The Ballot Brief
97540

Who is on the ballot in 97540?

Jackson County, OR

Reported by The Ballot Brief Editorial Team. Updated as public election and video sources change.

Fields below reflect the November 3, 2026 general election ballot as races are certified.

5 races on your November 3 ballot. Jump to:
Governor1U.S. Senate1U.S. House1Local2
About this preview
County and municipal contests depend on your exact address — use the address lookup below for the full slate. Every race links to official sources on the Oregon voter hub.
Sample Ballot Preview

97540 sample ballot preview: statewide, congressional and Jackson County races

U.S. House, Oregon District 2
2 candidates
Federal ▾
CB
Chris Beck
DEM
Biography
Chris Beck served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1997 to 2003, representing the 12th district, per Oregon Public Broadcasting. He holds a bachelor's degree in history from Brown University and a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, per the same source. After his legislative service, he spent six years as a policy adviser on rural economic development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, per Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Top Priorities
  • Supports ending the Iran war and canceling tariffs to reduce fuel and other prices, and wants affordable housing and low interest financing for first time homeb
  • Wants an affordable public care option and incentives for medical professionals to work in rural communities., per campaign site
  • Supports restoring federal wildfire prevention funding and conservation programs for working lands., per campaign site
Campaign siteFull profile
Cliff Bentz portrait
CB
Cliff Bentz
REP INCUMBENT
Biography
Cliff Bentz earned a law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School and joined a law firm in Ontario, Oregon in 1977, later becoming a partner with a practice focused on ranch reorganizations and water law, per his official House website. He was appointed to the Oregon House in 2008 and later to the Oregon Senate, resigning the Senate seat in January 2020, per the same source. Bentz was elected to the U.S. House on November 3, 2020, to represent Oregon's 2nd Congressional District, per his official House website.
Top Priorities
  • Supports water rights for farmers and ranchers, the USMCA trade agreement, and increased border security., per campaign site
  • Favors reduced federal regulation and lower taxes, opposes cap and trade legislation, and supports Second Amendment rights., per campaign site
  • Describes his position on abortion as opposing it, and supports holding the federal government accountable for forest management and wildfire prevention., per c
Key voting record
Voted yes on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the 2025 tax-and-spending package, which passed the House 218-214 in July 2025. Supported
Voted yes on the Laken Riley Act, expanding federal detention of certain immigrants charged with theft or violent crimes, which passed the House 263-156 in January 2025. Supported
Voted yes on the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2026, which passed the House 231-196 in September 2025. Supported
Campaign siteFull profile
About this race
Chris Beck (Democrat) (also Independent), Cliff Bentz (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Oregon's 2nd Congressional District, per the Oregon Secretary of State's ORESTAR certified candidate filing list (read September 17, 2026).
U.S. Senate
4 candidates
Federal ▾
Jeff Merkley portrait
JM
Jeff Merkley
DEM INCUMBENT
Biography
Jeff Merkley is Oregon's incumbent U.S. senator and the Democratic nominee for a fourth term in 2026. Born in Myrtle Creek and raised in a working-class family, he has served in the Senate since 2009, where his work centers on opportunity for working families, fighting corruption in democracy, and the climate crisis. His campaign takes no corporate PAC money. He is also on the Working Families line, per the Secretary of State's ORESTAR filings.
Top Priorities
  • Create opportunity for working families
  • Stop the corruption of American democracy
  • Tackle the climate crisis
Campaign Finance
$7,297,473 raised · top industries: Small-dollar donors under $200 (51% of receipts), Large donors giving $2,000+ (14% of receipts)
Key voting record
Opposed 2025 Republican tax and spending package alongside every Senate Democrat, calling it a giveaway where families lose and billionaires win. Opposed
Supported 2022 PACT Act expanding VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins. Supported
Campaign siteFull profile
David Brock Smith portrait
DB
David Brock Smith
REP
Biography
David Brock Smith is the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Oregon, winning the May 19 primary with about 30% of the vote. A state senator from southwest Oregon, former state representative, and former Curry County commissioner, he is a third-generation resident and small businessman whose campaign emphasizes common sense, accountability, and a strong rural voice.
Top Priorities
  • Bring a strong rural voice and common sense to Washington
  • Support working families and the businesses that employ them
  • Bring accountability and citizen-first leadership to government
Campaign Finance
$48,166 raised · top industries: Large donors giving $2,000+ (37% of receipts), Small-dollar donors under $200 (34% of receipts)
Campaign siteFull profile
GL
Gary Lyndon Dye
Biography
Gary Lyndon Dye is the Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate in Oregon, per the Secretary of State's ORESTAR filings. No campaign website was found as of September 18, 2026.
Full profile
CH
Chris Henry
Biography
Chris Henry is the Progressive Party nominee for U.S. Senate in Oregon and also on the Pacific Green line, per the Secretary of State's ORESTAR filings. A long-haul trucker and UAW aircraft mechanic per Henry's 2026 Oregon Voters' Pamphlet candidate statement, Henry has served on the boards of the Oregon Consumer League, the Oregon Voter Rights Coalition, and the Willamette Neighborhood Association, per the same statement. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Top Priorities
  • Raise wages and strengthen workplace safety and campaign finance reform
  • Enact Medicare for All
  • Cut U.S. military spending and end dark money in politics
Full profile
Governor
3 candidates
Statewide ▾
Tina Kotek portrait
TK
Tina Kotek
DEM INCUMBENT
Biography
Tina Kotek is Oregon's incumbent governor and the Democratic nominee for a second term, setting up a rematch of the 2022 race against Christine Drazan. A former longtime speaker of the Oregon House, her first term has focused on lowering costs, reducing homelessness, strengthening schools, and expanding mental health and addiction care. She is also on the Working Families line, per the Secretary of State's ORESTAR filings.
Top Priorities
  • Lower costs and tackle Oregon's housing and homelessness crisis
  • Strengthen schools and expand mental health and addiction care
  • Defend Oregonians' freedoms
Campaign siteFull profile
CD
Christine Drazan
REP
Biography
Christine Drazan is the Republican nominee for Oregon governor, winning the May 19 primary to set up a rematch of the closely fought 2022 race against Tina Kotek. A state senator and former Oregon House minority leader, her campaign theme is this is our moment, with priorities focused on the cost of living, homelessness, housing, schools, and making government work. She is also on the Libertarian line, per the Secretary of State's ORESTAR filings.
Top Priorities
  • Lower the day-to-day cost of living and unleash Oregon's economy
  • Tackle homelessness and restore safe communities
  • Build homes families can afford and strengthen schools rooted in communities
Campaign siteFull profile
BS
Brett Smith
Biography
Brett Smith is the Pacific Green Party nominee for Oregon governor, per the Secretary of State's ORESTAR filings. Smith is a small-business owner, welder, and fabricator, per Smith's 2026 Oregon Voters' Pamphlet candidate statement.
Top Priorities
  • Root out corruption and demand government accountability
  • Establish a universal healthcare option
  • A permanent moratorium on new data centers
Per the campaign site.
Campaign siteFull profile

Countywide races in Jackson County

ZIP 97540 sits in Jackson County, per the Census crosswalk. These seats are voted countywide; district seats, city races and school boards need a street address. All Jackson County races (10).

Jackson County Clerk
1 candidate
County ▾
CW
Chris Walker
Biography
Chris Walker is the unopposed candidate for Jackson County Clerk on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the county's official candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Chris Walker.
Full profile
Why only one name?
Only one name is on the ballot for this office: no other candidate qualified. An unopposed candidate is elected unless a write-in outpolls them where write-ins are allowed, so this line still counts as a vote.
About this race
Chris Walker drew no opponent in the primary and is the only nominee on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the county's official candidate list.
Jackson County Sheriff
1 candidate
County ▾
NS
Nathan Sickler
Biography
Nathan Sickler is the unopposed candidate for Jackson County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the county's official candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Nathan Sickler.
Full profile
Why only one name?
Only one name is on the ballot for this office: no other candidate qualified. An unopposed candidate is elected unless a write-in outpolls them where write-ins are allowed, so this line still counts as a vote.
About this race
Nathan Sickler drew no opponent in the primary and is the only nominee on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the county's official candidate list.
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Ballot Info Lookup

See your full ballot for 97540

The preview above covers the races every voter in 97540 shares. Press the button for the interactive guide, or add your street address for county and city races.

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Voting info and more
Ballot info questions for 97540

Who is running for mayor in 97540?

Mayor races depend on the city tied to your address. Use the full-address lookup, then confirm with your city or county election office.

When is the primary election in this state?

Primary dates vary by state. Use this page's official election links to confirm the next primary deadline for your address.

Can I vote early in 97540?

Early voting rules vary by state and county. Check your official election links for dates, locations, and ID rules.

Where can I see a sample ballot for 97540?

Start with the Ballot Brief lookup results for this ZIP. If you need more district precision, use the Local page with a full address.

Data sources

Where does The Ballot Brief verify ballot info for 97540?

Vote.gov Official federal voter registration and voting information gateway.State election offices Official directory for state election deadlines, ballot rules, and voter resources.Federal Election Commission Federal candidate filings and campaign finance data.Congress.gov members Official congressional member records and identifiers.