Ronald Lee Wyden is an American attorney and politician serving as the senior United States senator from Oregon, a seat he has held since 1996. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 until 1996. Upon the death of Representative Don Young in 2022, Wyden became the dean of the West Coast's Congressional delegation. He is the dean of Oregon's congressional delegation and serves as the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. Known for his libertarian-leaning stances within the Democratic Party, Wyden has been a prominent advocate for privacy rights, internet freedom, and limiting government surveillance, positioning him as a defender of civil liberties.

100 votes
13 days until Election Day
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 — every House seat and about a third of the Senate are on the ballot.
Born
1949-05-03, Wichita
Education
Stanford University, University of Oregon School of Law, University of California, Santa Barbara, Palo Alto High School
Prior Occupations
politician, basketball player
Positions Held
United States representative, director, bureaucrat, United States senator
Country
United States
Chamber
Senate
Party
Democrat
State
Oregon
Status
Current member
In office since
1981
What this person's job actually involves