Wyden is a surname most commonly associated in public life with Ron Wyden, an American politician. Ron Wyden (born 1949) has served as a United States Senator from Oregon since 1996. He previously represented Oregon in the U.S. House of Representatives as the member for the 3rd district from 1981 to 1996. A member of the Democratic Party, Wyden has been active in federal legislative matters for several decades and has held leadership roles on committees dealing with finance, budgeting, and health policy. Throughout his Senate career, he has participated in debates on taxation, health care, civil liberties, and government transparency, and has been an advocate for privacy protections and greater openness in government.