Meet Teresa

From Fields to the Legislature

Teresa Alonso León grew up in a working family that rarely had the luxury of slowing down. Her parents worked long hours, and like many children of immigrant families, Teresa stepped in early to help however she could. She translated at appointments, filled out forms, and learned to navigate systems that were not designed with families like hers in mind. Those experiences taught her how responsibility can fall on the young shoulders, and how much stronger communities become when people look out for one another.

Teresa is a proud member of the Purépecha community, a heritage rooted in cooperation, shared responsibility, and care for the people and land that sustain us. She carried those values with her through school, becoming the first in her family to graduate from college and later earning a master’s degree in public administration. Her work never strayed far from where she began. For nearly twenty years, Teresa has worked in various educational opportunities, from working in the K-12 system, community colleges, universities and supporting Oregonians working to complete their GED , helping people regain their footing, rebuild confidence, and find new paths forward.

After becoming a U.S. citizen, Teresa served on the Woodburn City Council before representing House District 22 in the Oregon Legislature. She did what she has always done: listen closely, work steadily, and focus on the challenges families face every day. Whether it was strengthening schools, expanding access to health and mental health care, or supporting workers and small businesses, her approach was shaped by the realities she lived growing up and the people she met along the way.

Today, the communities of Senate District 11 are facing pressures that feel familiar. Rising costs, housing instability, strained systems, and a level of uncertainty that touches nearly every household. Immigration enforcement has again unsettled families throughout Woodburn and Salem, bringing back a kind of fear that many in the community have known before. National conversations often add more heat than light, but Teresa believes Oregon can choose a more grounded path. She sees the work ahead as practical and clear: protect families and everyone who calls Oregon home by ensuring they have the information and support needed to stay safe and together, strengthen the foundations people rely on, keep communities welcoming and secure, and make sure opportunities are real for the people who work hard every day.

Teresa is running for the Oregon Senate because she believes in the dignity and resilience of the people she serves. Her life has taught her that progress is built in steady steps, through listening, through care, and through a commitment to making sure no one is left navigating systems alone. She is ready to continue that work and help build a future where every family in District 11 has room to grow and the chance to move forward.