Who is David Brock Smith and what is Smith running on in the 2026 Oregon Senate race?

David Brock Smith is the Republican candidate for Oregon U.S. Senate. Oregon state senator for the South Coast since 2017; former Port Orford city councilor and family restaurateur; Trump supporter. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Jeff Merkley (D) seeking a fourth term.
• Rating: Solid D (Cook).

Why Smith is behind

• Oregon is D+8 and Republicans have not won a Senate seat there since 2002.
• Merkley is a three-term incumbent who took 93% in his primary.
• Huge money gap: Merkley raised $7.89M vs Brock Smith’s ~$121K as of June 30, 2026.
• Brock Smith won a fractured GOP primary with only 29.5%.

What Smith is running on

• Cost of living. Pledges to make everyday life more affordable for working families.
• Public safety / homelessness. Promises to address public safety and homelessness ‘with accountability’.
• Economy / data centers. Backed the Oregon JOBS Act for advanced manufacturing; voted against the POWER Act over concerns it would deter tech investment.
• Wildfire policy. Supported repealing the state Wildfire Hazard Map.
• Elections. Introduced legislation to end Oregon’s vote-by-mail system.
• Rural voice. Running to represent rural communities, farmers, fishermen and small businesses.

In Smith’s own words

“I’m running to give a voice to the people who feel forgotten, the workers, parents, farmers, fishermen, small business owners, and rural communities who keep Oregon moving.”

The other candidates

• Jeff Merkley (D)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.