Biography
Denise Krause is the Democratic candidate for Oregon State Senate District 3 in the November 3, 2026 general election, facing Brad Hicks (R and Libertarian) and Clay Bearnson (Independent Party of Oregon and Pacific Green Party of Oregon).[1][2] She is a fourth-generation Oregonian with a 25-year career in healthcare and education, according to a Ballotpedia survey.[3]
Krause earned a Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2007, and her listed career experience is as a healthcare professional.[2] In her Ballotpedia survey response she described herself as a single mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and who, she said, successfully challenged her health insurer's denial of treatment.[3]
Krause won the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary for the seat with 35.2% of the vote, ahead of Tonia Moro with 34.1%, in a five-candidate field.[2] In her survey she said she would work on rising costs of living, including housing, groceries, utilities and childcare, through policies to control prices, boost wages and provide tax relief, and she described the healthcare system as in crisis, citing the cost of and distance to services, including mental health and addiction support.[3]
- 1.Oregon State Senate elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Denise Krause - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.Denise Krause - Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey (2026) · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Oregon Senate District 3
Denise Krause is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Oregon Senate District 3 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.