Maxine Dexter

Maxine Dexter was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1972.[1] She earned a bachelor's degree in political science and communications from the University of Washington in January 1997 and an M.D. from the University of Washington in January 2001. Dexter's experience includes working as a physician. She is triple-boarded in internal medicine, pulmonology, and critical care medicine. Dexter has served as a member of the Oregon Medical Association and as a trustee of the Tualatin Hills Park Foundation.[2] Dexter served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2020 to 2024.[1][3]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My son calls me “annoyingly optimistic.” I am indeed optimistic; it’s a trait that comes from having been able to persistently overcome challenges throughout my life to achieve my goals, and from having had the support of my community. Mr. Rogers was a TV show I watched a lot as a young child, and he advised viewers to look for “the helpers” when we were struggling. I was lucky during tough times to have these helpers – neighbors, librarians, teachers, coaches, and the friend who helped me secure a union job – visible all around, ready to support me. That union job not only offered me independence but empowered me to become the first in my family to graduate from college and medical school.

As a doctor, I stepped into the role of the helper every day, caring for the sickest patients, from a pregnant woman struggling with asthma, to an unhoused person with severe leg wounds, to delivering life-altering cancer diagnoses. As a mother, I've honed my ability to nurture and listen. As a physician, I rely on facts and science to make informed decisions. As a Representative, I've brought people together to make significant improvements in our community. As a vocal critic of the current administration’s dangerous policies, I am fighting for affordable and accessible healthcare for all, for economic security and stability for hardworking everyday Americans, for climate justice, and to protect those communities targeted by the cruel policies of the current administration.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I lead with courage and compassion. I firmly believe that being a Representative means you stand up for your constituents, and I have demonstrated my commitment to that belief. Whether that means fighting for Oregon’s immigrant communities and travelling across the country to free people of Oregon’s Third District from unlawful ICE detention, or fighting back against the current administration by introducing and supporting legislation protecting the dignity and safety of Americans and the preservation of our democracy, I show up for the people I have been elected to represent.I know how to listen to understand people’s concerns, find the root cause of issues, and solve problems using data-driven solutions. Raised in a working-class family, I was the first in my family to graduate college, and became a working mom caring for Oregon's 3rd Congressional District as a respected physician. With a proven track record of hard work, compassionate care and courageous policymaking, I will continue being a strong voice and a steady advocate for the people of Oregon’s Third District.I am committed to ensuring that every American can lead a safe, fulfilling, and healthy life. I have led the fight to pass large-scale, progressive legislation with bipartisan support at both the federal and state levels. I have introduced seventeen bills so far in my first term as the Representative for Oregon’s 3rd District, and I am also the only freshman Democrat member to pass a bill into law this session. I have helped secure historic housing investments, improve public safety, expand abortion rights, protect the environment, increase addiction treatment, and close firearm law loopholes. In Washington, D.C., I have been listening, leading, and working for the people of Oregon. If re-elected, I will continue to get things done.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As a physician and a mother, I am passionate about ensuring Americans’ ability to lead a safe, fulfilling, and healthy life in their community of choice. That motivates everything I do in Congress. However, my legislative priorities primarily come directly from what Oregonians tell me they need most.

After holding more than 53 town halls across Oregon’s Third District, I heard the same message again and again: people want a representative who will fight for them and deliver real results. That includes lowering costs for working families, defunding, dismantling, and abolishing ICE, treating the climate crisis like the public health emergency it is, and guaranteeing that everyone has access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Organizational: Reproductive Freedom for All, the Oregon AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Everytown For Gun Safety, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, GIFFORDS PAC, the Hood River County Democrats, the Clackamas County Democrats, the National Women’s Political Caucus, East County Rising, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 16, the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Teamsters Joint Council 37, the SEEC PAC, and LiUNA Oregon & Southern Idaho.

Individual: US Senator Ron Wyden, US Senator Jeff Merkley, Governor Tina Kotek, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall and many others.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My son refers to me as “annoyingly optimistic”. I am indeed optimistic and it’s a trait that comes from having been able to persistently overcome significant challenges and achieve my goals throughout life. I’ve learned that if you know what you want to accomplish and work hard with focus and determination, you can often achieve your goals, no matter what the odds. My optimism also comes from having had the support of my community. Mr. Rogers was a TV show I watched a lot as a young child and he advised viewers to look for “the helpers” when we were afraid and struggling. I was lucky during tough times to have these helpers visible and ready to help all around me. Growing up in a home where my mother's severe mental health issues created chaos and enormous emotional strain, I found solace and support in the helpers around me—neighbors, librarians, teachers, coaches and the friend who helped me secure a union job. This job not only offered me independence but empowered me to become the first in my family to graduate from college and medical school. These people were my helpers, guiding me out of the darkness at home.

I’m running for Congress to bring my unique blend of personal experience and professional expertise to Congress. where I will continue to do what I do best - listen, lead, and get things done for the people of Oregon.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Raised in a working-class family, I was the first in my family to graduate college and become a respected physician caring for Oregon's 3rd Congressional District as a working mom. With a proven track record of hard work, compassionate care and courageous policymaking, I'm ready to make a broader impact in Congress on day one.As a physician and state representative, I know how to listen, find the root cause, and solve problems and that's what I'll continue doing in Washington: I will listen, lead, and work to get things done for the people of Oregon.I’ve led the fight to pass large-scale, progressive legislation with bipartisan support: from securing historic housing investments, to improving public safety, expanding abortion rights, protecting the environment, increasing addiction treatment, and closing firearm law loopholes.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

It is clear that across the country, every community is being impacted by the housing and homelessness crisis, pricing too many working families from their community. In Oregon, in particular, this is being compounded by the humanitarian crisis we are experiencing on our streets and the confluence of addiction and mental health.

In our State Legislature, I was a driving force behind the most historic investments in housing our state has ever seen. Because we listened to Oregonians and leaders across all levels of government and worked with our colleagues to find common ground, our state now has the tools to: build more housing, with workers and materials from here in Oregon, and invest in immediate emergency shelters.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

My qualities of resilience, determination and strong work ethic paired with my compassion and commitment to my community have helped make me an effective elected official. As a physician, I have cared for the people of this district as a pulmonary and critical care doctor for over 15 years. I know how to listen, find the root cause, and solve problems and that's what I'll continue doing in Washington: I will listen, lead, and work to get things done for the people of Oregon.

As a legislator, I’ve centered the needs of my constituents and focused on delivering people-focused community services and casework while leading on the policies our district is calling for, like capping the cost of insulin and investing over $300 million to expand shelter capacity and build new housing.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was working in a restaurant at the age of 15. I was lucky to get a job in an Albertson’s grocery store about a year later, which brought me into the labor community through UFCW. I earned a fair wage in good working conditions at a time when I needed it most and gave me the stability I needed to be able to pursue my dream of being a doctor.

What is your favorite book? Why?

John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” is my favorite book of all time. The historical perspective, its focus on resilience in the face of enormous challenges and the message that we must come together as a community to overcome the challenges of our times seems particularly resonant now.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Representative Blumenauer provides an excellent model for how to run a community-focused, people-centered legislative office that engages with our community and still passes tangible, progressive policy.

Senator Tom McCall and his bipartisan and collaborative and leadership style became the “Oregon Way.” I’ve worked diligently to follow his lead, roll up my sleeves, and get the work done.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Absolutely. Our community is struggling with many challenges that include opportunities for federal investment and impactful advocacy and our next member of Congress must be prepared to show up on day one, build relationships, and cut through the politics.

In the legislature, I have been able to pass progressive legislation through my commitment to listening broadly and intentionally to as many sides of the issue as possible that then leads to being able to garner bipartisan support. From back-to-back historic housing packages in 2023 and 2024 to 2023’s comprehensive opioid harm reduction package. I have already proven an ability to listen, lead, and get things done and will have the experience and the ability to have an impact, even as a freshman.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Everytown for Gun Safety, National Organization for Women PAC, UFCW 555, LiUNA Oregon and Southern Idaho, United Steelworkers Oregon LE Committee, Portland Fire Fighters’ Association Local IAFF Local 43, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue IAFF Local 1660, Hood River County Democrats, American Academy of Family Physicians PAC, American College of Ob-Gyns PAC. 314 Action, Former Governor John Kitzhaber, Former Governor Ted Kulongoski, Oregon Treasurer Tobias Read, Oregon Speaker of the House Julie Fahey, Former Oregon Speaker of the House Dan Rayfield, Oregon Senate President Rob Wagner, Former Oregon Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick, Oregon House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, Shannon Watts (Founder of Moms Demand Action), and more.

What committees interest you?

As the Chair of Oregon’s House Committee on Housing and Homelessness, I’m particularly hopeful to serve on the Financial Services committee, which oversees the housing sector, and build on the work I’ve done, securing historic investments in expanding shelter capacity and building new, affordable housing.

As a physician, I hope to utilize my experience in the exam room and passing healthcare reform in Oregon on the Energy and Commerce which oversees the health sector and large swaths of climate policy.

As a State Representative who secured over $40 million in spending to repair our crumbling infrastructure and protect our bridges, I’d like to serve on the Appropriations Committee to fight for the federal funding Oregon needs to replace the I5 bridge, expand healthcare access, and build the housing our district desperately needs.

Campaign website

Dexter’s campaign website stated the following:

ADDRESS OUR HOMELESSNESS & ADDICTION CRISIS

Housing and Homelessness

My Values

Safe housing should be a fundamental right, and it pains me to witness the harsh reality of many Oregonians living on the streets. As a critical care physician, I engage directly with houseless individuals who wind up in the intensive care unit, incredibly sick due to exposure and lack of care and services. As a physician caring for people at all income and insurance levels for over 20 years, I have a deep understanding of the additional complexity when housing insecurity intersects with mental illness and addiction. The housing situation in Oregon has reached a critical point, demanding urgent and decisive action from all levels of government.

What I’ve Done

I chaired the Oregon House of Representatives Committee on Housing and Homelessness in 2023 and 2024 and led the legislature’s efforts to address Oregon's housing and homelessness crises. In 2023, we passed a historic $200 million investment in Oregon's housing future within an unprecedented 60 days. Among many other priorities, this package allocated millions of dollars to provide homeless youth and families with shelter and housing. It also supported innovative, Oregon-based modular housing development to begin building units here at home. This year, I also helped lead the passage of another $376 million housing package which will fund homeless shelters, support renters, build critical infrastructure, and boost housing production.

I also fought to protect senior citizens and those living in publicly supported housing from massive rent hikes and displacement. In addition, I negotiated changes to Oregon’s 50-year-old land use laws, making sure we continue to protect forests, farms, and natural resources while also facilitating housing development. I led investments in additional housing for college students and farmworkers. And I helped strengthen Oregon's first-in-the-nation rent stabilization law to keep families housed and communities stable amidst rising housing costs.

How I’ll Lead

● Invest in new, affordable housing development and expand the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), and the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF).

● Incentivize the development of new and innovative types of affordable housing with federal grants and incentives.

● Invest in new green construction technologies to make Oregon a leader in the research, development, and production of emerging, environmentally friendly construction technology.

● Support renters with rental assistance as well as down payment assistance for struggling families to purchase their first home.

Addiction and Mental Health

My Values

The addiction and mental health crises are public health crises. I myself grew up feeling the impact of a family who struggled with their mental health. For over 20 years I have treated people admitted to the intensive care unit after suicide attempts. It is heartbreaking to see people who have lost all hope but it is rewarding when we can help them get both immediate care and access to ongoing treatment. Unfortunately, our ability to get people into mental health facilities and care is far too challenging. Rates of depression and suicide are going up, and this is a deadly combination with the much more potent illicitly manufactured fentanyl people often use to self-medicate their despair. We must take decisive steps. First, we must make substance use disorder treatment accessible and affordable. We also need to destigmatize seeking mental health and substance use disorder care. It is also critical that we address the root causes, not just the symptoms of addiction. Finally, mental health and behavioral health resources for youth must be readily available in our schools and communities.

What I’ve Done

In 2022 I took care of a young person in the ICU who had unintentionally overdosed on what they thought was an Oxycontin pain pill but turned out to be counterfeit, laced with illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Friends at a party thought my patient was just asleep when they actually were dying. I worked all night to save this young person’s life, but their brain never woke up. I was the one who had to give their mother, friends and extended family the heart-breaking news. I realized this was a tragedy that could happen to anyone’s children, even my own. I had to take action. In preparation for the 2023 legislative session, I brought together a broad, bipartisan coalition and championed the Opioid Harm Reduction Package, which made life-saving antidotes like naloxone more widely available to combat opioid overdoses. I also helped secure investments to better fund treatment programs and mental health services. I listened to our community and helped pass changes to Measure 110 in the 2024 session to keep our communities safe from public drug use and to help get more people into treatment. I firmly believe addiction is a public health issue. We have our work cut out for us.

How I’ll Lead

● Bring in federal investments to expand the number of detox beds and drug treatment programs.

● Dramatically increase access to Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT) for Oregonians, including those incarcerated who continue to be denied access to constitutionally required care.

● Advocate for comprehensive criminal justice reform, prioritizing effective treatment over punishment.

● Invest in mental and behavioral health resources in schools, communities, and our justice system.

● Close the de minimis loophole to allow our government to crack down on fentanyl imports and curb the supply chain of drugs by international drug cartels.

ENSURE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

Fight for Universal, Affordable Healthcare and Stand Up to Big Pharma

My Values

As a pulmonary and critical care physician, I've spent over two decades caring for the sickest members of our community. Every day, I witness the impact that limited access to care has on my patients and on our community as a whole. Our current healthcare system prioritizes treating illness rather than preventing it. I’m committed to making sure we do both and we do it at a cost people can afford. Central to my vision is that every Oregonian, no matter where they live, has easy access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. This will take innovative approaches to providing care, meeting people where their needs are, and making sure we build a workforce that is able to practice medicine without unnecessary barriers that limit face-to-face time with patients. We must work toward the goal of adopting a single-payer model, and it must include comprehensive behavioral health, vision, dental, and prescription drug coverage.

What I’ve Done

In the Oregon legislature, I have persistently led in healthcare innovation. I have championed improved access to telemedicine, dental and behavioral healthcare; modernization of our public health system; expansion of school-based health centers; upstream investments in housing, food and climate resilience to prevent illness and disease; true value-based payment models that will get rid of our fee-for-service payment system; pharmacy benefit manager regulation and reform; investments in loan repayment for rural health providers; health system reform that incentivizes patient-centered care; a cap on the price of insulin; and expansion of Medicaid benefits to Oregonians, regardless of immigration status.

How I’ll Lead

● Pass legislation to ensure every American has access to high-quality, affordable health care with the ultimate goal of a single-payer model.

● Make sure every American has access to safe, affordable medications.

● Innovate how we attract, train and retain healthcare professionals, making sure we have a workforce that meets the needs of our communities.

● Rigorously regulate pharmacy benefit managers and private equity investors in our healthcare system.

● Improve access to medication, healthy food, and healthcare for older Americans and those with disabilities.

Fight Climate Change and Protect our Environment

My Values

As a parent, I know many of our children are plagued by anxiety about their future and the future of our planet. As a lung and critical care physician, I witness the direct impact of climate change and poor air quality on people's health every day. In Oregon, where heart disease, stroke, respiratory illness, and cancer rank among the top five causes of death, the correlation between air pollution and these diseases is undeniable. I will champion a swift transition to 100% renewable energy sources to eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels. This shift is crucial, especially for our socially and economically disadvantaged communities who bear the brunt of climate change's adverse health impacts. By addressing climate pollution, we simultaneously tackle health disparities, creating a healthier, more equitable future for all Oregonians.

What I’ve done

I passed budgets that allow the Department of Environmental Quality to implement the Climate Protection Program to require Oregon utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050. I’ve passed legislation that makes buildings more energy-efficient to further reduce emissions. I've fought for the Healthy Heating and Cooling for All initiative and the Right to Refuse Dangerous Work, both of which will prioritize low-income communities and outdoor workers to prevent heat wave deaths. I championed the bipartisan Drought Resilience and Water Security package which secured over $100 million to mitigate the impact of drought on tribes, families, and local farms. I also championed one of the nation’s pioneering Right to Repair laws, empowering Oregonians to repair their devices, reducing waste, and ensuring companies are held accountable.

How I’ll Lead

Pass a Green New Deal to create more high-quality, good-paying jobs for Oregonians.

Transition to 100% clean electricity nationwide to decarbonize our economy.

Invest immediately in the development of “smart” transmission grids, especially in areas where renewable energy is being created to move green energy to places where it’s needed.

Bury electrical lines wherever possible to prevent wildfires and power outages.

Rapidly expand the availability of electric vehicle charging stations.

Ban new development of fossil fuel infrastructure both on public lands and offshore.

Invest in water infrastructure, preservation, and data collection.

Protect our lush green forests from any attempts to irresponsibly harvest our trees.

Double-down on habitat restoration programs to protect biodiversity and deter the proliferation of invasive species.

Invest in expanding clean domestic manufacturing to make Oregon and the United States leaders in innovative, low-carbon, green manufacturing.

Ban ‘forever’ PFAS chemicals from consumer goods.

Hold corporations accountable for environmental pollution and secure funds to clean up polluted sites like the Willamette River.

Protect and Expand Reproductive Rights

My Values

I have experienced myself how affordable access to birth control and reproductive care are critical to our ability to create a secure future for ourselves and our families. As a physician, I know how personal these discussions and decisions are, and I know that they are best made by patients and their doctors – not politicians. MAGA extremists are attacking our fundamental rights in every way they can. We need leaders who understand the danger to our health – and to our democracy - that can result from being forced to cede control of our bodies to others and who are passionate about protecting reproductive rights. As a woman and a physician I am uniquely able to lead on this issue and as a mother I am determined to protect the rights of my children. Everyone must have the right to control their own bodies.

What I’ve Done

As abortion rights came under attack nationwide, I was proud to champion legislation that further cemented Oregon as a beacon of reproductive freedom. While in the legislature, I supported a bill to protect doctors and medical professionals from persecution and prosecution for providing abortions or gender-affirming care, including prohibiting the Oregon courts from working with other jurisdictions to impede individuals receiving or providing abortion care.

How I’ll Lead

● Protect access to abortion and reproductive healthcare across our nation through legislative action.

● Expand teaching programs that train clinicians to provide abortion and reproductive healthcare.

Gun Violence Prevention

My Values

I have been a Moms Demand Action volunteer and am proud to be the only candidate in this race for CD3 with the Everytown for Gun Safety endorsement. As a mother, I've experienced the overwhelming fear of being unable to reach my daughter who was in lockdown for over 12 hours during a mass shooting incident on the University of Virginia campus on November 13, 2022. As a healthcare professional, I've witnessed the heartbreaking impact of gun violence on families and communities. As a physician leader I have served on state and national gun violence prevention task forces, and I recognize that this issue goes beyond mere policy: it deeply affects people's lives.

What I’ve Done

Since entering the legislature, I have been an effective advocate for common sense gun reform to protect our children, families, teachers, and neighbors. I fought to make Oregon the ninth state in the nation to ban non-serialized and undetectable ghost guns that are used by gun traffickers and people legally prohibited from buying firearms. I also fought to pass safe storage legislation which requires gun owners to secure weapons when not in use. Lastly, I have passed $47 million in investments for gun violence prevention.

How I’ll Lead

● Expand federal background checks to prevent prohibited individuals from purchasing guns without adequate scrutiny.

● Close the “Charleston loophole” to ensure officials have time to complete background checks.

● Invest in state Red Flag laws, which have proven effective in preventing firearm suicides and mass shootings.

● Establish and invest in community funds to support local violence intervention programs to support those at the highest risk of gun violence.

● Champion legislation to prevent abusers under final restraining orders from having firearms.

● Reauthorize the federal assault weapons ban to keep weapons of war off of our streets.

Protecting our LGBTQ+ Community

My Values

As a college student studying to be a doctor during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, I volunteered at Seattle's Bailey Boushay House, a support haven for those with AIDS, and worked in Dr. Larry Corey’s renowned retroviral lab conducting PCR tests on blood samples from clinical studies. Witnessing first-hand the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS, and the life-changing effects of new treatments that transformed AIDS from a death sentence to a chronic condition, I saw how bureaucratic delays in drug approval caused unnecessary loss of life. These experiences underscored the damaging effects of decades-long homophobic policies on our ability to use science to save lives.

The resilience and warmth of the clients at Bailey Boushay, despite their isolation and societal marginalization, deeply inspired me. Their acceptance fueled my resolve to champion the rights and dignity of the LGBTQ+ community, especially as transgender individuals face increasing attacks today from politicians. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to promote policies that protect their health and well-being, ensuring access to necessary treatments and advocating for a society that embraces equality and justice fo