votes

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Officeholding history

TermSeatTerm datesTerminationPredecessorSuccessor
6thU.S. Senate OR Class 32023–presentIn progressRon Wyden—
5thU.S. Senate OR Class 32017–2023Term endedRon WydenRon Wyden
4thU.S. Senate OR Class 32011–2017Term endedRon WydenRon Wyden
3rdU.S. Senate OR Class 32005–2011Term endedRon WydenRon Wyden
2ndU.S. Senate OR Class 31999–2005Term endedRon WydenRon Wyden
1stU.S. Senate OR Class 31996–1999Term ended—Ron Wyden
8thU.S. House OR-31995–1996Term endedRon WydenMaxine Dexter
7thU.S. House OR-31993–1995Term endedRon WydenRon Wyden
6thU.S. House OR-31991–1993Term endedRon WydenRon Wyden
5thU.S. House OR-31989–1991Term endedRon WydenRon Wyden
4thU.S. House OR-31987–1989Term endedRon WydenRon Wyden
3rdU.S. House OR-31985–1987Term endedRon WydenRon Wyden
2ndU.S. House OR-31983–1985Term endedRon WydenRon Wyden
1stU.S. House OR-31981–1983Term ended—Ron Wyden

Committee assignments

  • Water and Power
    SenateRanking Member· 2023–present
  • Senate Committee on Finance
    SenateRanking Member· 2023–present
  • Joint Committee on Taxation
    joint· 2023–present
  • Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth
    SenateEx Officio· 2023–present
  • Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
    Senate· 2023–present
  • Energy
    Senate· 2023–present
  • Public Lands, Forests, and Mining
    Senate· 2023–present
  • Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
    Senate· 2023–present
  • Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy
    SenateEx Officio· 2023–present
  • Senate Committee on the Budget
    Senate· 2023–present
  • Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure
    SenateEx Officio· 2023–present
  • International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness
    SenateEx Officio· 2023–present
  • Taxation and IRS Oversight
    SenateEx Officio· 2023–present
  • Health Care
    SenateEx Officio· 2023–present

Current term legislation

Bills sponsored this term10

Bills cosponsored this term10

Elections

YearSeatResultVote shareField
——Pending——