:Maxine Dexter
{{Short description|American politician (born 1972)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Maxine Dexter
| image = Dexter Maxine 119th Congress.jpg
| alt = Official House portrait of Dexter in front of the U.S. flag, wearing a black shirt and multi-colored bead necklace.
| state = Oregon
| district = {{ushr|OR|3|3rd}}
| term_start = January 3, 2025
| term_end =
| predecessor = Earl Blumenauer
| successor =
| state_house1 = Oregon
| district1 = 33rd
| term_start1 = June 14, 2020
| term_end1 = August 30, 2024
| predecessor1 = Mitch Greenlick
| successor1 = Shannon Jones Isadore
| birth_name = Maxine Elizabeth Johnson
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|12|5}}
| birth_place = Bothell, Washington, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| education = University of Washington (BA, MD)
| signature = Signature of Maxine Dexter.svg
|module = {{Listen
|pos = center
|embed = yes
|filename = Maxine Dexter voice.ogg
|title = Dexter's voice
|type = speech
|description = Dexter interviewed before the 2020 Oregon House of Representatives election
Recorded April 20, 2020}}
| website = {{url|dexter.house.gov|House website}}
}}
Maxine Elizabeth Dexter (née Johnson, born December 5, 1972) is an American physician and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Oregon's 3rd congressional district since 2025. The district includes most of Portland east of the Willamette River.
A member of the Democratic Party, she previously represented the 33rd district of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2020 to 2024, which covers parts of Northwest Portland, as well as Cedar Mill, Oak Hills, and most of Bethany.
In May 2024, Dexter won the Democratic primary for Oregon's 3rd district after facing fellow Portland Democrat Susheela Jayapal. She was elected to the United States House of Representatives on November 5, 2024.{{cite news|date=November 6, 2024|title=Democrat Maxine Dexter wins Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District|url=https://www.opb.org/article/2024/11/06/oregon-3rd-district-maxine-dexter-wins/|work=Oregon Public Broadcasting|agency=Associated Press|location=Washington, D.C.|access-date=November 8, 2024}}
Early life and medical career
Dexter grew up in Bothell, Washington, and graduated from Inglemoor High School. She received her bachelor's degree in political science and communication from the University of Washington, and her Doctor of Medicine from that university's School of Medicine.{{Cite web|title=Oregon Secretary Of State|url=https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/cfDetail.do?page=search&cfRsn=19999&OWASP_CSRFTOKEN=BVF7-IBVW-HKFK-02BO-Q2CA-IFVR-0M3K-URQK|access-date=July 3, 2020|website=secure.sos.state.or.us|archive-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703023051/https://secure.sos.state.or.us/orestar/cfDetail.do?page=search&cfRsn=19999&OWASP_CSRFTOKEN=BVF7-IBVW-HKFK-02BO-Q2CA-IFVR-0M3K-URQK|url-status=live}}
Dexter served her medical residency in Aurora, Colorado, and moved to Portland with her husband in 2008. She works as a pulmonologist with Kaiser Permanente in Hillsboro.{{cite web|url=https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/oregon-washington/clinicians/maxine-dexter-6759914|title=Maxine E. Dexter, MD|publisher=Kaiser Permanente|accessdate=July 1, 2020|archive-date=June 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629235632/https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/oregon-washington/clinicians/maxine-dexter-6759914|url-status=live}} In 2023, it was reported that she would continue to work part-time at Kaiser Permanente as a pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist during her congressional run.{{Cite web |last=Shumway |first=Julia |date=December 5, 2023 |title=Oregon state Rep. Maxine Dexter joins race to replace Blumenauer in Congress • Oregon Capital Chronicle |url=https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2023/12/05/oregon-state-rep-maxine-dexter-joins-race-to-replace-blumenauer-in-congress/ |access-date=May 24, 2024 |website=Oregon Capital Chronicle |language=en-US}}
Oregon House of Representatives
File:Maxine Dexter - 2024 Redbox Photo (cropped).jpg
Dexter ran to succeed Mitch Greenlick as representative for the 33rd district in the Oregon House of Representatives in the 2020 election. Dexter said she was inspired to run for office following the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearing, during which Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, which he forcefully denied.{{cite news|url=https://pamplinmedia.com/bvt/15-news/452044-368467-maxine-dexter-seeks-open-house-district-33-seat|title=Maxine Dexter seeks open House District 33 seat|last=Wong|first=Peter|newspaper=Beaverton Valley Times|date=February 13, 2020|accessdate=July 1, 2020|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215003011/https://pamplinmedia.com/bvt/15-news/452044-368467-maxine-dexter-seeks-open-house-district-33-seat|url-status=live}}
She won the Democratic primary to succeed Greenlick on May 17, 2020, with 40% of the vote, defeating three other candidates, including Christina Stephenson.{{cite news|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2020/05/maxine-dexter-wins-four-way-primary-to-represent-parts-of-washington-county-and-northwest-portland.html|title=Maxine Dexter wins four-way primary to represent parts of Washington County and Northwest Portland|last=Sickinger|first=Ted|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=May 19, 2020|accessdate=July 1, 2020|archive-date=November 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121220857/https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2020/05/maxine-dexter-wins-four-way-primary-to-represent-parts-of-washington-county-and-northwest-portland.html|url-status=live}} Greenlick died on May 15, so Dexter was appointed to finish out his term a month later.{{cite news|url=https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/15/maxine-dexter-sworn-oregon-house-district-33-seat-mitch-greenlick/3194963001/|title=Maxine Dexter sworn in to Oregon House District 33 seat, will serve remainder of Mitch Greenlick's term|newspaper=Statesman Journal|date=June 15, 2020|accessdate=July 1, 2020|archive-date=October 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031065809/https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/15/maxine-dexter-sworn-oregon-house-district-33-seat-mitch-greenlick/3194963001/|url-status=live}} During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dexter treated patients with the disease, and wrote a letter urging Oregon Governor Kate Brown to close Oregon schools in April 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/04/29/wws-may-2020-endorsements-for-oregon-legislature/|title=WW's May 2020 Endorsements for Oregon Legislature|newspaper=Willamette Week|date=April 29, 2020|accessdate=July 1, 2020|archive-date=July 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702023810/https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/04/29/wws-may-2020-endorsements-for-oregon-legislature/|url-status=live}} She was reelected in the 2022 election. On July 31, 2024, Dexter announced she would resign from the legislature to focus on her campaign for Congress, effective August 30.{{cite news|last=Baumhardt |first=Alex |date=July 31, 2024 |title=Oregon Rep. Maxine Dexter of Portland resigns from state Legislature|url=https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/07/31/oregon-rep-maxine-dexter-of-portland-resigns-from-state-legislature/|work=Oregon Capital Chronicle|access-date=August 1, 2024}}
= Tenure =
As a representative, Dexter introduced a bill expanding access to the opioid antidote medication naloxone, allowing first responders to distribute the drug to members of the general public, and decriminalizing fentanyl test strips.{{cite news |last=VanderHart |first=Dirk |date=March 6, 2023 |title=An overdose-reversal drug could become far more accessible in Oregon |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2023/03/06/oregon-fentanyl-overdoses-drug-naloxone-house-bill-2395-opioid-overdose-medicine/ |access-date=December 5, 2023 |work=Oregon Public Broadcasting}} The bill was signed into law on August 8, 2023.{{cite news |last=Hayden |first=Nicole |date=August 8, 2023 |title=Gov. Kotek signs 6 bills targeting addiction, mental health crises |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2023/08/gov-kotek-signs-six-bills-targeting-addiction-mental-health-crises.html |access-date=December 5, 2023 |work=The Oregonian}}
Also in 2023, Dexter served as chair of the House Housing and Homelessness Committee in the legislature. She was credited with helping to pass a $200 million spending bill on housing and homelessness issues.
United States House of Representatives
= Elections =
== 2024 ==
{{Main|2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon#District 3}}
On December 5, 2023, Dexter announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Oregon's 3rd congressional district to succeed retiring Representative Earl Blumenauer.{{cite news |url=https://www.wweek.com/news/2023/12/05/state-rep-maxine-dexter-announces-her-candidacy-for-oregons-3rd-congressional-district/ | title=State Rep. Maxine Dexter Announces Her Candidacy for Oregon's 3rd Congressional District | date=December 5, 2023 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |work=Willamette Week | last=Jaquiss |first=Nigel}} Dexter stated in an interview that she planned to run for Congress since she was 20.
In the primary, she faced opposition from former Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal and Gresham City Councilor Eddy Morales. She was the top recipient of independent expenditure spending in the primary, with 314 Action spending about $2.2 million in total on independent expenditures in support of her campaign.{{Cite web |last=Shumway |first=Julia |date=May 22, 2024 |title=Dexter, Bynum clinch Democratic nods in Oregon congressional primaries • Oregon Capital Chronicle |url=https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/05/21/dexter-bynum-clinch-democratic-nods-in-oregon-congressional-primaries/ |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=Oregon Capital Chronicle |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2024 |title=A closer look at Maxine Dexter’s primary election win over Susheela Jayapal |url=https://www.koin.com/news/politics/a-closer-look-at-maxine-dexters-primary-election-win-over-susheela-jayapal/ |access-date=May 24, 2024 |website=KOIN.com |language=en-US}} She received endorsements from politicians including Dan Rayfield, who served as speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2022 to 2024.{{Cite web |last=VanderHart |first=Dirk |date=December 5, 2023 |title=State Rep. Maxine Dexter joins race to succeed Earl Blumenauer in Congress |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2023/12/05/state-rep-maxine-dexter-congress-earl-blumenauer-oregon-health-policy/ |access-date=May 24, 2024 |website=OPB |language=en}} She was also endorsed by The Oregonian and the Willamette Week.{{Cite web |date=May 17, 2024 |title=Susheela Jayapal opponent Maxine Dexter sees influx of support ahead of Oregon primary |url=https://jewishinsider.com/2024/05/susheela-jayapal-opponent-maxine-dexter-sees-influx-of-support-ahead-of-oregon-primary/ |access-date=May 24, 2024 |website=Jewish Insider |language=en-US}} Dexter ultimately won the Democratic primary, long the real contest in Oregon's most Democratic district.{{cite news |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2024/05/21/oregon-primary-election-3rd-congressional-district-morales-dexter-jayapal/ | title=Maxine Dexter easily winning race to replace U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer | date=May 22, 2024 |access-date=May 23, 2024 |work=Oregon Public Broadcasting | last=VanderHart | first=Dirk}}
On November 5, 2024, Dexter defeated Republican nominee Joanna Harbour in the general election.
= Tenure =
Dexter took office on January 3, 2025, alongside other members of the 119th United States Congress. She has indicated that passing legislation to expand access to healthcare and improve air quality are leading priorities for her in Congress.{{Cite web |last=Terry |first=Lynne |date=2025-01-03 |title=Maxine Dexter, to be sworn in as member of Congress today, aims to improve air quality, access to health care |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/01/maxine-dexter-to-be-sworn-in-as-member-of-congress-today-aims-to-improve-air-quality-access-to-health-care.html |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=Oregon Live |language=en}}
In April 2025, Dexter traveled to El Salvador to try to help Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who had been deported by President Trump in a manner whose legality had been questioned by Dexter and many other public officials.[https://www.opb.org/article/2025/04/21/more-democratic-lawmakers-are-visiting-el-salvador-on-abrego-garcia-s-behalf/ More Democratic lawmakers, including Oregon’s Maxine Dexter, are visiting El Salvador on Abrego Garcia’s behalf], Oregon Public Broadcasting, April 21, 2025
=Committee assignments=
For the 119th Congress:{{cite web|url=https://www.opb.org/article/2025/01/21/think-out-loud-representative-maxine-dexter-oregon-3rd-congressional-district/|title=US Rep. Maxine Dexter on the inauguration, working with GOP lawmakers|date=January 21, 2025|accessdate=May 2, 2025|first=Allison|last=Frost|work=Oregon Public Broadcasting}}
= Caucus membership =
Political positions
Dexter supports the transition to a single-payer health care system. She also supports greater protections for employees, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increased money for public housing, and stricter gun control. Dexter opposes efforts to condition U.S. aid to Israel amid the ongoing Gaza war but supports a negotiated cease-fire and delivery of humanitarian aid.
Personal life
Dexter lives in North Portland.{{Cite web |title=As heir apparent in Oregon’s 3rd Congressional District, Maxine Dexter has more on her mind than campaigning |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2024/10/15/maxine-dexter-oregon-3rd-congressional-district-democratic-party-elections/ |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=opb |language=en}}
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2020 Oregon State Representative, 33rd district{{cite web
| title = November 3, 2020, General Election Abstract of Votes
|url=https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2020.pdf
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = November 12, 2022
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112205917/https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2020.pdf
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Maxine E Dexter
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 33,707
| percentage = 75.6}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dick Courter
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 10,796
| percentage = 24.2}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 59
| percentage = 0.1}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 44,562
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2022 Oregon State Representative, 33rd district{{cite web
| title = November 8, 2022, General Election Abstract of Votes
|url=https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2022.pdf
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = October 30, 2023
| archive-date = June 12, 2023
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612205817/https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2022.pdf
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Maxine E Dexter
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 26,154
| percentage = 84.8}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Stan Baumhofer
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 4,651
| percentage = 15.1}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 30
| percentage = 0.1}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 30,835
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change|title=2024 Oregon's 3rd congressional district Democratic primary}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Maxine Dexter|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=46,689|percentage=47.39}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Susheela Jayapal|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=32,300|percentage=32.78}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Eddy Morales|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=13,162|percentage=13.36}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Michael Jonas|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=2,317|percentage=2.35}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Nolan Bylenga|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=2,099|percentage=2.13}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Rachel Lydia Rand|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=834|percentage=0.85}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Ricardo Barajas|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=624|percentage=0.63}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=98,529|percentage=100.0}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2024 US House of Representatives, Oregon's 3rd congressional district{{cite web
| title = November 5, 2024, General Election Abstract of Votes
| url = https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2024-results.pdf
| website = Oregon Secretary of State
| access-date = December 12, 2024
| archive-date = December 12, 2024
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241212212240/https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Documents/results/november-general-2024-results.pdf
| url-status = live }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Maxine E Dexter
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 226,405
| percentage = 67.7}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Joanna Harbour
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 84,344
| percentage = 25.2}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David W Walker
| party = Independent
| votes = 10,245
| percentage = 3.1}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Joe Meyer
| party = Pacific Green Party
| votes = 10,106
| percentage = 3.0}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David K Frosch
| party = Constitution Party (United States)
| votes = 2,459
| percentage = 0.7}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes = 810
| percentage = 0.2}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 334,369
| percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.maxinefororegon.com/ Campaign website]
- [https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/dexter Legislative website]
- [https://www.drmaxinedexter.com/ Medical website]
- {{C-SPAN|142500}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Earl Blumenauer}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oregon's 3rd congressional district|years=2025–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=Jeff Crank}}
{{s-ttl|title=United States representatives by seniority|years=383rd}}
{{s-aft|after=Troy Downing}}
{{s-end}}
{{OR-FedRep}}
{{USHouseCurrent}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=119th–present United States Congresses | state=Oregon}}
{{USCongRep/OR/119}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dexter, Maxine}}
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:21st-century members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives
Category:American pulmonologists
Category:Democratic Party members of the Oregon House of Representatives
Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Oregon
Category:Female members of the United States House of Representatives
Category:People from Bothell, Washington
Category:Physicians from Portland, Oregon
Category:Politicians from Portland, Oregon