Deb Patterson

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.

Early life and education Patterson earned a bachelor's from Yankton College and a master's from the University of South Dakota. She later completed a Master of Health Administration (MHA) at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Patterson also holds a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from Eden Theological Seminary.

Career in health care and ministry 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. 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.

Patterson has also held senior management roles in a multi-hospital health system in the Midwest, overseeing community benefit and outreach initiatives. Winters died in office. 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, although the results of the election were so close, they not certified until weeks after the election. 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.

Electoral history