Democracy
Congresswoman Maxine Dexter is committed to protecting our democratic institutions, defending the Constitution, and ensuring that every American has equal access to the ballot box. In this moment of crisis, with basic rights under assault, Congresswoman Dexter knows that the defense of democracy is not optional—it is an obligation.
Voting Rights
Congresswoman Dexter understands that the right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy and has taken several strides to protect it. She forced a vote in the House to expose the SAVE Act, legislation that would disenfranchise millions of married women, seniors, and those a part of marginalized communities.
She helped reintroduce the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, over 60 years after John Lewis and hundreds of civil rights heroes put their lives on the line in Selma, Alabama. This bill acknowledges their bravery and modernizes the Voting Rights Act of 1965, paving a way forward to ensure every voter, regardless of background or race, has access to the ballot box.
Congresswoman Dexter also joined a Congressional Voting Rights Caucus letter denouncing the constitutionality of Trump’s voting executive order, and she signed a House Resolution reaffirming that the 22nd Amendment bars Trump from seeking a third term.
Due Process and Constitutional Protections
Congresswoman Dexter is using every tool available to defend due process and the rule of law. After Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia was wrongfully deported and sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador without legal recourse, Congresswoman Dexter traveled there to demand his release and meet with U.S. Embassy officials and local human rights advocates. As a critical care physician, she’s trained to act in moments of crisis—and she continues to do so in defense of our constitutional rights.
She is sounding the alarm on a broader constitutional crisis: the Trump administration is detaining children, arresting judges, and denying immigrants and legal residents their right to due process. These actions are not isolated—they are part of an escalating pattern of authoritarian overreach that Congresswoman Dexter is actively working to stop.
Free Speech and Student Protests
Congresswoman Dexter is also standing up for free speech and against government efforts to criminalize dissent. She joined over 100 members of Congress demanding answers from DHS and the State Department about the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident targeted for speaking out.
She also advocated for the release of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian graduate student organizer detained during his final citizenship interview, who was released on bail following public pressure. Congresswoman Dexter continues to fight back against Trump’s attempts to revoke student visas as a means of silencing campus activism.
Oregon as a Sanctuary State
As a representative of a sanctuary state, Congresswoman Dexter continues to defend Oregon’s right to protect immigrant communities. She opposes federal efforts to pressure cities and states to cooperate with Trump’s mass deportation and surveillance programs. Her work is grounded in the belief that families should feel safe in their communities and that the Constitution protects everyone within our borders.
Congresswoman Dexter views democracy not as an abstract idea, but as a living promise—one she is committed to defending every single day.