Maxine Dexter

Maxine Dexter is an American physician and politician representing Oregon's 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, she was first elected to Congress in November 2024 to succeed retiring Representative Earl Blumenauer. Before entering federal politics, Dexter served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2020 to 2024, representing the 33rd district. During her tenure in the state legislature, she held influential roles including Chair of the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness, where she led efforts to pass significant housing and public health legislation. Born in Washington, Dexter was the first in her family to graduate from college, earning a bachelor's degree in political science and communications from the University of Washington. She later received her medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2001 and completed her residency and a public health certificate at the University of Colorado. Professionally, Dexter is a board-certified pulmonologist and critical care physician who practiced for over 15 years at Kaiser Permanente in Portland. She also served as the first female Chair of the Board of Directors at Northwest Permanente. Dexter's transition to the U.S. House followed a legislative career focused on pandemic response, addiction treatment, and reproductive rights. In Congress, she serves on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee. Her background as a physician frequently informs her legislative focus, particularly regarding the intersection of public health, environmental policy, and social safety nets.

Dexter's policy platform emphasizes achieving universal healthcare with an ultimate goal of a single-payer model, while advocating for the expansion of Medicaid and the lowering of prescription drug costs. She is a vocal supporter of reproductive freedom and has pledged to protect and expand abortion access at the federal level. Regarding the environment, she characterizes the climate crisis as a public health emergency, supporting a transition to 100% clean energy and stronger regulations on industrial pollution. Her economic priorities include addressing housing affordability through federal investment, strengthening labor unions, and increasing the minimum wage. Additionally, she supports comprehensive immigration reform focused on humane treatment and due process, and she advocates for strict gun violence prevention measures, including universal background checks and closing legal loopholes.