Maxine Dexter
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 33rd district
Assumed office
June 14, 2020
Preceded byMitch Greenlick
Personal details
Born
Maxine Elizabeth Johnson

(1972-12-05) December 5, 1972 (age 51)
Bothell, Washington, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Washington (BA, MD)

Maxine Elizabeth Dexter (née Johnson, born December 5, 1972) is an American physician and politician serving as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives. She was appointed in June 2020 after the death of Mitch Greenlick. She represents the 33rd district, which covers the Northwest District and Northwest Heights of Portland, as well as Cedar Mill, Oak Hills, and most of Bethany.

Early life and education

Dexter grew up in Bothell, Washington. She received her bachelor's degree in political science and communication from the University of Washington, and her MD from that university's School of Medicine.[1]

Career

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.[2]

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.[3] She won the Democratic primary to succeed Greenlick on May 17, 2020, with 40% of the vote, defeating three other candidates, including Christina Stephenson.[4] Greenlick died on May 15, so Dexter was appointed to finish out his term a month later.[5]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dexter treated patients with the disease, and wrote a letter urging Governor Kate Brown to close Oregon schools in April 2020.[6]

On December 5, 2023, Dexter announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Oregon's 3rd congressional district.[7]

Political positions

Dexter supports the transition to a single-payer health care system. She also supports greater protections for workers, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increased money for public housing, and stricter gun control.[3]

In 2023 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.[8] The bill was signed into law on August 8.[9]

Electoral history

2020 Oregon State Representative, 33rd district [10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Maxine E Dexter 33,707 75.6
Republican Dick Courter 10,796 24.2
Write-in 59 0.1
Total votes 44,562 100%
2022 Oregon State Representative, 33rd district [11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Maxine E Dexter 26,154 84.8
Republican Stan Baumhofer 4,651 15.1
Write-in 30 0.1
Total votes 30,835 100%

References

  1. ^ "Oregon Secretary Of State". secure.sos.state.or.us. Archived from the original on 2020-07-03. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  2. ^ "Maxine E. Dexter, MD". Kaiser Permanente. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Wong, Peter (February 13, 2020). "Maxine Dexter seeks open House District 33 seat". Beaverton Valley Times. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. ^ Sickinger, Ted (May 19, 2020). "Maxine Dexter wins four-way primary to represent parts of Washington County and Northwest Portland". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. ^ "Maxine Dexter sworn in to Oregon House District 33 seat, will serve remainder of Mitch Greenlick's term". Statesman Journal. June 15, 2020. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  6. ^ "WW's May 2020 Endorsements for Oregon Legislature". Willamette Week. April 29, 2020. Archived from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  7. ^ Jaquiss, Nigel (December 5, 2023). "State Rep. Maxine Dexter Announces Her Candidacy for Oregon's 3rd Congressional District". Willamette Week. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  8. ^ VanderHart, Dirk (March 6, 2023). "An overdose-reversal drug could become far more accessible in Oregon". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  9. ^ Hayden, Nicole (August 8, 2023). "Gov. Kotek signs 6 bills targeting addiction, mental health crises". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  10. ^ "November 3, 2020, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  11. ^ "November 8, 2022, General Election Abstract of Votes" (PDF). Oregon Secretary of State. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.

External links

Members of the Oregon House of Representatives
Categories