Oregon Capital Chronicle - 3 leading Democrats battle for Blumenauer’s seat in Congressional District 3 race
By Alex Baumhardt | April 24, 2024
Maxine Dexter, who currently represents a Portland district in the state House, has served in the state Legislature for nearly four years. She’s also a pulmonary and critical care doctor who began her political career during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said her experiences caring for patients has influenced her legislative efforts to address the state’s housing shortages and addiction crises.
“I have the ability to take what I see in the patient care rooms, and in the hospital, and apply it to policy making,” Dexter said.
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In a divided Congress where she could be in the minority as a Democrat, Dexter said her strategy would be to team up with other lawmakers who are experienced, influential and effective, and assist in crafting policies she wants passed. She said she’s running in part because her own kids don’t believe the federal government works.
“They don’t see that the government actually does anything,” she said. “We have a history of remarkable accomplishments as a country. Our democracy can work. It’s the people in leadership and it’s the culture of governing that has changed.”
