U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley says he was considering retirement last year but changed course after President Donald Trump’s actions convinced him the country’s democracy was at risk. Merkley is now seeking another term representing Oregon, where voters are set to receive ballots this week. “Our Republic’s in deep trouble,” Merkley said in an interview. He cited Trump’s relationships with wealthy donors, appointments of loyalists and decision to federalize the National Guard as reasons he felt compelled to keep serving. Merkley, a Democrat who turns 70 this month, said the president poses a major threat to the Constitution and the separation of powers. He has served in Congress for nearly 18 years and won his party’s May primary without a major challenger. His Republican opponent, Oregon state Sen. David Brock Smith, is seeking to become the state’s first Republican U.S. senator since Merkley defeated Gordon Smith in 2008. Brock Smith, 50, says voters are frustrated by high taxes, the cost of living and what he describes as poor results from state spending. “One party rule in Oregon has put us last in almost all metrics across the country,” Brock Smith said, describing conversations with voters. He also criticized Democrats’ role in last year’s federal government shutdown and said he wants a senator focused on working across party lines rather than blaming problems on Trump. Federal campaign filings through June 30 showed Merkley had raised $4.5 million, compared with about $120,000 for Brock Smith. The Cook Political Report rates the race “solid Democrat.” Libertarian Gary Lyndon and Chris Henry, who is running with the Pacific Green and Progressive parties, are also on the ballot. Merkley is centering his campaign on opposing Trump and wealthy interests. He says his priorities include reducing the influence of dark money in politics and changing Senate filibuster rules. He also pointed to efforts to secure drought assistance for farmers and keep a Coast Guard rescue helicopter in Newport. If Democrats regain control of the Senate, Merkley could be positioned to chair the Senate Budget Committee. He said he would focus on the national debt, including by scrutinizing defense spending and reversing Republican-backed tax cuts that he argues disproportionately benefit wealthy people. He also cited the costs of the Iran war and the long-running war in Afghanistan. Brock Smith has made affordability central to his campaign. He said Oregonians are concerned about spending on education, roads and public programs, and defended changes to social services in the Republican tax-and-spending law as a way to reduce fraud and encourage employment. He cited the share of Oregonians receiving food assistance as evidence of what he considers excessive dependence on safety-net programs. The race is unfolding amid national debate over Democratic leadership and the balance of power in Washington. Merkley argues his experience and opposition to Trump make his continued service necessary; Brock Smith says Oregon needs a more pragmatic senator focused on the state’s cost-of-living pressures.