The increasingly competitive battle for the Democratic Senate nomination saw both state Speaker Jeff Merkley and attorney Steve Novick pick up equally significant union endorsements over the past week.

On Monday, Merkley, the favorite of most of the Democratic establishment, was backed by the 50,000-strong Service Employees International Union of Oregon. On Saturday, Novick was endorsed by the 48,000-strong Oregon Education Association.

The primary winner will take on Sen. Gordon Smith (R) in November.
— David M. Drucker