Ronald Lee Wyden

Democrat senior Senator of Oregon

Representative
Oregon, district 3
January 5, 1981 - January 3, 1983
Representative
Oregon, district 3
January 3, 1983 - January 3, 1985
Representative
Oregon, district 3
January 3, 1985 - January 3, 1987
Representative
Oregon, district 3
January 6, 1987 - January 3, 1989
Representative
Oregon, district 3
January 3, 1989 - January 3, 1991
Representative
Oregon, district 3
January 3, 1991 - January 3, 1993
Representative
Oregon, district 3
January 5, 1993 - January 3, 1995
Representative
Oregon, district 3
January 4, 1995 - February 5, 1996
Senator
Oregon
February 5, 1996 - January 3, 1999
Senator
Oregon
January 6, 1999 - January 3, 2005
Senator
Oregon
January 4, 2005 - January 3, 2011
Senator
Oregon
January 5, 2011 - January 3, 2017
Senator
Oregon
January 3, 2017 - January 3, 2023
Senator
Oregon
January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2029

202-224-5244

@RonWyden

wyden.senate.gov

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Congresses Served

House Terms

Senate Terms

January 1, 1949 (76 years old)

Birthday

American politician and educator
Served as U.S. Representative for Oregon’s 3rd district
Currently serving as the senior United States senator from Oregon since 1996
Chairs the Senate Finance Committee
Born in Wichita, Kansas, to Jewish parents who fled Nazi Germany
Grew up in Palo Alto, California, and was a basketball player in high school
Attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, on a basketball scholarship before transferring to Stanford University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in political science
Earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Oregon School of Law
Founded the Oregon chapter of the Gray Panthers and was the director of the Oregon Legal Services Center for Elderly
Played an influential role in the passage of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996
Involved in various legislative acts concerning healthcare, internet freedom, privacy, military, voting rights, and more
Known for his efforts in healthcare reform, national security, consumer protection, and government transparency
Described as a “Hard-Core Liberal” by On the Issues
Has a history of bipartisan cooperation and is praised for his ability to defuse partisan tensions
Advocates for gun control, LGBTQIA+ rights, net neutrality, and has opposed the Patriot Act’s reauthorization without reforms
Supports legal abortion and has consistently received high ratings from pro-choice groups
Opposes assisted suicide but has defended Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act against federal attempts to override it
Has been critical of the estate tax and supports lower corporate taxes
Involved in efforts to legalize cannabis at the federal level
Has taken a stand against online copyright infringement and counterfeits, advocating for internet freedom
Married with five children, and has a background in education and law, but has never been a member of the Oregon State Bar