Sen. Jeff Merkley speaks with voters in Jackson, Josephine Counties

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D - Oregon) visited the Rogue Valley on Sunday to speak to constituents at Lone Pine Elementary School in Medford about their concerns. It continued a series of town halls Merkley has taken throughout the state to share his work for Oregon in Congress.

The work includes local infrastructure projects in Southern Oregon, as well as a bill that targets hedge funds and private equity investors who are purchasing single-family homes in large numbers, contributing to the housing crisis.

One topic Merkley addressed was the ongoing Measure 110, which decriminalized most drug possession in Oregon, and the progress seen so far.

"Across the country, people are watching to see the results of this. Will it allow us to take money that went into long jail terms and prisons and do a lot more to help break addiction and get people off drugs," Merkley said.

Hundreds of residents came out to Medford to have a chance to speak to Merkley, with questions ranging from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, continuing geopolitical threats from China and former Pres. Trump.

Earlier on Sunday, Merkley visited Grants Pass to speak to voters in and around Josephine County.