You still haven't filled out your ballot? This is insane. Today was the last day to safely stick the thing in the mail, so if the postman doesn't ring twice in your 'hood, it might be time to bring your ballot to one of the many drop-off sites.

And, hey, take a look at this impressive and helpful new project from the people at Hack Oregon. Their Behind the Curtain website lifts the state's campaign finance data beyond the Secretary of State's sluggish, uninspired apparatus into simple, informative visualizations. If you need the nitty-gritty, ORESTAR is still best, but Hack Oregon has done us all a service with the new site.

One race whose candidates' funding you wont' be able to track? That for US Sen. Jeff Merkley's seat. So check out most of our endorsement of Merkley below, click through to read the rest, and vote, damn you.

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JEFF MERKLEY
isn't going to win many charisma contests. Oregon's junior US senator is soft-spoken, and frequently sort of looks down and to the left when he's answering your questions. Is it deep concentration? Boredom? A habit Merkley picked up along the way to political office that has no real import? We can't say, but some of the Beltway polish typical to senators is missing in the man.

His main challenger, Republican Monica Wehby, struck us the other way. In what's been an ugly and at times embarrassing race, Wehby has maintained a winsome charm—even if it does lean a little heavily on her Southern roots. And contrary to many of the accusations levied against her, it's clear the pediatric brain surgeon is running a sincere campaign. We were somewhat surprised to find we believed Wehby when she said she didn't intend to be a Republican rubber stamp.

Which is not to say we believe she wouldn't be. You should definitely re-elect Merkley.

While the senator may lack style, he has by far the best combination of background, values, and experience of any candidate in the race. Mostly, though, he sees a need for action in areas where Republicans, like his opponent, are pushing the status quo.

The list of issues Merkley gets right that Wehby doesn't—better regulation of carbon emissions, more-stringent gun control, increasing the minimum wage, to name a few—may as well be a craggy signal post where two roads diverge.

And that Wehby road? It's the wrong way.

READ THE REST HERE>>>>

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