Denise Krause

Denise Krause is a former university professor, small business owner, and single mom from the Rogue Valley running this fall for the Oregon Senate. Denise held a 25-year career as a population health expert, but when her insurance company denied her life-saving breast cancer treatment, it became personal. Denise fought back and won, ensuring that women had access to treatment without insurance getting in the way. Her background has made Denise a powerful advocate for health care access, and if she is elected, she will continue to fight for a healthier Oregon as a state senator.

District 3’s current Democratic senator, who flipped the seat blue in 2018, is retiring after the current term. Denise is stepping up, with support from the DLCC’s Target Races program, to represent her community and help Democrats gain the two seats needed to establish a supermajority in the Oregon Senate.

2026 is a historic opportunity to expand Democratic majorities in the Oregon state legislature and establish a blue supermajority in the Oregon Senate.

The DLCC has been on the ground in Oregon cycle after cycle to help build a solid foundation for Democratic governance and protect over 4 million Oregonians from MAGA extremism.

Republicans have delayed critical bills on gun safety, climate protections, and reproductive freedom by denying a quorum. This year, Oregon Senate Democrats only need to gain two seats to establish a two-thirds supermajority capable of enacting important legislation and denying Republicans the opportunity to break quorum.

This November, expanding our power in Oregon is the only way to ensure Democrats can continue delivering for working families on issues such as protecting access to health care and lowering the cost of living.