Republican incumbent Gordon Smith is fighting to defend his third term in the U.S. Senate against Democratic challenger Jeff Merkley. The race has been messy, as both campaigns were primarily running television attack ads up until the last few weeks.

Smith, 56, was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996. He started his legislative career in the Oregon Senate, where he served a term from 1992 to 1996.

Merkley, 52, currently serves as the Speaker of the Oregon House. In the House, he serves as co-chair for the emergency board, legislative administration, and legislative counsel committees.

The politicians do agree on a few issues. Both support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs, and support stricter penalties for internet crime. On education, they agree on increasing funding for the Pell Grant program, decreasing interest rates for Stafford Loans, and support federal tax incentives to help families save for college.

On most key issues, though, the pair disagree. On abortion, Merkley believes they should always be legal, while Smith supports the procedure only when the woman's life is in danger and if the pregnancy was a result of incest or rape. Merkley supports marriage for same-sex couples, and Smith supports a constitutional amendment defining marriage between a man and a woman.

Merkley and Smith also differ on school vouchers: Smith supports vouchers and Merkley does not.

Smith is married to Sharon and has two children, Brittany and Morgan. His son Garrett committed suicide in 2003. In 2004, the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act was signed by President Bush that authorized $82 million for suicide prevention programs on college campuses. The family makes their home in Pendleton.

Merkley is married to Mary, and the couple has two children, Johnathon and Brynne. The family makes their home in Portland.