On March 6, the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics will host a lecture by former Representative Peter DeFazio, the longest-serving member of the U.S. Congress in Oregon's history and the 2023-24 Wayne Morse Chair. The lecture, titled 'Democracy: The Challenges Ahead,' takes place at 5:30 p.m. in Ford Alumni Center’s Giustina Ballroom at the University of Oregon and is free and open to the public. 

"No Oregonian has more to teach us about the significant challenges our democracy currently faces than Peter DeFazio," said Ellen Herman, Wayne Morse Center codirector. "It is an honor, especially during this critical election year, for the Wayne Morse Center to host this principled, feisty public servant as Wayne Morse Chair."

Rep. DeFazio got his start in public service as a Lane County Commissioner in 1983 and served for 36 years as the U.S. Representative for Oregon’s 4th Congressional District. A seasoned politician who has navigated the complexities of government at all levels, DeFazio is known for his expertise on transportation, labor, infrastructure, and natural resource policy. He received a master of arts degree from the University of Oregon and retired from Congress in 2023.