Oregon — U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley’s campaign fundraising has rebounded sharply ahead of the 2026 election cycle, following a dip during the previous off-cycle period, according to federal campaign finance filings.
For the 2025–2026 cycle, Merkley reported $2.76 million in total receipts, including $2.38 million in contributions. Individual donors accounted for the bulk of that total at $2.07 million, with $1.40 million from itemized contributions and $671,482 from small-dollar donations under $200. Political committees contributed $306,000, while the campaign received $107,500 in transfers from affiliated committees.
The latest totals mark a significant increase from the 2023–2024 cycle, when the campaign reported $1.51 million in receipts and $1.04 million in contributions. That period relied heavily on individual donors, who contributed about $1 million, with smaller amounts from committees and transfers.
Political action committees and organizational donors are playing a larger role in Sen. Jeff Merkley’s 2026 fundraising, marking a shift from earlier cycles that leaned more heavily on small-dollar individual contributions.
During the 2025–2026 cycle, the campaign reported $306,000 in contributions from other committees, a substantial increase compared to $41,225 in 2023–2024 and just $13,500 in 2021–2022. The rise reflects growing engagement from labor unions, issue-based PACs, and national Democratic fundraising networks as the election approaches.
In itemized contribution data, several organizations reached the $10,000 contribution level, including groups such as the American Federation of Teachers, along with multiple Democratic-aligned PACs. The largest single organizational contributor was Progress for Oregon, which provided a combined $174,500 across the reporting period, with a $107,000 transfer at the very end of 2025.
Top Organizational / PAC Donors
- Progress for Oregon — $174,500
- American Federation of Teachers — $10,000
- Advancing Democracy and Mobilization PAC — $10,000
- Purpose PAC — $10,000
- Impact — $10,000
- Blue Hen PAC — $10,000
- Health Jobs Justice — $10,000
- Turquoise PAC — $10,000
- Oceans PAC — $10,000
Itemized contribution data shows roughly one-third of tracked donations coming from outside Oregon, led by donors and organizations in Washington, D.C., California, New York, and Washington state.
Washington, D.C. stands out as the largest out-of-state source, totaling $269,945.00, reflecting contributions from national political action committees and advocacy organizations. California ($179,843.49) and New York ($131,495.32) donors—longstanding hubs for Democratic fundraising—also rank among the top contributors, alongside smaller but consistent support from states like Maryland, Virginia, and Texas.
The out-of-state share appears to increase in later periods, particularly heading into the 2026 cycle, as national networks and PACs ramp up giving.
Overall, Merkley’s fundraising position appears to be strengthening heading into 2026, with higher total receipts, expanded committee support, and continued backing from individual donors both in Oregon and nationally.
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