MEDFORD, Ore. (Sep. 29, 2026) — With the 2026 general election approaching, Medford Alert News interviewed the two major-party candidates seeking to represent Oregon Senate District 3: Republican Brad Hicks and Democrat Denise Krause.
The district includes much of Southern Oregon, including Medford, Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Jacksonville, Ruch and portions of the surrounding region. The seat is currently held by Democratic Sen. Jeff Golden, who is not seeking reelection.
Medford Alert News asked both candidates the same questions covering public safety, wildfire, taxes, education, health care, housing, transportation, energy, economic development and their approach to serving Southern Oregon.
The candidates were selected based on being the two highest-polling candidates in their respective races. The order in which their answers appear in the article is based solely on the alphabetical order of their last names.
The candidates’ responses below are presented as submitted to Medford Alert News. Responses have not been paraphrased or altered.
1. What are your top three priorities if elected to the Oregon State Senate, and why?
Brad Hicks
My top priority is to bring the ABCs back to Salem: affordability, balance, and common sense.
Affordability comes first because it is what I hear about most from families and small business owners across Southern Oregon. Our state has the highest individual income tax burden in America, has the highest unemployment of any state, and is ranked #47 for affordability. In the Senate, I will be Southern Oregon’s affordability champion. I will oppose new tax increases, fight for working class tax relief, tackle the housing crisis, support small business, and fight for policies that keep good-paying jobs in Oregon instead of driving them out.
Balance means making sure Southern Oregon has a seat at the table. Salem works best when legislators are willing to listen and work together. For nearly 30 years at The Chamber and around 22 of those years as President and CEO of the Chamber of Medford & Jackson County, I worked with Democrats, Republicans, and everyone in between to deliver real results for our community. I will bring that same approach to the Senate and be an independent voice for this district, not a rubber stamp.
Common Sense means focusing on the problems that matter most here at home: investing in wildfire prevention and active forest management, raising standards in our schools so every child has the chance to succeed, and giving law enforcement the support they need to keep our neighborhoods safe.
I grew up in Grants Pass, went to Southern Oregon University, and have spent my career here. I am not a career politician. I am running because I believe Southern Oregon deserves a senator who puts results ahead of politics.
Denise Krause
Access to healthcare is one of my top priorities. Rural hospitals and clinics are closing, doctors are in short supply, and Oregon could lose out on $15 billion in federal funding for Medicaid and SNAP programs. While knocking on doors, I’ve heard countless stories of people losing their physicians or their health insurance, and being forced to wait months for critical appointments, or travel great distances to access care. On a personal level, I was diagnosed with breast cancer as a single mom and was denied treatment by my insurance company. But I fought back – and won treatment for me and the countless women who come behind me. We cannot continue to let profit-hungry insurance companies deny lifesaving care to people. As your State Senator with a background in preventive medicine, increasing access to affordable healthcare is one of my top priorities. I will pick up where the late Senator Alan Bates left off and begin with stabilizing and expanding the Oregon Health Plan.
Bringing down the cost of living is another one of my top priorities. People are getting squeezed. Costs of housing, utilities, groceries, gas, and more are going through the roof. I am dedicated to making sure that families can continue to live and work in Southern Oregon. This is why bringing down the cost of living is another of my key issues and I will prioritize policies that lower costs for everyday Oregonians.
Oregon has faced devastating wildfires with increasing severity as we continue to experience hotter, drier summers. These uncharacteristic fire events have devastated communities and had detrimental effects on public health. Wildfires are costly, they displace families, and leave scars on the environment around us. Increasing wildfire resilience and preparedness will help protect families, communities, and the environment around us.
2. What do you believe is the most pressing issue facing Southern Oregon residents today, and what specifically would you do to address it?
Brad Hicks
The most pressing issue is affordability, and it is the direct result of one-party rule in Salem. We’ve knocked on thousands of doors and these are the issues that come up nearly everytime. With no real check on its power, Salem has raised taxes, piled on regulations, and made life more expensive for working families. Southern Oregon does not need another senator who will rubber-stamp Tina Kotek’s failed agenda.
In the Senate, I will oppose new tax increases, fight for tax cuts, speed up permitting to lower the cost of housing, and push back on one-size-fits-all mandates that do not fit our region. I have spent nearly 30 years working across the political spectrum to get results for this community. I will not be a rubber stamp for any party. I will answer to the people of Southern Oregon.
Denise Krause
Access to healthcare is the most pressing issue facing Southern Oregon residents today. A lack of primary care, preventive treatment, specialty care, and health insurance coverage, means individuals may not seek care until they are experiencing a health crisis. This results in significantly higher costs for individuals and for the system as a whole. I will address this by advocating for more investment in prevention and prioritizing getting people insured.
3. What steps would you take to improve public safety and address concerns surrounding crime, repeat offenders, fentanyl and illegal drug activity?
Brad Hicks
In the Senate, I will support stronger sentences for fentanyl dealers and drug and human traffickers, especially those who target young people. I will work to hold repeat offenders accountable so the same small group of people is not cycling through the system again and again. I will also push the state to fix the public defender shortage, because cases should not be dismissed simply because the system cannot keep up.
At the same time, we need more treatment capacity so people struggling with addiction have a real path to recovery.
Finally, I will make sure our local sheriffs and police departments have the funding and resources they need. I am proud to be endorsed by Sheriff Nate Sickler, former Medford Police Chief Tim George, the Oregon Coalition of Police & Sheriffs, the Oregon Chiefs of Police Association, and Oregon’s Sheriff. I will stand with them in Salem.
Denise Krause
Accessible mental health and drug addiction treatment are critical to improving public safety and addressing concerns around crime, repeat offenders, fentanyl, and illegal drug activity. Individuals need the supportive services to be able to progress from addiction to recovery and reintegration back into the community as healthy law-abiding citizens.
4. What changes, if any, should Oregon make to its criminal justice and sentencing policies?
Brad Hicks
Oregon’s criminal justice system should put victims and public safety first. Too often, Salem has done the opposite, passing laws that shorten sentences and reduce accountability.
Senate Bill 1008 is a clear example. It requires parole hearings for juveniles convicted as adults, regardless of the severity of their crime. That has forced families like Sahara Dwight’s back in front of the Parole Board to fight to keep their child’s killer behind bars after he had only served a small part of two life sentences. That is wrong. In the Senate, I will lead the effort to amend the law so that anyone convicted of aggravated murder is not eligible for early release. My opponent like to misconstrue this as supporting ICE…this is common sense and supporting the safety of Oregonians.
Public safety should not be partisan. It is about right and wrong, keeping Oregonians safe, and delivering justice for victims and their families.
Denise Krause
Access to rehabilitation services is a critical reform needed for the Oregon criminal justice system. I had my own experience with substance abuse. Because I was able to take part in an inpatient rehab program, my life was changed and I am now 34 years sober. These services give individuals a chance for a better life and create a safer, more productive society.
5. Southern Oregon continues to face significant wildfire risk. What would you do at the state level to improve wildfire prevention, forest management and emergency preparedness?
Brad Hicks
Oregon’s wildfire strategy needs to be proactive, not reactive. That starts with active forest management. The state can do much far more to partner with federal agencies to thin overgrown forests, expand prescribed burns, and clear the fuels that feed catastrophic fires. Healthy forests and a healthy timber industry go hand in hand.
I will also push for stable, predictable funding for firefighting and for our rural fire districts, along with support for homeowners who want to create defensible space. Property owners should be treated as partners, not handed top-down mandates like Salem’s failed wildfire hazard map.
Finally, emergency preparedness must be a priority. That means reliable emergency alerts, clear evacuation routes, and relief from rising insurance costs. I will work to deliver insurance price transparency and secure credits for homeowners who take preventive measures to protect their property.
Denise Krause
I would promote investment in evidence-based forest maintenance practices and community wildfire protection plans. Healthy forests are a crucial barrier to the devastating effects of wildfire.
In addition to this I want to encourage community-building and community conversations.. Individuals living in Southern Oregon have an intimate understanding of the needs of the region. We must work together to keep each other safe during times of emergency.
6. What is your position on increasing state support for rural fire districts and emergency services?
Brad Hicks
I support it. Rural fire districts and emergency responders are often the first on the scene when disaster strikes, yet many operate on tight budgets and depend heavily on volunteers. In a region as large and fire-prone as ours, that is not a sustainable model.
In the Senate, I will push for stable, long-term state support instead of one-time grants that leave districts guessing from year to year. That support should help with the basics: modern equipment, training, and the ability to recruit and keep firefighters, paramedics, and volunteers. I will also work to improve emergency response times in rural areas, where families can wait far too long for an ambulance.
This does not require new taxes. It requires Salem to set the right priorities. Keeping our communities safe is one of the most basic responsibilities of state government, and it should come before new programs and wasteful spending.
Denise Krause
Public safety services are critical to our community and often rural areas are being left behind. I support increasing support for rural fire districts and emergency services. I am proud to be endorsed by the Trooper PAC, representing Oregon State Police Officers.
As your State Senator, I intend to work alongside emergency service providers of all kinds to ensure Southern Oregon is receiving the support needed to keep our families safe.
7. Oregon continues to face a housing affordability and homelessness crisis. What specific policies would you support to increase housing availability and address homelessness?
Brad Hicks
The core of the housing crisis is supply. We are not building enough homes, and state rules make it slower and more expensive to build the ones we need. I will support firm state timelines for permit decisions, slash red tape to lower the regulatory fees that drive up the price of new homes, and give local communities more flexibility. I will also support every type of housing, including manufactured homes, which remain one of the most affordable paths to ownership, and preserving the affordable housing we already have. The Governor says we need to build 36,000 new homes a year to get out of this hole…but we’re building around 14,000. That gap comes as a result of bad policies that betray those goals.
On homelessness, Oregon has spent billions of dollars with too little to show for it. Every dollar should be tied to measurable results. I will support expanding addiction and mental health treatment, since those are often the root causes, and partnering with local nonprofits and faith-based organizations that already know how to get people off the street.
I strongly believe local communities, not Salem, are best positioned to decide how to manage public spaces. Our cities need the flexibility to keep parks, sidewalks, and neighborhoods safe and clean for everyone.
Denise Krause
I believe we need to support responsible home development. Increasing housing availability is a necessary piece of addressing housing affordability and homelessness, but we must also ensure that we are building housing that meets the needs of our region and that we are creating housing that Southern Oregonians can afford.
Homelessness is a systemic issue. There is no single cause or solution, so it is important to address homelessness holistically. Individuals experiencing homelessness often need a hand up, including access to care, mental health and addiction services, to support their transition back to stable housing.
8. What is your position on Oregon’s current tax structure? Would you support increasing, reducing or restructuring any state taxes or fees?
Brad Hicks
Oregonians are already paying more than enough. Our state has one of the heaviest tax burdens in the country, yet families are not seeing better schools, safer streets, or better roads in return. Salem does not have a revenue problem. It has a spending and priorities problem.
I will strongly oppose new taxes and fee increases. Voters sent a clear message in May when they overwhelmingly rejected Measure 120 and its gas tax increase, and Salem should listen. I will also protect the kicker, which returns surplus revenue to the taxpayers who earned it, and oppose any sales tax.
Where I would support change is in reducing the burden on working families and small businesses. That means lowering income tax rates for middle-income Oregonians and lowering taxes on small businesses.
Denise Krause
Oregon is in crisis. The system clearly isn’t working for the everyday person. Many individuals can’t afford healthcare, the cost of rent or housing, utilities, and groceries. They can’t afford more taxes.
This is an opportunity to look at the entire system to understand where the disconnects are, to fix our broken healthcare system, prevent private equity from buying up our single family homes, and prevent price gouging.
9. What areas of state spending do you believe should receive greater funding, and where could the state reduce spending?
Brad Hicks
The state should focus its dollars on the core services Oregonians count on. I would prioritize public safety, including support for local law enforcement and addiction treatment. I would prioritize wildfire prevention and our rural fire districts. I support saving higher education from its current death spiral and I would prioritize K-12 education, with money directed into classrooms and teachers rather than administration.
At the same time, Salem needs to get its own house in order. The Secretary of State’s most recent accountability report found $2.5 billion in accounting errors across state agencies in 2025, up $700 million from the year before. Oregonians deserve a government that is transparent, accountable, and focused on results.
In the Senate, I will support an independent office to audit how state services are delivered and identify savings. I will push for an annual public report showing the true cost of state fees, regulations, and permit delays on Oregon families and employers. I will also support a public scorecard that measures whether state programs are actually working. Programs that cannot show measurable results should have to justify their funding before they receive more.
Before asking taxpayers for more, Salem, like we do in our personal budgets, should prove it can manage what it already has.
Denise Krause
Oregon is facing a deep budget crisis. In the upcoming biennium the expected gap is $421 million as a result of HR1, Trump’s so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill”. This gap will only continue to widen as the impacts of HR1 roll out. There are several important areas I think should be prioritized. First is healthcare, protecting our most vulnerable community members, and improving access to preventive care as a method of cost savings down the road.
Education is another area that I believe should be protected. Ensuring a quality education for all of our children regardless of if they live in an urban or rural area has a massive impact on Oregon’s economic future.
Finally, wildfire preparedness should also be prioritized. This is another key area where upfront investment results in exponentially higher savings down the line. We reduce spending by auditing and increasing efficiencies in existing programs.
10. What would you do to encourage economic development, job creation and business investment in Southern Oregon?
Brad Hicks
For nearly 30 years as President and CEO of the Chamber of Medford & Jackson County, I worked alongside local employers to grow our economy and create jobs. I know what businesses need to succeed here: certainty, a skilled workforce, and a state government that works with them instead of against them.I was honored to be named the 2022 Oregon Jobs Champion by Oregon Business & Industries for a lifetime of work to grow good paying jobs in Oregon.
In the Senate, I will focus on three areas. First, I will work to get more industrial land ready for development. Too many businesses that want to expand or relocate to Southern Oregon cannot find a site that has the roads, water, and utilities they need. The state should partner with local communities to make those sites ready to build.
Second, I will support workforce training that matches the jobs available here. That means strengthening partnerships among employers, Rogue Community College, Southern Oregon University, and our high schools. It means expanding apprenticeships and career and technical education so young people can build a future without leaving the region.
Third, I will push back on regulations that make it harder to do business in Oregon. Our small businesses, farms, ranches, timber operations, and manufacturers are the backbone of our economy, and they deserve a government that respects them.
When Southern Oregon businesses succeed, our families and communities succeed.
Denise Krause
I would advocate for investment in both higher education and healthcare. Investment in higher education allows Oregon’s students to stay in state and promotes workforce development. Strong workforce development in turn, attracts business investment.
Investment in healthcare is another way in which Oregon can promote economic development. Health insurance is a heavy burden for business owners, especially small business owners, to carry. State support can lessen this burden and help Oregon become a more business-friendly state.
11. What changes would you support to improve Oregon’s K-12 education system?
Brad Hicks
Oregon’s students deserve better. Our state ranks 50th in the nation in fourth-grade math and reading, and too many students are graduating without the basic skills they need to succeed. This is the result of politicians who put Salem special interests first and our children last.
Changing the status quo starts with more time in the classroom. Oregon has one of the shortest school years in the country, and roughly one in three students is chronically absent. Students cannot learn if they are not in school. I will support a longer school year, more instructional time, and real partnerships with parents and communities to get kids back in class every day.
Further, I will restore accountability in education. For years, Oregon has allowed school districts to simply certify for themselves that they are following state education rules, with little oversight or enforcement. One district used a non-compliant reading curriculum for an entire decade and faced no consequences. At the same time, Salem suspended the requirement that students prove proficiency in reading, writing, and math before graduating. Common sense means holding our schools accountable for results, not just taking their word for it. That’s exactly what I will do. I will restore rigorous graduation requirements so a diploma means a student is fully prepared for their journey after high school and restore accountability.
My opponent is backed by the same special interests that fought to lower standards, weaken accountability, shrink our school year, and have left our children behind. Enough is enough. It’s time for real education reform that sets our children up for a lifetime of success.
Denise Krause
I will work hard to support teachers and ensure that they have a voice at the table. Teachers are stretched thin with large class sizes and chronic absenteeism. It is critical that their voices and firsthand accounts are heard and taken seriously.
Oregon’s rates of chronic absenteeism continue to be significantly higher than the national average while simultaneously ranking near the bottom in instructional hours per year. I will explore the best way to address truancy and extend the school year while simultaneously ensuring that teachers and staff members are adequately supported and compensated.
Strong accountability measures must underscore our education system to ensure that our tax dollars are reaching our kids and educators first.
12. What role should vocational education, apprenticeships and career-technical education play in Oregon’s education system?
Brad Hicks
A central one. Not every student needs a four-year degree to build a successful career, and we should stop treating that path as the only one that counts. Across Southern Oregon, employers in construction, manufacturing, health care, agriculture, and the skilled trades cannot find enough trained workers. These are good-paying jobs that let young people build a future right here at home.
In the Senate, I will support protecting and expanding funding for career and technical education in our high schools, so more students can explore hands-on programs before they graduate. I will also support expanding dual-credit and pre-apprenticeship programs that let students earn college credit or industry certifications while still in high school.
We should also make it easier for experienced professionals, such as electricians, welders, and nurses, to teach these courses without facing unnecessary licensing barriers.
As President and CEO of the Chamber, I saw firsthand how powerful partnerships between schools and employers can be. When students gain real skills and local businesses gain the workers they need, our whole community wins.
Denise Krause
All types of post-secondary education in Oregon must be coordinated. Vocational education, apprenticeships, and career-technical education are critical elements of preparing our workforce. These types of programs must be supported, along with community colleges and universities.
Oregon must also use strong accountability measures to help institutions work in tandem as a coordinated system to provide students a variety of options to pursue their passions.
13. Rural Oregon continues to face challenges accessing health care and behavioral health services. What would you do to improve access?
Brad Hicks
Access starts with people. Rural communities across Southern Oregon struggle to recruit and keep doctors, nurses, and mental health providers, and families too often must wait months for care or drive hours to get it.
In the Senate, I will support expanding loan repayment and incentive programs for providers who commit to practicing in rural areas, along with more residency and training opportunities outside the Portland metro area. Providers who train here are far more likely to stay here. I will also support interstate licensing compacts that make it easier for qualified health professionals to practice in Oregon, and I will work to protect access to telehealth.
On behavioral health, we need more crisis stabilization and treatment beds close to home, so people in crisis do not end up in emergency rooms or jail cells because there is nowhere else to go. I will also push to reduce the paperwork and regulatory burden that keeps providers buried in forms instead of caring for patients.
Rural Oregonians deserve the same access to care as everyone else, and I will fight to make sure they get it.
Denise Krause
Investments in health care and behavioral health services are critical to the future of Oregon. At the same time Oregon is facing an incredible budget crisis. People are losing access to lifesaving services. Just last week the Oregon Health Authority sent letters to inform people they were losing access to their health coverage.
Healthcare is at a crisis point. This implosion of our healthcare system presents a painful opportunity to assess the system as a whole. It is time to find the inefficiencies and breaks in the system and work collectively and creatively to build solutions that benefit all Oregonians.
14. What should Oregon’s transportation priorities be over the next four years, particularly regarding roads, bridges and infrastructure in Southern Oregon?
Brad Hicks
Oregon’s first transportation priority should be simple: take care of the roads and bridges we already have. Too many Southern Oregon highways, county roads, and bridges are aging and in need of repair, and they carry the freight, commuters, and emergency vehicles our region depends on.
Voters sent a clear message in May when they rejected Measure 120 and its gas tax increase. Before Salem asks for more, ODOT must show it is spending wisely. State auditors could not even verify whether ODOT’s highway construction program was following federal rules because the agency did not provide the information they needed. That is unacceptable.
In the Senate, I will push for a fix-it-first approach that puts maintenance, safety, and seismic upgrades ahead of costly Portland-area megaprojects. I will fight to make sure rural counties and cities receive their fair share of state transportation dollars, and I will support investments in the I-5 corridor and freight routes that keep Southern Oregon businesses moving.
Every transportation dollar should be spent on roads and bridges that Oregonians actually use, and every dollar should be accounted for.
Denise Krause
Transportation in Oregon is currently under great strain due to the failure of the legislature to pass a transportation package. Oregon’s Department of Transportation (ODOT) is experiencing a budget deficit of over $200 million.
The cost of deferred maintenance will add significantly to that strain. This is not a partisan issue – it’s about safety and logistics. We all rely on roads and bridges and safe transportation, and many people rely on public transit to get to work, school, and essential services.
But a bipartisan transportation solution must not burden working families who are already squeezed by rising costs. Our legislature has got to work together to pass a transportation package.
15. How should Oregon balance environmental and climate policies with the need for affordable and reliable energy?
Brad Hicks
Oregonians care deeply about our environment, and protecting it matters to me. But climate policy should not come at the expense of families who are already struggling to pay their power bills. Southern Oregon households have seen utility rates climb sharply in recent years, and the people who can least afford it are hit the hardest.
A commonsense energy policy protects both our environment and our pocketbooks. That means an all-of-the-above approach that keeps power reliable and affordable. I will support protecting our hydropower dams, which provide clean, low-cost energy, and speeding up permitting for new energy projects. I also see real opportunity in biomass from forest thinning, which can reduce wildfire risk while producing local energy and jobs.
I will oppose mandates that limit families’ energy choices or drive up costs without a clear benefit. I strongly believe that major policies which affect every Oregonian’s cost of living should be decided by elected legislators accountable to voters, not imposed through agency rulemaking.
Denise Krause
Oregon must realize that investments in environmental and climate policies are investments that will save costs down the line. They are important resiliency tools that help protect communities against the ever growing threats from climate change. However, the weight of these transitions cannot rest on the everyday person. Corporations must pay their fair share to protect the health of our state.
I am increasingly concerned about the impact of unchecked data centers on our communities. As Oregonians struggle to make ends meet, data centers are jacking up utility bills and using up our water. We cannot afford to let these data centers continue to overburden our communities.
I am proud to say that I have not accepted a single dollar from large corporations or energy companies that are investing in data centers.
16. What is your position on Oregon’s current policies involving electric vehicles, natural gas and other energy sources?
Brad Hicks
My position is simple: Oregonians should have the freedom to choose the energy and vehicles that work best for their families, and state policy should not pick winners and losers.
On electric vehicles, I support giving drivers more options, but I oppose the state’s mandate to phase out the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. That rule may work for some urban drivers, but it does not fit rural Southern Oregon, where people drive long distances, tow trailers, and deal with limited charging access.
On natural gas, I oppose any effort to ban gas hookups or appliances. Natural gas keeps homes warm and businesses running, and many families rely on it during our coldest winter months.
Looking ahead, Oregon should keep every reliable, low-carbon option on the table, including hydropower, geothermal, and next-generation nuclear technology. A diverse energy mix is the best way to keep power affordable and dependable.
Denise Krause
I support clean energy development, I think it is an important step in environmental regulation. Clean energy development also creates important job opportunities that support workers and their families. At the same time, we cannot allow these developments to unduly burden everyday Oregonians.
Utility prices are squeezing individuals and straining families. We must stop allowing unchecked data centers in the state to jack up prices for our communities, and stop giving them tax breaks that ultimately shift the burden back to the taxpayers. Clean energy policies need to be applied equally.
17. How would you ensure Southern Oregon receives appropriate representation and state resources when major policy decisions are being made in Salem?
Brad Hicks
Southern Oregon too often gets treated as an afterthought in Salem. I fought against it my entire career and I’ll continue that fight in Salem. That has to change, and it starts with electing a senator who answers to this district, not to a political party.
I will not be a rubber stamp for any one party. I will be an independent voice who works with legislators from both parties to build coalitions that deliver real results for our region. For nearly 30 years as President and CEO of the Chamber, I built relationships with leaders across the political spectrum, and I will use those relationships to make sure Southern Oregon has a seat at the table.
I will work closely with our local leaders and I will hold regular listening sessions across the district so decisions in Salem reflect what I hear at home.
Denise Krause
I am deeply committed to being a strong voice for Southern Oregon in Salem. I have worked hard to make connections and build relationships with other current and future legislators which further allows me to advocate effectively for the region.
18. What is one policy you believe the Oregon Legislature has gotten wrong in recent years, and what would you change?
Brad Hicks
The clearest example is the gas tax increase the Legislature passed in 2025. At a time when Oregon families were already struggling with the cost of living, Salem chose to raise the price of driving, a burden that falls hardest on communities like ours.
Oregonians pushed back. Voters gathered enough signatures to refer the tax to the November ballot, where the most people would have a say. Instead of respecting that, legislators changed the rules and moved the vote to the May primary, when turnout is lower. Voters rejected Measure 120 anyway, but the Salem supermajority’s message was clear: they do not care about the struggles of working class Oregonians nor do they respect our voices.
I would change the approach entirely. Before any new transportation revenue is considered, ODOT should undergo a full independent audit, commit to a fix-it-first plan that prioritizes maintenance and safety, and guarantee rural communities their fair share. Any future proposal should be built with both parties and with the voters, not forced through and then rejected at the ballot box. Equally, the Corporate Activity Tax that has been driving home-grown companies from our state.
Denise Krause
Our public education system is in a state of emergency. Investing in our kids and prioritizing education must be a priority, both in terms of funding and improving student performance outcomes. Oregon ranks 46th in the nation in funding education, but that is predominately due to underfunding higher education. Despite better funding for K-12 (ranking around 27th in the nation), Oregon fourth graders ranked third lowest nationally in both reading and math.
Addressing the budget crisis by decreasing hours or days in the classroom is not the answer. We need to look to states like Mississippi (yes, Mississippi!) that drastically improved student performance by making a series of policy, curriculum, and pedagogical changes initiated at the state level. Mississippi’s success has been dubbed the Mississippi Miracle and also applies to some other Southern states, referred to as the Southern Surge.
I will advocate for policies that help improve educational outcomes and help our students and schools achieve a high level of success.
19. If your party leadership asked you to support legislation that you believed was harmful to your district, how would you respond?
Brad Hicks
I would not support that legislation and I would vote no without hesitation. I am not running for State Senate to be a rubber-stamp for any political party or party leadership. I am running to put the needs of Southern Jackson first, no exceptions. Whenever there is a vote on a bill I believe is harmful to our district, I will vote no, no matter the political pressure or repercussions.
Denise Krause
I am not a rubber stamp for any political party or special interest. I am running to represent Southern Oregon’s Senate District 3. I would encourage further conversation to help my party leadership understand the implications of such legislation for my constituents. I will not vote against the best interests of my district. If party leadership and I cannot come to a compromise, I am committed to the people I represent.
20. What is the strongest argument you believe your opponent has made during this campaign?
Brad Hicks
My opponent has spoken about the importance of Southern Oregon University, and on that, we agree. SOU is personal for me. I am a proud graduate, and I have seen firsthand what it means to our region. It trains our teachers, nurses, and business leaders, drives our local economy, and gives young people a reason to build their futures here instead of leaving. It is no bold claim to say that no one has done more to preserve SOU in this campaign than me. I’ll continue to be a champion for our regional higher education institution while holding them accountable as well.
Denise Krause
I think the strongest argument that my opponent, Republican Brad Hicks, has made is that enough is enough. As a non-establishment candidate, I am ready to work quickly and collaboratively to improve Southern Oregon.
21. What do you believe distinguishes you from your opponent and makes you the better choice for voters?
Brad Hicks
The biggest difference is experience. I am a longtime Southern Oregonian with real-world experience and a proven record of delivering real results. I grew up in Grants Pass, attended Southern Oregon University, and spent nearly 30 years as President and CEO of the Chamber of Medford & Jackson County, working with Democrats, Republicans, and everyone in between to grow our economy and strengthen our community. That record is why I am proudly endorsed by Southern Oregonians across the political spectrum. I am a bold independent leader who will always put the needs of Southern Oregon first, not politics or special interests.
On the other hand, my opponent will be another rubber stamp for the Salem special interests and out-of-touch politicians that have broken our state. Under Tina Kotek and one-party rule, our state has the highest unemployment rate in America, has the highest individual tax burden, is 47th for affordability, and our fourth graders rank dead last in reading and writing proficiency. The very same special interests and politicians who got us here are funding my opponent’s campaign because they know she will be another vote for their failed agenda. It’s time for change and time for new leadership, not more of the same. That is why I am the better choice for State Senate.
Denise Krause
I represent the 99%. I have earned the trust of healthcare workers, teachers, law enforcement, working people, and so many more. For the full list, check out the endorsement page on my website at denisekrause.com! These folks believe in me to advocate for them and their families because I understand their struggles and I care. I have experienced what it’s like to be denied care during the biggest fight of my life when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. When I moved to Ashland, my son and I spent a year living in a camper while I searched tirelessly, every single day, trying to find housing we could afford. Over the course of my career, I started at the bottom and worked hard climbing the ladder to a high-level position. I believe that hard work should lead to opportunity, not dead ends, and people should be able to retire with dignity.
In addition to understanding, I also have the qualifications. I have a Ph.D. in preventive medicine and spent my 25-year career as a public health expert fighting for increased access to healthcare and services. I’ve experienced both sides of the issue. My firsthand experience and my academic and professional background give me a unique set of skills to tackle the problems facing Southern Oregon.
22. If elected, what is one specific accomplishment voters should expect from you during your first legislative session?
Brad Hicks
Voters should expect me to introduce and lead the fight for a middle-class tax cut.
Oregonians pay one of the highest income tax burdens in the country, and working families feel it in every paycheck. At the same time, Salem keeps finding new ways to spend more. That is backwards.
In my first session, I will push legislation to lower income tax rates for middle-income Oregonians, so families keep more of what they earn. I will also work to raise the threshold for the Corporate Activity Tax so more small businesses are exempt, since those costs end up passed on to customers through higher prices.
Denise Krause
Voters should expect me to be a strong voice for Southern Oregon. I will not be a rubber stamp for any political party or special interest, instead I will advocate fiercely for the needs of this region.
23. What is one thing Oregon should stop doing, one thing it should start doing and one thing it should continue doing?
Brad Hicks
Oregon should stop writing one-size-fits-all policies in Salem and imposing them on communities that had no say. Rules designed for the Portland metro area rarely fit Southern Oregon. Further, too many major decisions are made through agency rulemaking instead of by elected legislators who are accountable to voters.
Oregon should start measuring results and demanding accountability. Every major state program should have clear goals and publicly report whether it is meeting them. If a program is not delivering, taxpayers deserve to know, and it should have to justify its funding before it receives more.
Continue: Oregon should continue its commitment to early literacy. The Legislature came together across party lines to invest in proven, science-based reading instruction, and that work should continue until every child is reading by third grade.
Denise Krause
Oregon must stop offering tax breaks to unchecked data centers that affect our environment and raise utility prices for communities.
We must start prioritizing people and quality of life over corporate interests and party lines.
Oregon must continue pushing back against aggressive, harmful federal government overreach that is stripping people of their healthcare, separating families, violating our human rights, and so much more.
24. Finally, in your own words, why should voters elect you to represent them in the Oregon State Senate?
Brad Hicks
Southern Oregon is my home. I grew up in Grants Pass, went to Southern Oregon University, and built my life here with my wife, Kimberly who also grew up here. We raised our Son, Jonathan here. Quite frankly, everything I have, I owe to this community.
For decades, I have had the privilege of serving as President and CEO of the Chamber of Medford & Jackson County. In that time, I worked with people from every background and political party to create jobs, support small businesses, and strengthen Southern Oregon. I learned that real progress comes from listening, finding common ground, and getting results.
That is the kind of senator I will be. Southern Oregonians deserve a government that tackles affordability, is balanced, and is guided by common sense. I will be our voice in Salem, fighting tirelessly day in and day out to deliver real results that improve your everyday life.
I believe that our best days are still ahead. I believe that we can make Southern Oregon the best place to live, work, and raise a family once more. That is why I am running for State Senate.
I would be honored to earn your vote. Let’s fix Salem, together.
Denise Krause
I am a fighter and I’m not afraid to take on special interests. Not only have I fought breast cancer and won, but I beat the insurance agency who denied me lifesaving treatment. I will bring that same determination to the legislature and fight for the 99%.
Our neighbors, kids, students, teachers, healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, and all kinds of working people deserve a strong advocate who understands their needs and will amplify their voices in Salem. I am a determined fighter who will work collaboratively to improve lives for everyday
Medford Alert News is committed to providing nonpartisan coverage of the 2026 election. For us, that means giving voters the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates themselves — including their full responses to the questions we asked.
We want to thank both Brad Hicks and Denise Krause for taking the time to talk with Medford Alert News and participate in our interview.
Our questions. Their answers. Your vote.
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