History of Ron Wyden in Timeline

Ron Wyden is the senior U.S. Senator from Oregon since 1996 and previously served in the House of Representatives starting in 1981. A Democrat, he is known for his libertarian-leaning views and advocacy for civil liberties, particularly regarding privacy rights and internet freedom. As ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, Wyden has been a vocal critic of government surveillance and a champion for limiting its scope. He is considered a key figure in debates surrounding technology and individual rights in the digital age.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1923: Birth of Peter H. Wyden

In 1923, Peter H. Wyden (originally Weidenreich), Ron Wyden's father, was born. He and Ron's mother, Edith (née Rosenow), both Jewish, fled Nazi Germany.

May 3, 1949: Ron Wyden Born

On May 3, 1949, Ronald Lee Wyden was born. He is an American politician and the senior United States senator from Oregon since 1996.

1965: Medicare Creation

In November 2003, Wyden supported the Bush Medicare bill, touted as "the biggest expansion of Medicare since its creation in 1965."

1968: Worked as Wayne Morse's Driver

In the summer of 1968, Ron Wyden worked as Wayne Morse's driver. Wyden considers Morse his mentor.

1971: Received Bachelor of Arts

In 1971, Ron Wyden received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Stanford University.

1974: Received Juris Doctor Degree

In 1974, Ron Wyden received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Oregon School of Law.

1974: Founded Oregon Gray Panthers Chapter

In 1974, while teaching gerontology, Ron Wyden founded the Oregon chapter of the Gray Panthers.

1977: Served on Oregon State Board of Examiners

From 1977 to 1979, Ron Wyden served on the Oregon State Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators.

1979: Service on Oregon State Board of Examiners Ends

In 1979, Ron Wyden's service on the Oregon State Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators came to a conclusion.

1980: Elected to US House of Representatives

In 1980, Ron Wyden was elected to the United States House of Representatives for Oregon's 3rd congressional district, defeating incumbent Bob Duncan in the Democratic primary and Republican Darrell Conger in the general election.

1980: Leadership of Oregon Gray Panthers Ends

In 1980, Ron Wyden's leadership of the Oregon chapter of the Gray Panthers concluded.

1981: Served in the House of Representatives

In 1981, Ron Wyden began serving in the United States House of Representatives, a position he held until 1996.

1995: First U.S. Senate candidate to publicly support same-sex marriage

In late 1995, Ron Wyden became the first U.S. Senate candidate to publicly support same-sex marriage.

January 1996: Wyden Defeats Smith in Special Election

In January 1996, Ron Wyden defeated Gordon Smith in a special election to fill a Senate seat.

June 1996: Offered FAA Amendment

In June 1996, Ron Wyden offered an amendment to the mission of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which was endorsed by Transportation Secretary Federico F. Peña.

November 1996: Smith Wins Senate Election

In November 1996, Gordon Smith won the Senate election to succeed Mark Hatfield, serving alongside Ron Wyden.

1996: Influential Role in Section 230 Passage

In 1996, Ron Wyden played an influential role in the passage of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

1996: Elected as Senator

In 1996, Ron Wyden was elected as the senior United States senator from Oregon. He has held this seat since then.

1996: Voted against the Defense of Marriage Act

In 1996, Ron Wyden was one of just 14 senators to vote against the Defense of Marriage Act.

1997: Voted against the Oregon Death with Dignity Act

In 1997, Ron Wyden voted against the Oregon Death with Dignity Act each time it appeared on the ballot by voter referendum.

1998: Death of Peter H. Wyden

In 1998, Peter H. Wyden, Ron Wyden's father, passed away.

1998: Elected to Full Senate Term

In 1998, Ron Wyden was elected to a full Senate term with 61% of the vote.

1999: Divorced First Wife

In 1999, Ron Wyden divorced his first wife, Laurie (née Oseran), after 20 years of marriage. They have two grown children, Adam and Lilly.

1999: Threatened Filibuster Over Physician-Assisted Suicide Ban

In late 1999, Ron Wyden threatened a filibuster during Senate debate over banning physician-assisted suicide.

May 2000: Collaborated on Medicare Prescription Drug Benefits

In May 2000, Ron Wyden and Republican Representative Bill Thomas announced they would collaborate on an attempt to add prescription drug benefits to Medicare that year.

2000: Blocked attempts in Congress to overturn Oregon's assisted-suicide law

In 2000, Ron Wyden blocked attempts in Congress to overturn the Oregon assisted-suicide law by threatening a filibuster.

January 2001: Voted Against Gale Norton's Confirmation

In January 2001, Ron Wyden and Chuck Schumer were the only two senators on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to vote against the confirmation of Gale Norton as United States Secretary of the Interior.

January 2001: Joined the Senate Intelligence Committee

In January 2001, Ron Wyden joined the Senate Intelligence Committee.

February 2001: Criticized Airlines for Untimely Flight Reports

In February 2001, Ron Wyden criticized airlines for providing "untimely, incomplete, or unreliable reports" on flight delays and cancellations, following a U.S. Department of Transportation's Inspector General's Office report.

April 2001: Introduced Budget Resolution Change

In April 2001, Ron Wyden and Gordon H. Smith introduced a proposal for a change in a budget resolution, emphasizing the need for Congress to respond during a time of layoffs.

May 2001: Addressed Airline Flight Delays

In May 2001, Ron Wyden released a letter detailing airlines' deliberate delays of evening flights. He warned airlines against fighting modest steps like informing the public of perpetually late flights.

2001: Voted Against Bush Tax Cuts

In 2001, Ron Wyden voted against the Bush tax cuts.

2001: Voted for Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2001

In 2001, Ron Wyden voted for the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act which contained many of the same provisions as the 2005 version he voted against.

2001: Urged President George W. Bush not to alter Oregon's Death with Dignity Act

In 2001, Ron Wyden wrote to President George W. Bush urging him not to alter the Oregon Death with Dignity Act through federal executive action.

January 2002: Charged Enron with investor deception

In January 2002, Ron Wyden accused Enron of deceiving investors and the public through various legal, regulatory, and accounting maneuvers and called for a congressional investigation.

March 2002: Addressed Senate's Impasse on Election Legislation

In March 2002, amid the Senate's inability to reach an agreement on legislation intended to overhaul American election procedures, Ron Wyden insisted the bill was still viable and should not disrupt Oregon's and Washington's vote-by-mail systems.

2002: Vote Against Iraq War Authorization

In 2002, Ron Wyden was one of 23 senators who voted against the authorization of military force in Iraq.

November 2003: Supported Bush Medicare Bill

In November 2003, Ron Wyden announced his support for the Bush administration-backed Medicare bill, which was touted as "the biggest expansion of Medicare since its creation in 1965."

2003: Helped Pass Medicare Prescription Drug Act

In 2003, Ron Wyden joined Senators Lindsey Graham and Trent Lott to help pass the Bush administration's Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act.

2003: Voted Against Bush Tax Cuts

In 2003, Ron Wyden voted against the Bush tax cuts that were passed.

2003: Vote to Bar Excessive Overseas Deployments

In 2003, Ron Wyden voted to bar excessive overseas deployments of members of the National Guard and Reserves.

April 2004: Endorsed Ban on Internet Access Taxes

In April 2004, Ron Wyden joined a group of senators in endorsing a permanent ban on taxes on Internet access.

August 2004: Addressed Democratic Opposition to Porter Goss Nomination

In August 2004, amid Democratic opposition to the nomination of Porter Goss for Director of Central Intelligence, Ron Wyden cautioned against being perceived as obstructionist.

December 2004: Refused to Sign Intelligence Authorization Bill

In December 2004, Ron Wyden was one of four Democratic senators to refuse to sign "conference sheets" for the 2005 intelligence authorization bill, objecting to a classified item in the bill.

2004: Re-elected to Senate

In 2004, Ron Wyden was reelected to the Senate, receiving 64% of the vote against Republican nominee Al King who received 31%.

September 2005: Married Nancy Bass

In September 2005, Ron Wyden married Nancy Bass, the daughter of an owner of New York's Strand Bookstore.

November 10, 2005: Voted for Amendment no. 2516 regarding enemy combatants' rights

On November 10, 2005, Ron Wyden was one of five Senate Democrats who joined 44 Republicans in voting for Amendment no. 2516, which ruled that enemy combatants did not have the right to Habeas Corpus.

2005: Filed amicus brief in support of Oregon's Death with Dignity Act

In 2005, Ron Wyden and other Democratic members of Oregon's congressional delegation filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case of Gonzales v. Oregon in support of the State of Oregon, and praised the eventual decision to uphold the law.

2005: Voted Against Class Action Fairness Act and Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act

In 2005, Ron Wyden voted against the Class Action Fairness Act and the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, measures aimed at restricting class action suits and making bankruptcy filing more difficult.

2005: Voted for Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act

In 2005, Ron Wyden voted for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, which would change federal law to allow federal money to fund embryonic stem-cell research, ending a federal ban.

2005: Intelligence Authorization Bill

In December 2004, Wyden refused to sign "conference sheets" for the 2005 intelligence authorization bill, objecting to a classified item in the bill.

March 2, 2006: Unveiled Internet Nondiscrimination Act

On March 2, 2006, Ron Wyden unveiled the Internet Nondiscrimination Act of 2006, legislation intended to prohibit network operators from charging companies for faster content delivery or favoring certain content over others.

2006: Informed Senate leadership that he would block legislation overturning the Death with Dignity Act

In 2006, Ron Wyden informed Senate leadership that he would block legislation overturning the Death with Dignity Act.

2006: Voted against reauthorizing the Patriot Act

In 2006, Ron Wyden was one of 10 senators to vote against reauthorizing the Patriot Act.

2006: Vote to Require Redeployment from Iraq

In 2006, Ron Wyden was one of 13 senators to vote to require the redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq by July 2007, and one of 39 senators to vote to call on President George W. Bush to begin withdrawing forces from Iraq and establish a timeline for withdrawal.

May 2007: Opposed Lyle Laverty's Appointment

In May 2007, Ron Wyden opposed the appointment of Lyle Laverty as assistant interior secretary for fish, wildlife and parks on ethical grounds.

June 2007: Voted in favor of declaring English the official language of the United States

In June 2007, Ron Wyden was among the minority of Democrats to vote in favor of declaring English the official language of the United States.

July 2007: Vote on Iraq Redeployment

In July 2007, Ron Wyden had previously voted in 2006 to require the redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq by this time.

2007: Sponsored the Stop Arming Iran Act

In 2007 Ron Wyden and Representative Gabby Giffords sponsored the Stop Arming Iran Act, which would have barred the Defense Department from selling surplus F-14 parts and prohibited buyers who had already acquired surplus Tomcat parts from exporting them in order to prevent Iran from acquiring the parts.

2007: Twins Born

In 2007, Ron Wyden and Nancy Wyden had twins.

2007: Supported the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act again

In 2007, Ron Wyden and Senator Gordon Smith again supported the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, after President Bush vetoed it twice.

2008: Voted Against Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008

During the 2007-2008 financial crisis, Ron Wyden voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which was backed by the George W. Bush administration.

2008: Smith's Defeat

In 2008, Gordon Smith was defeated by Democrat Jeff Merkley.

January 2009: Criticized President-elect Barack Obama's Stimulus Plan

In early January 2009, Ron Wyden criticized President-elect Barack Obama's stimulus plan, advocating for a greater emphasis on tangible infrastructure investments and differentiating it from the Bush bailouts he opposed.

July 2009: Obama Praised Wyden but Rejected Health Plan

In July 2009, President Barack Obama praised Ron Wyden as a "real thought leader" on health care reform but did not support Wyden's health care plan because parts of it were too radical for the United States.

2009: Opposition to Afghanistan Troop Surge

In 2009, Ron Wyden opposed President Barack Obama's plan for a "troop surge" in Afghanistan.

2009: Said he would continue to block attempts to overturn the Death with Dignity Act

In 2009, Ron Wyden said that he would continue to "fight tooth and nail" to block new federal attempts to block the Death with Dignity Act.

2009: Sponsored the Healthy Americans Act

In 2009, Ron Wyden sponsored the Healthy Americans Act, an act that would institute a national system of market-based private insurance.

November 2010: Support for Deficit Reduction Proposal

In November 2010, Ron Wyden supported the draft proposal for deficit reduction released by the chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

November 19, 2010: Announced Hold on Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA)

On November 19, 2010, Ron Wyden announced he would place a hold on the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA) to prevent its enactment that year. The bill would have allowed the Attorney General to order internet providers to block access to websites deemed to infringe copyright.

December 2010: Underwent Surgery for Prostate Cancer

In December 2010, Ron Wyden underwent surgery for very early-stage prostate cancer, which was detected during a routine screening.

December 2010: Vote for New START Ratification

In December 2010, Ron Wyden voted for the ratification of New START, a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and the Russian Federation.

December 2010: Voted for the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010

In December 2010, despite undergoing tests in advance of prostate surgery, Ron Wyden appeared in the Senate chamber to vote for the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.

2010: Oregon Residency Questioned During Senate Campaign

During Ron Wyden's 2010 Senate campaign, opponents questioned how much time he spent in Oregon given his wife's New York residency.

2010: Re-elected to Senate

In 2010, Ron Wyden was re-elected to the Senate, receiving 57% of the vote against Jim Huffman who received 39%.

2010: Stood Against SOPA and PROTECT IP Act

In 2010, Ron Wyden was the first politician in Congress to stand against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA), arguing they would give disproportionate power to those with money and influence online. He delayed PIPA by placing a hold on the legislation in 2010.

2010: Fought Against PROTECT IP Act

Throughout much of 2010, Ron Wyden fought against the PROTECT IP Act, preventing the Senate version of the legislation from moving through on a unanimous vote.

April 6, 2011: Voted Against Limiting EPA's Ability to Regulate Emissions

On April 6, 2011, Ron Wyden voted against limiting the EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

June 2011: Announced Geolocation Privacy and Surveillance Act

In June 2011, Ron Wyden, in partnership with Representative Jason Chaffetz, announced the Geolocation Privacy and Surveillance Act. This bill aimed to establish a legal framework for the sharing and access of private tracking data by corporations, individuals, and federal agencies.

2011: Support for Military Intervention in Libya

In 2011, Ron Wyden supported the no-fly zone and military intervention in Libya to protect civilians, citing Gaddafi's violence as a humanitarian crisis, while stressing the importance of a quick completion to the military action and no US forces being on the ground.

2011: Criticized rush to reauthorize the Patriot Act

In 2011, with the expiration of the Patriot Act approaching, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley sharply criticized the rush to pass the bill, expressing concern about the "business-records provision" of the Patriot Act.

2011: Worked on Medicare Reform Plan with Paul Ryan

In late 2011, Ron Wyden began working with Paul Ryan to develop a Medicare reform plan that would result in semi-privatization of the system.

January 2012: Called Postponement of PROTECT IP Act a "grassroots victory"

In January 2012, after Senate leadership postponed the bill indefinitely due to widespread protests, Ron Wyden called it a "grassroots victory for the history books" due to his role in fighting against SOPA and PIPA. The Daily Dot later named Wyden one of the top ten most influential activists of 2012.

2012: Daughter Born

In 2012, Ron Wyden and Nancy Wyden had a daughter.

2012: Referenced Keith B. Alexander's DEF CON speech

In March 12, 2013, Ron Wyden quoted NSA director Keith B. Alexander's keynote speech at the 2012 DEF CON during a United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing.

2012: Continued Work on Medicare Reform Plan with Paul Ryan

In early 2012, Ron Wyden continued working with Paul Ryan to develop a Medicare reform plan that would result in semi-privatization of the system.

January 2013: Expressed concerns about secret interpretations of laws regarding targeted killings

In an interview for the January 2013 documentary Dirty Wars: The World is a Battlefield, Ron Wyden expressed concerns about legal reviews and the scope of potential assassinations of American citizens by their government, stating that the public would be surprised by the difference between the perceived meaning of laws and their secret interpretations.

March 6, 2013: Joined Filibuster on Drone Use

On March 6, 2013, Ron Wyden joined Republican Senator Rand Paul's filibuster to block voting on John O. Brennan's nomination as CIA Director, questioning the use of drones and the right to kill American citizens.

March 12, 2013: Questioned James Clapper about NSA data collection

On March 12, 2013, during a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing, Ron Wyden questioned James Clapper about whether the NSA collects data on millions of Americans; Clapper denied that the NSA "wittingly" did so.

March 22, 2013: Voted Against Resolution on Carbon Pricing

On March 22, 2013, Ron Wyden voted against a concurrent resolution creating a point of order that would make it harder for Congress to put a price on carbon.

June 2013: Noted Clapper's office had advance notice and opportunity to amend testimony

Following news of Snowden's leaks in early June 2013, Ron Wyden noted on June 11 that James Clapper's office had been provided with the question a day in advance of the hearing and was given the opportunity following Clapper's testimony to amend his response.

2013: Concerns stemmed from top-secret information

In 2013, Ron Wyden's concerns stemmed from top-secret information he had learned as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, but he was bound by secrecy rules.

May 2014: Response to National Climate Assessment

In May 2014, Ron Wyden stated that the National Climate Assessment "adds to the ever-growing body of scientific evidence and on-the-ground proof that the effects of climate change are already being felt in every region of the United States".

June 2014: Comment on Climate Change

In June 2014, Ron Wyden said that "climate change is the most important environmental challenge of our time".

2014: Edward Snowden cited Clapper's lie to Congress as breaking point

In 2014, Edward Snowden said that the decisive moment that caused him to whistle-blow was seeing the director of national intelligence, James Clapper, directly lie under oath to Congress.

October 2015: Unveiled new gun control campaign after Umpqua Community College shooting

In October 2015, Ron Wyden was one of the Senate Democrats to unveil a new gun control campaign in the aftermath of the Umpqua Community College shooting, focusing on increasing background check requirements, closing loopholes on background checks, and closing the pipeline of illegal guns.

November 2015: Voted in Support of Clean Power Plan

In November 2015, Ron Wyden voted in support of the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan.

2015: Response to Clean Power Plan

In October 2017, Ron Wyden signed a letter questioning Pruitt's decision to repeal the Clean Power Plan that was created in 2015.

January 2016: Called for hearing on funding for gun violence research at the CDC

In January 2016, Ron Wyden was one of 18 senators to call on the appropriations committee leadership to hold a hearing on funding for gun violence research at the CDC.

May 2016: Introduced Presidential Tax Transparency Act

In May 2016, Ron Wyden introduced the Presidential Tax Transparency Act, a piece of legislation that would require sitting presidents and presidential nominees to publicly release their tax returns.

August 2016: Pushed for Trump's Tax Return Disclosure

In August 2016, Ron Wyden and Chris Murphy announced they would press for consideration of Wyden's bill requiring major-party presidential nominees to disclose at least three years of tax returns, in response to Donald Trump's refusal to do so.

September 2016: Signed AIPAC Letter on Israeli Settlements

In September 2016, Ron Wyden signed an AIPAC-sponsored letter urging President Obama to veto "one-sided" resolutions against Israel, ahead of a UN Security Council resolution 2334 condemning Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

2016: Sold Manhattan Townhouse

In 2016, Ron Wyden and his wife sold their 5,300-square-foot townhouse in Manhattan for $7.5 million.

2016: Re-elected to Senate

In 2016, Ron Wyden was re-elected to the Senate with 57% of the vote to Republican nominee Mark Callahan's 33%.

2016: Offered Amendment to End Funding for TV Martí

In 2016, Ron Wyden, along with Senator Byron Dorgan, proposed an unsuccessful amendment to end funding for TV Martí, an anti-Castro broadcasting project of the U.S. government aimed at Cuba, arguing it was a waste of taxpayer money.

May 2017: Co-sponsored Israel Anti-Boycott Act

In May 2017, Ron Wyden co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, Senate Bill 720, which proposed federal penalties for Americans participating in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements.

May 2017: Criticized Comey Firing

In May 2017, Ron Wyden criticized the firing of FBI Director James Comey, advocating for Comey to testify in an open hearing about the investigation of Russia and Trump associates.

May 2017: Introduced the Equality Act of 2017

In May 2017, Ron Wyden was one of 46 senators to introduce the Equality Act of 2017, aimed at ensuring that every LGBT person can live their lives free from the fear of discrimination.

June 2017: Introduced Legislation on Tax-Deferred IRAs for Graduate Students

In June 2017, Ron Wyden, along with Elizabeth Warren, Mike Lee, and Tim Scott, introduced legislation allowing graduate students to allocate money from stipends and fellowships into tax-deferred individual retirement accounts (IRAs).

July 2017: Voted for the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act

In July 2017, Ron Wyden voted for the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act that placed sanctions on Iran, Russia and North Korea.

August 2017: Unveiled Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act

In August 2017, Ron Wyden was one of four senators to unveil the Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2017, aimed at establishing guidelines for Federal Government procurements of connected devices.

September 2017: Signed letter charging FCC with failing to provide opportunity to comment on net neutrality changes

In September 2017, Ron Wyden was one of nine senators to sign a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai that charged the FCC with failing "to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to comment on the tens of thousands of filed complaints that directly shed light on proposed changes to existing net neutrality protections."

October 2017: Letter to EPA Administrator on Clean Power Plan Repeal

In October 2017, Ron Wyden was one of 19 senators to sign a letter to EPA administrator Scott Pruitt questioning Pruitt's decision to repeal the Clean Power Plan.

December 2017: Called for Trump's Resignation

In December 2017, Ron Wyden called for Donald Trump to resign over allegations of sexual misconduct and suggested a congressional investigation if Trump remained in office.

2017: Cosponsored the Marijuana Justice Act

In 2017, Ron Wyden cosponsored the Marijuana Justice Act, supporting efforts to legalize cannabis at the federal level.

2017: Supported Reimposition of Tariffs on Canadian Softwood Lumber

In 2017, Ron Wyden supported the reimposition of tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, asserting that Canadian policies distorted trade and hindered American lumber businesses.

March 2018: Letter to Comptroller General on Medicaid Eligibility

In March 2018, Ron Wyden and Representative Frank Pallone sent a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro calling for an investigation of eligibility requirements of Medicaid programs.

March 2018: Vote on Yemen Troop Withdrawal Resolution

In March 2018, Ron Wyden voted against tabling a resolution that would have required Trump to withdraw American troops from Yemen within 30 days, unless they were combating Al-Qaeda.

March 2018: Signed letter lambasting proposal to curb Lifeline program benefits

In March 2018, Ron Wyden was one of 10 senators to sign a letter spearheaded by Jeff Merkley lambasting a proposal by Ajit Pai that would curb the scope of benefits from the Lifeline program, advocating for insuring "Lifeline reaches more Americans in need of access to communication services."

March 2018: Expressed intent to pass bans on bump stocks and assault rifles

In March 2018, at a town hall, Ron Wyden answered "Yes" when asked if he intended to pass bans on bump stocks and assault rifles.

May 2018: Requested Access to CIA Videotape Report

In May 2018, Ron Wyden was one of six Democratic senators to sign a letter requesting that all members of the Senate be authorized to read a report from the Department of Justice about the CIA's destruction of videotapes.

July 2018: Criticized Kavanaugh Nomination

In July 2018, after Donald Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Ron Wyden criticized the nomination as an attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade and restrict women's health care choices.

August 1, 2018: Wyden Announces Hold on Muzinich Nomination

On August 1, 2018, Ron Wyden announced his intent to put a formal hold on Treasury deputy secretary nominee Justin Muzinich after his confirmation by the Senate Finance Committee. He also supported IRS general counsel nominee Michael Desmond and criticized Treasury consideration of indexing capital gains taxes to inflation.

August 2018: Cosponsored resolution urging Trump to respect the press

In August 2018, Ron Wyden cosponsored a resolution urging President Trump to respect the press, after the White House barred CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins from covering an open press event following her repeated questions to Trump about his relationship with his former attorney Michael Cohen.

September 2018: Signed letter urging use of multi-factor authentication for State Department systems

In September 2018, Ron Wyden was one of five senators to sign a letter to United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging him to employ more multifactor authentication measures in order to secure the State Department's information systems.

October 2018: Signed letter urging reversal of policy on visas for same-sex partners of LGBTQIA+ diplomats

In October 2018, Ron Wyden was one of 20 senators to sign a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging him to reverse the rollback of a policy that granted visas to same-sex partners of LGBTQIA+ diplomats.

November 2018: Letter on Politicization of the Military

In November 2018, Ron Wyden was one of 11 senators to sign a letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis about "the overt politicization of the military" with the Trump administration's deployment of troops to the U.S.–Mexico border.

November 2018: Cosponsored Resolution on Climate Change Report

In November 2018, Ron Wyden was one of 25 Democratic senators to cosponsor a resolution specifying key findings of the Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change report and National Climate Assessment.

December 2018: Letter on Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

In December 2018, Ron Wyden was among 26 senators who signed a letter expressing concern over the Trump administration's suspension of obligations in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, urging continued arms negotiations.

December 2018: Letter to FDA on E-Cigarette Use Among Youth

In December 2018, Ron Wyden was one of 21 senators to sign a letter to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, expressing approval of the agency's actions to hinder youth access to e-cigarettes and urging additional steps to prevent and reduce e-cigarette use among youth.

December 2018: Letter on Affordable Care Act

In December 2018, Ron Wyden was one of 42 senators to sign a letter to Trump administration officials arguing that the administration was improperly using Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act.

2018: Government Shutdown

In January 2019, Ron Wyden was one of 34 senators to sign a letter recognizing the FDA's efforts to address the 2018-19 shutdown's effect on public health and employees.

January 2019: Reintroduced Presidential Tax Transparency Act

In January 2019, Ron Wyden reintroduced the Presidential Tax Transparency Act. He stated that it was necessary due to then-President Trump's refusal to release his tax returns, breaking a 40-year tradition.

January 2019: Sponsored the Dreamer Confidentiality Act

In January 2019, Ron Wyden was one of 20 senators to sponsor the Dreamer Confidentiality Act, a bill that would ban the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from passing information collected on DACA recipients to law enforcement agencies.

January 2019: Letter to FDA on Government Shutdown Effects

In January 2019, during the 2018–19 United States federal government shutdown, Ron Wyden was one of 34 senators to sign a letter to Commissioner of Food and Drugs Scott Gottlieb recognizing the FDA's efforts to address the shutdown's effect on public health and employees while remaining alarmed that the continued shutdown would result in increasingly harmful effects on the agency’s employees and the safety and security of the nation’s food and medical products.

January 2019: Questioned Treasury Secretary and IRS Commissioner About Taxpayer ID Theft

In January 2019, during the federal government shutdown, Ron Wyden sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles P. Rettig, raising concerns about the increased risk of taxpayer ID theft if the IRS tried to maintain normal operations during the shutdown.

February 2019: Signed letter calling for hearing on universal background checks

In February 2019, Ron Wyden was one of 38 senators to sign a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham calling on him to "hold a hearing" on universal background checks.

February 2019: Sponsored Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act

In February 2019, Ron Wyden, along with Roy Blunt and Tammy Baldwin, sponsored the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act. This legislation aimed to reduce excise taxes, compliance burdens, and regulations for brewers, cider makers, vintners, and distillers to support the craft beverage industry's growth.

March 2019: Signed Letter Urging Disaster Supplemental Appropriations

In March 2019, Ron Wyden was one of 11 senators to sign a letter to congressional leaders urging them to bring legislation providing disaster supplemental appropriations to the floor for consideration immediately, following 124 federal disaster declarations the previous year.

April 10, 2019: Introduced Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2019

On April 10, 2019, Ron Wyden, Senator Cory Booker, and Representative Yvette Clarke introduced the Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2019. This legislation aimed to grant additional powers to the FTC and force companies to study potential biases in their technology.

October 2019: Proposed The Mind Your Own Business Act

In October 2019, Ron Wyden proposed The Mind Your Own Business Act, which would allow the FTC to issue penalties for first-time privacy violators of up to 4% of annual revenue, similar to the European regulation GDPR.

2019: Accused Activision Blizzard of Censorship

In 2019, Ron Wyden accused American video game company Activision Blizzard of censorship after it punished a Hong Kong-based professional gamer for supporting the pro-democracy protests. He stated that Blizzard was willing to "humiliate itself to please the Chinese Communist Party".

2019: Cosponsored the MORE Act and introduced Senate Bill 420

In 2019, Ron Wyden cosponsored the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act and introduced Senate Bill 420 to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and tax it similarly to alcohol.

December 2020: Renewed calls for mandatory security reviews for software used by federal agencies

In December 2020, in light of the 2020 United States federal government data breach, Ron Wyden renewed calls for the introduction of mandatory security reviews for software used by federal agencies.

2022: Re-elected to Senate

In 2022, Ron Wyden was re-elected to the Senate with 56% of the vote to Republican nominee Jo Rae Perkins's 41%.

July 9, 2024: Letter to Attorney General requesting Special Counsel to investigate Justice Thomas

On July 9, 2024, it was reported that Ron Wyden and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse sent an official letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland the previous week requesting that he appoint a special counsel to investigate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for tax and ethics violations.

2024: Co-sponsored Stop Predatory Investing Act

In 2024, Ron Wyden co-sponsored the Stop Predatory Investing Act, which seeks to prevent corporate investors who own more than 50 single-family homes from deducting interest or depreciation from their taxes on those properties.