By Alan K. Ota

Election: Defeated Sen. Gordon H. Smith , R

Residence: Portland

Born: Oct. 24, 1956; Eugene, Ore.

Religion: Lutheran

Family: Wife, Mary Sorteberg

Education: Stanford U., B.A. 1979 (international relations); Princeton U., M.P.A. 1982

Career: Nonprofit executive; computer repair company owner; Congressional Budget Office analyst

Political highlights: Ore. House, 1999-present (minority leader, 2003-07; Speaker, 2007-present)

As Oregon’s House speaker, Merkley has much in common with another ambitious lawmaker who jumped from a state legislature into the Senate: Barack Obama. Like Obama, Merkley developed a passion for liberal causes and a strong political base as a community activist and low-income housing advocate. “Both of us come from the grass roots, where real change is sown,” Merkley says. “Both Sen. Obama and I understand what it means to empower Americans house by house, community by community.”

Merkley’s reputation as a consensus builder with close ties to Obama could make him an influential foot soldier in the party’s liberal wing.

Although he lacks Obama’s oratorical fire, Merkley has a mastery of nuts and bolts from his days as a Congressional Budget Office analyst. And his skills as a political strategist make him a contender to rapidly move up through his party’s ranks.

Two years ago, Merkley engineered the first Democratic takeover of the Oregon House in 16 years and then moved an ambitious agenda that included a rainy-day fund to cover revenue shortfalls, a cap on consumer loan interest rates, a ban on junk food in schools and new civil contracts, called domestic partnerships, to lock in legal rights for same-sex couples.

On the campaign trail, Merkley attacked his two-term centrist rival, Smith, for tilting too often to the right and neutralizing the liberal stands of Oregon’s senior senator, Ron Wyden .