Lisa Reynolds

Lisa Reynolds

Democratic Party

Candidate, Oregon State Senate District 17

Oregon State Senate District 17

Tenure

2024 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

0

Predecessor

Elizabeth Steiner Hayward

Prior offices

Oregon House of Representatives District 36

Successor: Hai Pham

Predecessor: Akasha Lawrence-Spence

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Oregon House of Representatives District 34

Successor: Mari Watanabe

Predecessor: Ken Helm

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Compensation

Base salary

$35,052/year

Per diem

$157/day

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 3, 2026

Appointed

November 14, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of Chicago, 1986

Medical

University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, 1991

Personal

Birthplace

Park Forest, Ill.

Profession

Pediatrician

Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Official Instagram

Official YouTube

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Personal website

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Lisa Reynolds (Democratic Party) is a member of the Oregon State Senate, representing District 17. She assumed office on December 9, 2024. Her current term ends on January 11, 2027.

Reynolds (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the Oregon State Senate to represent District 17. She declared candidacy for the 2026 election.^[source]

Reynolds served as State Representative for Oregon House of Representatives District 36 from 2021 to 2023.

Biography

Lisa Reynolds was born in Park Forest, Illinois. Reynolds earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago in 1986 and an M.D. from the UCLA School of Medicine in 1991. Her career experience includes working as a pediatrician with The Children's Clinic, a pediatric resident with Harbor UCLA Medical Center, and chief resident in pediatrics with Randall Children's Hospital Portland. Reynolds co-founded Indivisible Oregon and has been a member of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, the Oregon Pediatric Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

Reynolds was assigned to the following committees:

• Early Childhood Committee, Chair
• Judiciary Committee

2021-2022

Reynolds was assigned to the following committees:

• Behavioral Health Committee
• Early Childhood Committee, Vice chair
• Water Committee

Sponsored legislation

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.

Elections

2026

See also: Oregon State Senate elections, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for Oregon State Senate District 17

Incumbent Lisa Reynolds is running in the general election for Oregon State Senate District 17 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Lisa Reynolds (D)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2024

See also: Oregon House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Oregon House of Representatives District 34

Incumbent Lisa Reynolds defeated John Verbeek in the general election for Oregon House of Representatives District 34 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lisa Reynolds (D / Independent Party)	71.5	22,572
		John Verbeek (R)	28.4	8,973
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	44

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 31,589
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 34

Incumbent Lisa Reynolds advanced from the Democratic primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 34 on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lisa Reynolds	99.6	5,020
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4	22

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,042
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 34

John Verbeek advanced from the Republican primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 34 on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Verbeek	98.3	1,876
		Other/Write-in votes	1.7	33

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,909
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Reynolds in this election.

2022

See also: Oregon House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Oregon House of Representatives District 34

Incumbent Lisa Reynolds defeated John Woods in the general election for Oregon House of Representatives District 34 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lisa Reynolds (D / Independent Party / Working Families Party)	68.7	19,354
	Submit photo	John Woods (R)	31.2	8,801
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	30

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 28,185
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 34

Incumbent Lisa Reynolds defeated Jennifer Kinzey in the Democratic primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 34 on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lisa Reynolds	84.8	5,890
	Submit photo	Jennifer Kinzey	14.7	1,022
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	32

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,944
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 34

John Woods advanced from the Republican primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 34 on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	John Woods	98.6	2,331
		Other/Write-in votes	1.4	34

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,365
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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2020

See also: Oregon House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Oregon House of Representatives District 36

Lisa Reynolds defeated James Ball in the general election for Oregon House of Representatives District 36 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lisa Reynolds (D / Working Families Party)	83.1	34,577
		James Ball (R)	16.8	6,986
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	66

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 41,629
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 36

Lisa Reynolds defeated Laurie Wimmer, Rob Fullmer, and Adam Meyer in the Democratic primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 36 on May 19, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lisa Reynolds	43.3	7,476
		Laurie Wimmer	35.8	6,177
		Rob Fullmer	13.2	2,288
	Submit photo	Adam Meyer	7.5	1,301
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	35

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 17,277
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 36

James Ball advanced from the Republican primary for Oregon House of Representatives District 36 on May 19, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Ball	97.5	1,431
		Other/Write-in votes	2.5	37

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,468
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Reynolds' endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Lisa Reynolds has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Lisa Reynolds asking her to fill out the survey. If you are Lisa Reynolds, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's Ballotpedia profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 22,000 candidates have taken Ballotpedia's candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

You can ask Lisa Reynolds to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing lisa@lisafororegon.com.

2024

Lisa Reynolds did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Lisa Reynolds did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Lisa Reynolds completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Reynolds' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Lisa Reynolds. I am a physician, an activist and a Democratic candidate for the Oregon legislatures.

My career as a pediatrician has been very rewarding. And it's shown me what is and what is not working for Oregon families. I've long felt I'd like to do more for families than what I can accomplish in the exam room.

I've been an activist on firearm injury prevention with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense. As Moms' volunteer state legislative lead for two years, I've helped empower hundreds of volunteers to come to Salem, meet with their legislators and help pass laws that save lives. I'm also a founder and an organizer with Indivisible Oregon, which works to thwart the Trump agenda through actions and election work. These experiences motivated me to run for office.

My priorities: healthcare for all, improved access to mental health services, gun violence prevention, supportive, affordable housing and action on the climate crisis.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I've been on the front lines, seeing kids in my office (and on telehealth visits) who likely have coronavirus. I'm steeped in the numbers and the science as I distill information to help patients and voters navigate this pandemic. I've announced my Oregon Pandemic Recovery Act. Now, more than ever, we need medical experts in the legislature. And others agree. I'm endorsed by Willamette Week, The Oregonian and The Portland Tribune.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I am uniquely qualified for this moment to lead Oregon through the response and recovery from the COVID pandemic.
• We need fresh perspective in Salem, not business as usual bureaucrats.
• My experience as a small business owner brings a unique perspective to Salem.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

We need health care for all Oregonians. This includes mental health services - we need a robust rebuilding of our mental health workforce so that we can take care of Oregonians mental health needs before they become worse.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity. Hard work. Compromise. Knowledge.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am a good communicator. I am smart and hard working. I get along well with others and can make quick connections with people.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To take alot of information and make informed decisions. To be accountable to constituents.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Lisa Reynolds improved the health of every Oregonian and help Oregon recover from the pandemic.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Crossing to Safety. A perfect novel about complicated friendships.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Born to Run

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

My brother's severe mental illness. It's a constant worry and I wish I could do more for him.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe some experience is helpful, but it's more important to have real world experience - running a business, for example. I like Oregon's tradition of citizen legislators - folks who serve but also have careers outside of the legislature.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

Our biggest challenge is and will be the recovery from the economic devastation of the COVID pandemic.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

There needs to be transparency.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely. When you have relationships with your colleagues, regardless of party, it is easier to come to consensus.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Health Care

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Alissa Keny Guyer

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I do not have plans for that at this time.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I spoke to a voter two weeks ago who is really struggling. She cannot get through to the Oregon Employment Department and needs to have her UI started ASAP. She has lost her work in the pandemic.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Lisa Reynolds campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	Oregon House of Representatives District 34	Won general	$140,960	$176,709
2022	Oregon House of Representatives District 34	Won general	$133,085	$130,205
2020	Oregon House of Representatives District 36	Won general	$193,624	N/A**
Grand total			$467,668	$306,914
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Oregon

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states.  To contribute to the list of Oregon scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

2024

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show].
In 2024, the Oregon State Legislature was in session from Februrary 5 to March 7. Humane Oregon: Senate and House Legislators are scored on bills related to animal issues. National Federation of Independent Business Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues. Oregon League of Conservation Voters Legislators are scored on their votes related to the environment.

2023

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show].

In 2023, the Oregon State Legislature was in session from January 17 to June 25. Humane Oregon: Senate and House Legislators are scored on bills related to animal issues. Oregon AFSCME Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues. Oregon League of Conservation Voters: Senate and House Legislators are scored on their votes related to the environment. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2022

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show].

In 2022, the Oregon State Legislature was in session from February 1 to March 4. Humane Oregon: Senate and House Legislators are scored on bills related to animal issues. National Federation of Independent Business Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues. Oregon AFSCME Legislators are scored on their votes on labor issues. Oregon League of Conservation Voters: Senate and House Legislators are scored on their votes related to the environment. Oregon State Chamber of Commerce Legislators are scored on their stances related to taxes, economic development, housing, environmental regulations, and business.

2021

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show].

In 2021, the Oregon State Legislature was in session from January 21 to June 26. Humane Oregon: Senate and House Legislators are scored on bills related to animal issues. Oregon League of Conservation Voters Legislators are scored on their votes related to the environment. Oregon State Chamber of Commerce Legislators are scored on their stances related to taxes, economic development, housing, environmental regulations, and business. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

See also

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Candidate

Oregon State Senate District 17

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Oregon State Senate District 17

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D)	Oregon State Senate District 17 2024-Present	Succeeded by -
Preceded by Ken Helm (D)	Oregon House of Representatives District 34 2023-2024	Succeeded by Mari Watanabe (D)
Preceded by Akasha Lawrence-Spence (D)	Oregon House of Representatives District 36 2021-2023	Succeeded by Hai Pham (D)

[show]

Current members of the Oregon State Senate

Leadership

Senate President:Rob Wagner

Majority Leader:Kayse Jama

Minority Leader:Daniel Bonham

Senators

District 1

David Smith (R)

District 2

Noah Robinson (R)

District 3

Jeff Golden (D)

District 4

Floyd Prozanski (D)

District 5

Dick Anderson (R)

District 6

Cedric Hayden (R)

District 7

James Manning (D)

District 8

Sara Gelser Blouin (D)

District 9

Fred Girod (R)

District 10

Deb Patterson (D)

District 11

Kim Thatcher (R)

District 12

Bruce Starr (R)

District 13

Courtney Neron (D)

District 14

Kate Lieber (D)

District 15

Janeen Sollman (D)

District 16

Suzanne Weber (R)

District 17

Lisa Reynolds (D)

District 18

WInsvey Campos (D)

District 19

Rob Wagner (D)

District 20

Mark Meek (D)

District 21

Kathleen Taylor (D)

District 22

Lew Frederick (D)

District 23

Khanh Pham (D)

District 24

Kayse Jama (D)

District 25

Chris Gorsek (D)

District 26

Daniel Bonham (R)

District 27

Anthony Broadman (D)

District 28

Diane Linthicum (R)

District 29

Todd Nash (R)

District 30

Mike McLane (R)

Democratic Party (18)

Republican Party (12)