Michael E. Dembrow (born c. 1951) is an American Democratic politician from the US state of Oregon who represented District 23 (which contains northeastern Portland, Maywood Park and Parkrose) in the Oregon Senate from 2013 to 2025. Before his appointment to the Oregon Senate, Dembrow served in the Oregon House of Representatives serving District 45. Dembrow, formerly an English instructor at Portland Community College, served on Governor Ted Kulongoski's State Board of Higher Education. The Oregon League of Conservation Voters and Willamette Week endorsed Dembrow during the 2008 legislative election.
Career
According to Dembrow's official site, he is a former English instructor at Portland Community College (PCC), was President of the PCC faculty union for sixteen years, and was appointed to the State Board of Education in 2007. In 1991, Dembrow helped to create the Cascade Festival of African Films. Dembrow earned an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Connecticut and his Master's degree in Comparative Literature from Indiana University Bloomington. In 2009, Dembrow and Representative Chuck Riley (D-Hillsboro) introduced House Bill 2578, a proposal which required towers to contact property owners or tenants before towing. The bill also allowed the vehicle owner to move their vehicle "without fees beyond the initial hookup", and required that landlords clearly display parking rules.
In 2013, following Jackie Dingfelder's resignation to serve in the office of Portland Mayor Charlie Hales, Dembrow was appointed by Multnomah County Commissioners to fill her seat in the 23rd Senate District. He was sworn in on November 20, 2013.
Dembrow announced his retirement at the end of the 2024 short session on March 7, 2024, after serving in the Legislative Assembly for 15 years.
Personal life
According to Willamette Week, Dembrow is Jewish.
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael E Dembrow | 22,954 | 88.0 | |
| Libertarian | Jim Karlock | 2,932 | 11.2 | |
| Write-in | 189 | 0.7 | ||
| Total votes | 26,075 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael Dembrow | 18,945 | 79.1 | |
| Republican | Anne Marie Gurney | 4,932 | 20.6 | |
| Write-in | 68 | 0.3 | ||
| Total votes | 23,945 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael Dembrow | 24,403 | 82.2 | |
| Republican | Anne Marie Gurney | 5,177 | 17.4 | |
| Write-in | 114 | 0.4 | ||
| Total votes | 29,694 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael Dembrow | 40,948 | 86.3 | |
| Libertarian | Michael Marvin | 6,097 | 12.8 | |
| Write-in | 419 | 0.9 | ||
| Total votes | 47,464 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael Dembrow | 48,722 | 97.8 | |
| Write-in | 1,071 | 2.2 | ||
| Total votes | 49,793 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael Dembrow | 61,638 | 97.0 | |
| Write-in | 1,885 | 3.0 | ||
| Total votes | 63,523 | 100% | ||
