REPLACING:

Earl Blumenauer (D)

WORK HISTORY:

Oregon House of Representatives (Member, District 33); Northwest Permanente P.C. (Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician; Member of the Board of Directors; Chair of the Board of Directors) [i]

EDUCATION:

BA, University of Washington; MD University of Washington [ii]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Addressing Our Homelessness and Addiction Crisis; Ensure Healthy Communities; Rebuild a Fair Economy for All; Protecting Our Democracy; Foreign Policy [iii]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

Dexter has vowed to protect and expand abortion and reproductive healthcare access through legislative action, and to expand teaching programs that train clinicians to provide those services. While serving in the state legislature, Dexter 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. Dexter has stated that “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.” [iv]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

Dexter supports the bipartisan immigration bill that she believes will provide a clear pathway to citizenship, protection for DREAMers, and require humane treatment at the border. She wants to dedicate resources towards clearing immigration backlogs while also working to combat drug, gun, and human trafficking. Dexter has stated that any new immigration reform “must reflect our core values of justice, equity, and opportunity for all.” [v]

ECONOMY & JOBS:

Dexter has discussed the difficulties facing working families, including the rising cost of living. She believes it is necessary to lower the cost of care for both children and the elderly, provide accessible pre-K through community college, and ensure that caregivers can afford to live where they work. Dexter has also called for more opportunities for apprenticeships and good-paying union jobs. Additionally, Dexter wants to increase the federal minimum wage to $15/hour, tie it to inflation, and eliminate the lower minimum wage that exists for tipped workers. [vi]

TAXES:

Dexter has stated she intends to close corporate taxation loopholes and “ensure billionaires pay their fair share.” She wants to eliminate the Social Security Tax Cap to ensure the longevity of Social Security and provide tax credits and subsidies for home modifications to enable older Americans to live independently longer. Dexter also supports expanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). [vii]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

In May 2021 Dexter shared positive statistics about the Portland Street Response program; the Portland Street Response team is made up of crisis workers and paramedics who are dispatched in the place of Portland Police officers and Portland Fire and Rescue. According to a Facebook post, “The goal is to use a kinder, more constructive approach to issues including houselessness and behavioral and mental health crises.” [viii]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

Dexter has championed fighting climate change both as a lung and critical care physician, and as a parent. She has promised to champion “a swift transition to 100% renewable energy sources to eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels.” She supports passing a Green New Deal, decarbonizing the economy, and investing immediately in the development of “smart” transmission grids. Dexter also has called for banning the development of new fossil fuel infrastructure both on public lands and offshore, in addition to protecting wildlife. Dexter supports the banning of “forever” PFAS chemicals from consumer goods and holding corporations accountable for environmental pollution. [ix]

FOREIGN POLICY:

Dexter has called what is happening in Gaza “horrific” and called for a ceasefire. She supports “calls for a permanent ceasefire, the rush of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and support for Gaza and the Palestinians to rebuild and flourish through a two-state agreement.” [x]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

Dexter considers healthcare a human right. “We need universal, high-quality healthcare that includes affordable prescription drugs and covers dental and vision care. No one should have to choose between their health and financial security. It’s time to fix a broken system and give every Oregonian access to the care and opportunities they deserve.” [xi]

DEMOCRACY:

Dexter has stated she is dedicated to protecting the integrity of the electoral process. To that end, she has said, “In Congress, I’ll prioritize expanding voting rights and enacting campaign finance reform, building on my work in Oregon. I’ve fought to ensure postmarked ballots are counted, given counties the option to implement ranked-choice voting, and passed the first campaign finance reform law since 1975.” [xii]

SOCIAL ISSUES:

Dexter has promised to pass the Equality Act to ensure equal treatment in employment, housing, public accommodations, and more, establishing a standard of protection for LGBTQ+ individuals nationwide. She also wants to hold states accountable for passing anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, expand access to PEP, PrEP, and gender affirming care, invest in youth mental health programs, and end conversion therapy. [xiii] For years, Dexter has stated that she is “all in with our transgender and nonbinary communities” and has promised to fight for their rights. [xiv] She also has called for the celebration of the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community, and said in a statement that “Together, we will continue to champion progress, advocate for justice, and build a brighter future.” [xv]