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In an era of deepening polarization, Oregon deserves a U.S. Senator who stands for clear principles rather than slogans, evidence over envy, and individual dignity over group grievance. Russ McAlmond — U.S. Marine veteran, founder of the Center for Human Equality, author of Ethical Individualism: A Human Relational Philosophy, and a fiscal conservative with decades of real-world experience in finance and business — is running for the Republican nomination to bring exactly that leadership to Washington.McAlmond’s campaign is rooted in what principled conservatives have long recognized as high-IQ conservatism: a commitment to free minds, free markets, public virtue, and a government properly limited to protecting those foundations. This is the conservatism of reason and results — the conservatism that built America’s unparalleled prosperity and defended human liberty. It rejects the low-IQ grievance-based victimhood model that has infected parts of our political discourse on both the left and the right. That model does not elevate people; it divides them. High-IQ conservatism affirms that every human being possesses equal moral worth and unique potential. It judges individuals by the content of their character, their choices, and their contributions — not by the accident of their ancestry, identity category, or perceived victim status. McAlmond’s philosophy of Ethical Individualism puts this truth into practice. As he writes, real equality comes from treating every person with respect, not “carving America up by race, sex, or identity.” His Center for Human Equality exists for one reason: to defend the idea that every human being is equal in value while still being unique. That is the intellectual and moral foundation of high-IQ conservatism.By contrast, the low-IQ grievance model — whether it appears in Democratic DEI bureaucracies or in certain corners of populist conservatism — operates on the same flawed premise: human beings are defined by group membership, locked in perpetual hierarchies of oppressor and oppressed. Democrats institutionalize this through DEI programs that sort people into relational hierarchies based on identity, then dispense favors, punishments, and moral judgments accordingly. The result is group judgmentalism that too often manifests as antisemitism — a prejudice every bit as morally repugnant as racism. Both are forms of collectivist bigotry that replace individual merit with tribal score-settling.Sadly, a vocal minority on the right has begun mirroring this same error. Instead of defending free minds and free markets, they promote envy-driven narratives that paint successful Americans — especially those who are more accomplished, articulate, or prosperous — as part of some shadowy elite betraying “real” Americans. This is not conservatism; it is the politics of resentment dressed in red, white, and blue. It traffics in conspiracy theories that are never proven and rarely grounded in verifiable facts. It tears down the very institutions and principles — free enterprise, individual liberty, and public virtue — that have made America the greatest engine of human flourishing in history.We are the Party of Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln did not lead a movement of grievance or group favoritism; he led a human rights party that fought to extend the promise of the Declaration of Independence to every individual, regardless of background. Lincoln’s conservatism — and the conservatism that followed him — deplored group judgmentalism and championed ethical individualism. That is the tradition Russ McAlmond proudly carries forward. He refuses to define fellow Americans by victim groups or to indulge unproven conspiracies that erode trust in our constitutional order. McAlmond is clear-eyed about the forces that threaten to drag our movement backward. Commentators who peddle envy and resentment — figures such as Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Alex Jones, and others who prey on grievance rather than principle — do real damage. Their low-IQ approach does not strengthen conservatism; it weakens it by alienating the very people whose intelligence, innovation, and success have always powered American greatness. We cannot allow envy and personal animus toward those who may be more intelligent or accomplished to hijack the conservative cause. High-IQ conservatism wins because it is true, because it works, and because it calls Americans to their highest selves rather than their lowest instincts.Oregonians understand this choice better than most. Our state has seen the real-world consequences of identity politics taken to extremes: rising costs of living, failing schools, unchecked homelessness, and a culture that too often rewards division over unity. Russ McAlmond offers a different path — one grounded in Marine-honed discipline, financial expertise that actually balances budgets, and a human-relational philosophy that treats every Oregonian as an individual worthy of respect.He will fight for lower costs, school choice, secure borders, energy independence, and the protection of women’s sports and Second Amendment rights — all while insisting that policy must serve individuals, not identity blocs. He rejects antisemitism and every form of group-based hate with zero tolerance, because moral consistency demands it. And he will serve no more than two terms, because public service is a duty, not a career.This is not a campaign of nostalgia or rage. It is a campaign of clarity and courage. High-IQ conservatism built the greatest nation on earth. Ethical individualism is its natural expression in the 21st century. Russ McAlmond is the only candidate in this race who consistently chooses principle over grievance, evidence over envy, and the American idea over the politics of division.Oregon, the choice is clear. In the 2026 Republican primary and beyond, support the candidate who lifts every individual up rather than pitting groups against one another. Vote for the Marine, the thinker, the founder of the Center for Human Equality. Vote for Russ McAlmond — the voice of high-IQ conservatism and ethical individualism in the United States Senate. Every human being is equal in value. Every Oregonian deserves a Senator who believes it.

High and Low IQ Conservatives and Oregon

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Russ McAlmond, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and the only veteran running for Oregon’s U.S. Senate seat in 2026, brings a unique perspective shaped by decades of financial planning experience and military service to the race against incumbent Sen. Jeff Merkley. As a Republican candidate emphasizing practical, common-sense solutions, McAlmond has outlined targeted reforms to Social Security and estate/inheritance taxes. His proposals aim to deliver immediate relief to seniors, restore purchasing power eroded by recent inflation, eliminate unfair double taxation, and protect family farms and small businesses from bureaucratic disruption. Rather than relying on complex deductions or volatile exemptions, McAlmond advocates straightforward changes that prioritize simplicity, equity, and economic stability for Oregonians.Central to McAlmond’s Social Security platform is his call to make all Social Security payments completely tax-free at the federal level. Currently, many seniors face taxation on a portion of their benefits through an indirect mechanism often addressed via senior tax deductions or credits. McAlmond argues that this approach creates unnecessary complexity and administrative friction. By eliminating taxes on Social Security income outright—rather than offsetting them with deductions—recipients would experience a cleaner, more transparent boost to their net income. This reform would enhance purchasing power without requiring seniors to navigate intricate tax forms or worry about phase-outs based on other income sources. For retirees living on fixed incomes in Oregon, where cost-of-living pressures are acute, the change represents a direct and reliable increase in disposable funds for essentials like housing, healthcare, and groceries. McAlmond’s background as a CFP informs this proposal: he has seen firsthand how even modest tax burdens compound financial stress for those who can least afford it, and a tax-free structure would streamline retirement planning nationwide.Complementing this is McAlmond’s proposal for a one-time, across-the-board $500 increase in monthly Social Security payments for every current recipient. This flat-dollar adjustment is deliberately designed to provide proportionally greater relief to those with the smallest benefits—the most vulnerable seniors—while still delivering meaningful support to all. McAlmond points to the gap between official Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) and actual inflation, particularly in food prices, which surged disproportionately during the Biden administration years. Many seniors report that COLAs have failed to keep pace with real-world expenses at the grocery store and pharmacy. The $500 boost would serve as a targeted catch-up mechanism, helping Oregon’s retirees regain lost ground without creating long-term fiscal imbalances or means-testing that could disincentivize saving. As McAlmond explains, this one-time infusion recognizes the unique inflationary pressures of recent years and prioritizes dignity and self-sufficiency for those who have paid into the system over decades of work.Beyond Social Security, McAlmond extends his tax-reform vision to estate taxation, calling for the outright elimination of the federal estate tax. He contends that the tax generates relatively little revenue for the federal budget while imposing a fundamentally unfair form of double taxation. Assets included in an estate have typically already been taxed as income, capital gains, or through other levies during the decedent’s lifetime; taxing them again upon transfer penalizes thrift and successful planning. McAlmond highlights the instability of the current system: although the federal exemption threshold is currently high, Congress has repeatedly adjusted it, creating uncertainty that forces families—especially those owning family farms or small businesses in rural Oregon—to scramble for liquidity. Selling land, equipment, or inventory to pay estate taxes can fracture multi-generational operations and erode community economic anchors. Eliminating the tax would remove this artificial pressure, allowing families to focus on preservation and growth rather than forced liquidation.McAlmond applies the same logic at the state level, urging the repeal of Oregon’s inheritance tax, which he describes as one of the most burdensome in the nation. With a low threshold starting at just $1 million, the tax reaches far beyond the ultra-wealthy and frequently impacts middle-class Oregon families who have built modest estates through hard work and prudent saving. Farms, timberland, and small businesses in regions like Southern and Eastern Oregon are particularly exposed. McAlmond argues that this tax discourages intergenerational wealth transfer and undermines the very values of self-reliance and family stewardship that strengthen communities. Repealing it would align Oregon with a more competitive, family-friendly tax environment and prevent the state from being an outlier that drives talent and capital elsewhere.Collectively, McAlmond’s recommendations form a coherent strategy rooted in his dual expertise as a veteran who understands sacrifice and a financial professional who understands compounding effects—both positive and negative. By making Social Security tax-free and providing a targeted one-time increase, he seeks to restore dignity and purchasing power to Oregon’s seniors without layering on new bureaucratic hurdles. By abolishing federal estate and state inheritance taxes, he aims to end double taxation, reduce uncertainty, and safeguard the family enterprises that form the backbone of Oregon’s economy. In an era of polarized politics, McAlmond positions these reforms as pragmatic steps that transcend partisanship: they reward those who have contributed to the system, protect vulnerable fixed-income households, and preserve the American Dream of building and passing on a legacy.As Oregon voters head toward the 2026 election, McAlmond’s platform offers a clear contrast—prioritizing results over rhetoric. His proposals demonstrate a commitment to seniors who built the state, families who sustain it, and the principles of fairness and simplicity that should guide federal and state policy. Whether one agrees with every detail, his emphasis on practical relief for those most affected by inflation and tax complexity underscores a candidate focused on delivering tangible improvements to Oregonians’ daily lives.

Tax Free Social Security for Seniors

In the summer of 2026, as America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, Oregon voters have a rare opportunity to send a true American original to the United States Senate. Russ McAlmond, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, is not a career politician. He is a United States Marine Corps veteran—the only veteran running in this race—and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) who has spent decades helping Oregon families build secure futures. Uniquely positioned with support from both Republican and Democratic voters, McAlmond offers something the other candidates simply cannot: proven service to country, practical financial expertise, and an unshakable commitment to American-made values. McAlmond’s story begins with service. As a Marine, he answered the call when his nation needed him most. That same sense of duty now drives his campaign for the Senate. While his opponents talk about national security from the comfort of the sidelines, McAlmond has lived it. He understands the sacrifices made by Oregon’s veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. In the Senate, he will fight relentlessly for better veterans’ healthcare, stronger military readiness, and policies that honor the men and women who wear the uniform.But McAlmond’s patriotism doesn’t stop at the barracks. It rides right alongside him on the open roads of Oregon. For years he has been a proud Harley-Davidson rider, and in 2026 he upgraded to the new Liberty Edition trike—Harley-Davidson’s special commemorative model celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. He traded in his previous Harley-Davidson trike to make room for this rolling tribute to freedom, built right here in the United States. That trike isn’t just transportation; it is a statement. Every mile McAlmond logs on it reminds him—and everyone who sees it—that the best motorcycles in the world are still made by American hands, for American riders, in support of American values.Harley-Davidson has long stood as a beacon of American manufacturing excellence and a steadfast supporter of the U.S. military. Unlike companies that ship jobs overseas or rely on cheap imported parts from China, Harley-Davidson keeps its production lines humming in American factories, pays American wages, and invests in American communities. When you buy a Harley, you are not sending your dollars to foreign governments or propping up authoritarian supply chains. You are putting food on the tables of welders, engineers, leatherworkers, and assembly-line heroes right here at home. That money stays in Oregon and across the United States—supporting local Harley-Davidson dealerships that sell the bikes, service them, and employ Oregonians who know these machines inside and out.This is economic patriotism in action. McAlmond’s choice to ride American steel is more than personal preference; it is a daily reminder of the policies he will champion in the Senate. He will fight to keep tariffs off American-made products because American manufacturing should never be penalized for succeeding on American soil. He will push back against trade deals that flood our markets with cheap foreign goods while our own factories struggle. And he will demand that federal purchasing priorities favor companies like Harley-Davidson that hire veterans, support military families, and embody the spirit of self-reliance that built this country.As a Certified Financial Planner, McAlmond brings something else critical to the Senate: real-world expertise on the economy that affects every Oregon family. He has spent his career helping people plan for retirement, buy homes, and weather financial storms. He understands the crushing cost of living in Oregon—sky-high housing prices, energy bills, and taxes that drive families out of the state. Unlike the Washington insiders who lecture from afar, McAlmond has balanced real budgets for real people. He knows how to cut wasteful spending, protect Social Security and Medicare for those who earned them, and grow the economy so that Oregon workers—not just coastal elites—can thrive.Oregon deserves a senator who lives the values he preaches. Russ McAlmond lives them every day on his Liberty Edition Harley trike. He lives them in the way he raised his family, served his country, and built his business. He lives them by choosing American over imported, by supporting the men and women who wear the uniform, and by refusing to accept the decline of American manufacturing as inevitable.The choice in this Senate race could not be clearer. The other candidates offer more of the same: more regulations, more foreign dependence, more empty promises. One of his opponents actually promotes China trade. Russ McAlmond offers something different—a Marine’s discipline, a financial expert’s clarity, and a rider’s freedom by someone who buys American made products as much as possible.&nbsp;He offers a vision of an Oregon and an America that builds things again, buys American again, and stands tall again. So this November, Oregon voters should do what patriots have always done: support the candidate who has already proven his commitment to this country. Elect the only Marine veteran in the race. Elect the CFP who understands your wallet. Elect the Harley rider who proudly flies the flag of American excellence every time he hits the road. Ride a Harley. Support American workers. Keep dollars in American communities. And send Russ McAlmond to the United States Senate. Make America better—starting right here in Oregon.

Harley Davidson and McAlmond

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Oregon Republicans deserve better. For too long, the Oregon Republican Party (ORP) has been controlled by a tight-knit clique of career politicians and insiders in Salem — the “Salem Swamp” — who prioritize protecting their own power over advancing conservative values or winning elections. Figures like Christine Drazan, Bruce Starr, David Smith, and their allies have turned the party into a self-serving club. They prop each other up, attack or sideline outsiders, and repeatedly vote with Democrats on issues that betray core Republican principles. Bruce Starr endorsed Drazan for governor early in the primaries .The result of this insider swamp clique? The smallest major political party in Oregon, a string of November losses, and a state where conservative voices are increasingly silenced. This is not leadership. It is sabotage — and it is happening right now in the 2026 U.S. Senate race.Russ McAlmond is the only Marine veteran running as a Republican for U.S. Senate in Oregon. He is not a career politician. He has never held elected office, does not want to become a lifer in Washington, D.C., and pledges to serve no more than two terms. A proud U.S. Marine with an honorable discharge, McAlmond brings real-world experience as a financial professional, business leader, and founder of the Center for Human Equality as a human rights activist.&nbsp;He represents the kind of fresh, principled outsider that Oregon Republicans desperately need. Yet the establishment has worked overtime to keep him — and candidates like him — from even speaking to Republican voters.&nbsp;Oregon Republican Party bylaws are crystal clear: the ORP must treat all candidates running in the primary equally and fairly. In practice, that rule is ignored whenever it threatens the insiders’ grip on power. Back-channel communications among Salem Swamp Republicans decide who gets invited to speak at local GOP events and who gets disinvited. The pattern is unmistakable: establishment favorites get the platform; outsiders get the cold shoulder.A recent example makes the corruption plain. Months ago, the Hood River County Republican Party invited Russ McAlmond to a scheduled event. He accepted and prepared to meet with local Republicans. Then, at the last minute, the invitation was canceled. The reason? To clear the stage for an establishment Republican opponent — a card-carrying member of the Salem Swamp who has a record of voting with Democrats on key issues. McAlmond never got the chance to introduce himself or share his vision with Hood River Republicans. This was not an innocent scheduling conflict. It was a deliberate act of gatekeeping orchestrated through private networks that decide which Republicans are “allowed” to compete and which are not.This favoritism is not limited to one county. Across Oregon, establishment Republicans coordinate to elevate their own — even when those candidates are demonstrably weak. They attack or ignore more conservative outsiders, especially veterans and non-politicians who actually represent the values of the base. Establishment Republicans in his own county (Josephine) will not allow him to speak and even attack him.&nbsp;The result is a slate of “safe” insiders who too often fold when it matters most. Look at the voting record. Time and again, Salem Swamp Republicans have joined Democrats to support policies that have nothing to do with Republican values: forcing schools to stock tampons in boys’ restrooms, pouring taxpayer dollars into divisive DEI programs, and backing big-government spending that burdens Oregon families. These are not isolated lapses. They reflect a pattern of weak-kneed compromise that alienates the conservative base and hands Democrats easy victories. Oregonians are tired of Republicans who talk tough on the campaign trail but govern like Democrats once they reach Salem. This brand of “leadership” explains why the Oregon Republican Party has shrunk to the smallest major party in the state. Decades of insider control have produced candidate after candidate who cannot win a general election. Instead of recruiting fighters who can beat entrenched Democrats like U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, the establishment recycles the same tired faces and expects a different result. It never comes. Oregon remains a deep-blue state not because conservative ideas are unpopular — they are not — but because the party refuses to nominate candidates who will actually fight for them.Russ McAlmond is different. He is the outsider the establishment fears most: a Marine who will not bend to the Swamp, a proven leader who rejects careerism, and the only veteran in the Republican Senate field. He is running to restore common-sense representation for Oregonians — on border security, fiscal responsibility, parental rights in education, Second Amendment protections, and ending the waste of taxpayer-funded social experiments. He does not need the approval of Salem insiders. He answers to the people of Oregon.The Oregon Republican Party’s bylaws demand fairness. The voters demand better. Every Republican paying attention can now see the truth: the establishment’s censorship of outsiders, its protection of weak insiders, and its willingness to vote with Democrats have directly contributed to the party’s decline. If this pattern continues, more losses are guaranteed.The choice in the 2026 primary is clear. Oregon Republicans can keep rewarding the Salem Swamp and watch the party shrink further — or they can rally behind Russ McAlmond, the Marine outsider who refuses to play their game. McAlmond is not asking for permission from the insiders. He is asking Oregon Republicans to take their party back.The future of the Oregon GOP — and the chance to finally defeat Democrats in a winnable Senate race — depends on rejecting the Swamp and embracing the outsiders who still believe in conservative principles. Russ McAlmond is that candidate. The establishment knows it. Now it’s time for every Oregon Republican to know it too.Vote Russ McAlmond for U.S. Senate. Break the Swamp. Rebuild the Oregon Republican Party.

Hood River GOP Betrayal

As a Republican candidate for the United States Senate in Oregon, Russ McAlmond is running not just to challenge incumbent Democrat Jeff Merkley, but to restore integrity, courage, and common sense to a party that too often turns its fire inward. In an election year when every ounce of energy should be directed at defeating the policies that have made Oregon unaffordable, unsafe, and unaccountable, a vocal minority within our own ranks has chosen a different target: fellow Republicans who actually have the courage to step forward and run.Nowhere is this dysfunctional attitude more evident than in Josephine County — a place that should be a Republican stronghold but has instead become a hotbed of intra-party hate. Here, and in pockets across the state, some self-described “conservatives” direct more venom at other Republicans than they do at the Democrats who control the legislature, the governorship, and Oregon’s U.S. Senate seats. They do not merely disagree; they smear, they libel, and they undermine. And they do it with a ferocity that suggests they would rather see a good Republican lose than allow anyone outside their narrow circle to succeed.Russ McAlmond knows this firsthand. A veteran who risked his life in three years of active duty, McAlmond has been attacked by non-veterans who question his patriotism — people who never wore the uniform themselves yet feel entitled to lecture a man who did. One of the most egregious examples came from Candy Kaiser of the so-called “United Conservatives.” On Facebook, Kaiser publicly and falsely labeled McAlmond a “Democrat” and claimed he “hated Republicans.” These accusations are not only demonstrably false; they are malicious. Kaiser, a non-veteran, made these statements based on her personal hate of the candidate. She has been harassing him for years in the county because he opposes her hatred towards other Republicans. She apparently believes the best way to help any other candidate (most likely Perkins) is to tear down another Republican with outright dishonesty and slander.&nbsp;This is not political conservativism or love your neighbor.&nbsp;This is not loyalty to the party or the principles we claim to champion. It is disloyalty — plain and simple. Attacking a fellow Republican who is willing to endure the merciless assaults that will surely come from Democrats, the media, and the Oregon establishment is the very definition of back-stabbing. McAlmond is not asking for special treatment; he is simply asking that those who call themselves Republicans stop aiding the other side by destroying their own before the general election even begins.Republicans in Josephine County and every county in Oregon face a choice. We can continue down the path of self-defeating purity tests, personal vendettas, and character assassination, or we can decide that 2026 is the year we get serious about winning. Winning requires candidates with real courage — the kind of courage McAlmond showed when he volunteered to serve his country and the kind he is showing again by entering a tough statewide race against an entrenched Democrat. It does not require perfection. It requires unity of purpose.We can disagree on strategy. We can debate priorities. But when a fellow Republican puts his name on the ballot, risks his reputation, his finances, and his family’s peace of mind to fight for our values, the response from within the party should never be public defamation. Especially not from those who have never demonstrated the same level of personal sacrifice.The hate that flows from figures like Candy Kaiser and others who prioritize personal grudges over party success is not “holding people accountable.” It is sabotage dressed up as principle. It demoralizes good candidates, discourages future leaders, and hands victories to Democrats who watch with glee as we tear ourselves apart. Oregon Republicans cannot afford another cycle of this dysfunction. We need every able leader, every volunteer, and every voter focused on the real opponent: the progressive policies that have driven up housing costs, increased crime, and eroded opportunity.Russ McAlmond is running because he believes Oregon deserves better. He believes Republicans deserve better than the circular firing squad that has become all too common in counties like Josephine. And he believes the party must be better than the small-minded attacks that substitute for serious political engagement.To every Republican in Oregon — whether in Josephine County or anywhere else — the message is simple: reject the hate. Reject the lies. Reject the disloyalty that masquerades as ideological purity. Stand with the candidate who has served his country, who has the courage to run, and who is willing to take the blows from both Democrats and misguided members of his own party. Stand with Russ McAlmond.Because if we cannot unite behind Republicans who are willing to fight for Oregon, then we have already surrendered the Senate seat — and any hope of real change — before the first ballot is cast. The choice is ours. Let’s choose unity. Let’s choose courage. Let’s choose victory over hate.&nbsp;

Republican Hate in Oregon

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As a U.S. Marine veteran who deployed overseas I learned one ironclad rule: you don’t let personal politics undermine the chain of command when American lives and national interests are on the line. That’s exactly what Senator Jeff Merkley did in his X post on April 6, 2026, and it’s why I sat down today with KVAL-TV’s Brandon Kamerman in Eugene to call it out for what it is: raw emotion, not rational leadership.Here is what Merkley wrote:“President Trump’s profanity-laden Easter threat to attack Iran’s civilian infrastructure—power plants and bridges—are the words of a frustrated and immoral madman. Many experts agree that such attacks would be war crimes under international law. To our military leaders, remember this: You are legally required to refuse orders to commit war crimes.” This wasn’t measured oversight. It was a public temper tantrum aimed squarely at the Commander-in-Chief during active tensions with Iran—tensions that include attacks on shipping lanes, American interests, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In my KVAL interview with Brandon Kamerman this evening, I told Oregon viewers the truth: Senator Merkley cannot separate his well-documented, years-long hatred of President Trump from his responsibility to put Oregon and America first. That lack of maturity is dangerous.Let’s be clear. I am not defending every word the President chooses. I am defending the constitutional order that every service member swears to uphold. I raised my right hand and took that oath. Senator Merkley never did. He has never worn the uniform and never had to execute lawful orders from a president as Commander in Chief. Yet he feels entitled to tweet at four-star generals and tell them to consider disobeying the elected President of the United States in a time of crisis.That is not “speaking truth to power.” That is undermining the President’s authority while our adversaries are watching. Iran sees a U.S. Senator from Oregon publicly labeling the Commander-in-Chief a “madman” and floating the idea of war crimes. That kind of rhetoric doesn’t strengthen our negotiating position—it signals weakness and division.In the KVAL studio today, I explained to Brandon Kamerman why this matters to every Oregonian. Under the Law of Armed Conflict that I studied and lived by in the Marines, dual-use infrastructure that supports an enemy’s military command, logistics, or war-making capacity can be legitimate targets when strikes are proportional and necessary. Power plants and bridges that enable Iran’s military operations are not automatically “civilian” just because Merkley calls them that. Reasonable military planners and legal experts inside the Department of Defense make those calls every day. But Merkley skips the facts and jumps straight to “immoral madman” because that’s what his personal feelings demand.This isn’t new. Merkley’s record is littered with the same reflexive anti-Trump outrage on issue after issue. He has spent the better part of a decade treating every Trump policy as an existential threat instead of evaluating it on the merits for Oregon families, veterans, and national security. When the stakes are this high—when American sailors, Marines, and airmen could be called upon to respond to Iranian aggression—a senator’s inability to rise above partisan venom is not just embarrassing. It is disqualifying.Oregon deserves better. We deserve a senator who understands that leadership in wartime or near-wartime requires maturity, not social-media grandstanding. We need someone who has actually served, who has saluted smartly and executed lawful orders even when the president in the Oval Office wasn’t his first choice. That is the discipline our military expects and that our Constitution demands.In my interview with Brandon Kamerman, I made one promise to the people of Oregon: if you send me to the United States Senate, I will hold the administration accountable without undermining it. I will demand answers on strategy, on rules of engagement, and on protecting our troops—but I will never tweet at generals to disobey the President during a crisis. That’s not how adults govern. That’s not how Marines lead.Senator Merkley’s X post revealed more about his own emotional immaturity than it did about President Trump’s policy. Oregon cannot afford a senator who puts personal hatred ahead of national security. The choice in 2026 is clear: emotion and eight more years of the same, or a battle-tested Marine who puts country over party and duty over derangement.I’m Russ McAlmond, United States Marine Corps veteran, and I’m running for U.S. Senate to bring real adult leadership back to Oregon.