Dexter, Maxine

Maxine Dexter represents Oregon's 3rd congressional district, which encompasses most of Portland east of the Willamette River. As Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, she leads the Democratic opposition on matters of federal accountability and government performance. This role gives her significant power to shape the subcommittee's investigative agenda, direct questioning during hearings, and mobilize Democratic members around oversight priorities, though final control rests with the Republican majority.

Dexter brings substantial medical expertise to her legislative work. A pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist, she earned her medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine and completed her residency in Colorado before relocating to Portland in 2008. She maintained part-time clinical practice at Kaiser Permanente while serving in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2020 to 2024, representing a northwest Portland district. This background in medicine and healthcare directly informs her committee work on veterans' health and disability assistance.

Dexter serves on multiple committees addressing healthcare, veterans' affairs, and natural resources. Beyond her ranking member position on Oversight and Investigations, she holds memberships on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the House Committee on Natural Resources. Her legislative priorities reflect her medical background and constituent interests, including bills addressing pharmaceutical safety, veteran housing and healthcare, and Social Security disability benefits.

Elected to Congress in November 2024 after winning a competitive Democratic primary, Dexter represents a shift toward medical professionals in legislative roles. Her combination of clinical expertise, state legislative experience, and focus on healthcare and veterans' issues positions her as a voice for evidence-based policymaking within her party's oversight efforts.