Jeff Merkley Endorses Bernie Sanders for President

Oregonian becomes first U.S. senator to endorse Sanders.

By Nigel Jaquiss

Oregon's junior U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley today issued an impassioned endorsement of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Merkley's endorsement appeared in The New York Times.

He is the first sitting U.S. senator to endorse Sanders. Gov. Kate Brown earlier endorsed Sanders' opponent, former Secretary of State and U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Oregon's Democratic primary is May 17.

Merkley cast his decision in personal terms.

He also explained his decision in a way that will give him a clear path to supporting Clinton, should she maintain her lead over Sanders and become the Democratic nominee.

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