Deb Patterson is an American politician,retired healthcare administrator,and ordained minister serving as a member of the Oregon State Senate from the 10th district,which includes South and West Salem,Monmouth,Independence,and parts of unincorporated Four Corners. A member of the Democratic Party,Patterson took office on January 10,2021 and re-elected in 2022.
Before entering public office,Patterson spent more than two decades in healthcare administration and nonprofit leadership. She served as Executive Director of the International Parish Nurse Resource Center (now known as The Westberg Institute),an organization that trained registered nurses to provide community-based health education and advocacy in the United States and abroad.[1] She later became Executive Director of Northwest Parish Nurse Ministries in Portland,Oregon,and Vice President of a children’s health philanthropy focused on early childhood intervention and wellness programs.[2]
Patterson has also held senior management roles in a multi-hospital health system in the Midwest,overseeing community benefit and outreach initiatives.[2]
An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ for more than 30 years,Patterson has served congregations in Missouri,Illinois,and Oregon,most recently at Smyrna United Church of Christ in the Willamette Valley.[1]
Political career
After winning her election in 2020,Senate President Peter Courtney announced that he intended to appoint Patterson to serve a Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Care.
2025 Committee Appointments
Committee on Health Care - Chair
Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health
Committee on Labor and Business
Committee on Housing and Development
Committee on Finance and Revenue
Senate and Joint Committee on Conduct
Joint Committee on Legislative Administration
Prior committee assignments include Emergency Preparedness,Natural Resources,Veterans,and Wildfire Recovery.
Policy priorities
Patterson’s legislative work centers on access to health care,housing,and climate action. She has also sponsored legislation related to reducing health inequities,expanding childcare and apprenticeship programs,supporting small businesses,and creating clean energy jobs.
Elections
In November 2018,Patterson ran against incumbent Republican state senator Jackie Winters and lost.[3] Winters died in office.[4]Denyc Boles was then appointed to the State Senate. On November 3,2020,Patterson defeated incumbent Republican appointee Boles by 576 votes in a special general election to fill the remaining two years of Winters' term,[5] although the results of the election were so close,they not certified until weeks after the election.[6][7] Patterson then ran for re-election in 2022. She faced Republican State Representative Raquel Moore-Green. Patterson won by 4154 votes.
Patterson's election history is unique because over a six-year period,she ran three campaigns. She didn't win a four-year term until 2022.
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