
(Robert A. Reeder/TWP)
Though Wyden shies away from the national spotlight, the senior senator from Oregon is a force on Capitol Hill. During his 12 years in the Senate he's been involved in many causes, none more important than health care.
Along with Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah), Wyden tried during the Obama administration to advance an ambitious health-care overhaul that would provide all Americans with insurance that was perhaps the only viable bipartisan initiative in what became a vitriolic 2009-2010 health-care debate. Indeed, Bennett was defeated in his 2010 GOP primary race in part because of criticism for working with a Democrat on the health-care issue.
- Career History: U.S. House of Representatives (1980-1996); Co-Director Oregon Gray Panthers (1974-1980); Director of Oregon Legal Services for the Elderly (1977-1979)
- Birthday: May 3, 1949
- Hometown: Witchita, Kan.
- Alma Mater: University of Oregon, J.D., 1974Stanford University, B.A. 1971
- Spouse: Nancy Bass
- Religion: Jewish
- Committees: Budget Finance , Energy and Natural Resources
Ron Wyden was born in Wichita, Kan., in 1949, to Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany. His reporter father moved the family around a lot. When Wyden's parents divorced in 1960, he, his mother and his brother found themselves in Palo Alto, Calif., where basketball took over Wyden's life.
After high school, the University of California at Santa Barbara offered Wyden a basketball scholarship and he accepted. Mid-way through he transferred to Stanford, where he gave up on his dream to play in the NBA. After graduating, he began studying law at the University of Oregon, where he also worked on the campaign of former U.S. Sen. Wayne Morse (D-Ore.). Wyden received his J.D. in 1974 and after failing to pass the bar exam three times, he founded Gray Panthers, an elderly advocacy group.
Though Wyden calls himself an "independent voice for Oregonians and the nation," over the course of his legislative career he has accumulated a liberal voting record.
In the 111th Congress he voted with his party 96.1 percent of the time.
Wyden works closely with Oregon's junior senator, Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).
Wyden has also worked very closely with Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah), with he sponsored his bipartisan health-care plan (Bennett was defeated for 2010 reelection in the GOP primary). He's also close to CIA Director Leon Panetta from their days together in the House.
- Belson, Ken, "Senate Bill to Address Fears of Blocked Access to Net," New York Times, March 2, 2006.
- Sen. Wyden's website
- National Journal Almanac of American Politics
- Sen. Wyden's web site
- National Journal Almanac of American Politics
- Suo, Steve, "VETERAN OF HOUSE MAKES HIS REPUTATION AS ELDERS' ADVOCATE," The Oregonian, Jan. 31, 1996. LEXIS NEXIS
- Washington Post Congressional Vote Database
- National Journal Almanac of American Politics
- Ron Wyden Profile, The Washington Times
- Gov Track
- Pope, Charles, "Daschle's withdrawal leaves Wyden without a key ally," The Oregonian, Feb. 3, 2009.
- National Journal Almanac of American Politics
- Rogers, David, "Doubts arise over Obama stimulus plan," Politico, Jan. 8, 2009.
- Puzzanghera, Jim, "Congress approves Internet-tax moratorium," Los Angeles Times, Oct 31, 2007.
- Schor, Elana, "Obama Team Consulted Wyden on Panetta Pick -- But Shut Out Feinstein," Talking Points Memo, Jan. 6, 2009.
- Connelly, Joel, "OREGON'S SENATE RACE RIFE WITH NASTINESS BETWEEN CANDIDATES," Seattle Post Intelligencer, Jan. 16, 1996.
- Wyden, Ron and Bennett, Robert F., The Washington Post, "How We Can Achieve Bipartisan Health Care Reform," Aug. 5, 2009
- Mapes, Jeff, "Wyden, Merkley agree bailout bill is bad," The Oregonian, Oct. 2, 2008.
- Sen. Wyden's website
Campaign 2012 tools
The Post Most: PoliticsMost-viewed stories, videos and galleries int he past two hours








