The job of Oregon House Republican leader might not sound appealing.

The high-profile role comes with more work but no additional benefits or pay. At a time when Democrats hold supermajority power, the leader is tasked with charting the GOP’s course in elections and the state Legislature.

Rep. Lucetta Elmer knew this when she pitched to her Republican colleagues that they should pick her. “The upside was a short list,” she said, “and the downside was longer.”

However, she added, “I don’t want to step back. I want to press forward.”

The House Republican caucus elected Elmer Wednesday evening. An entrepreneur from McMinnville, her appointment comes at what she considers a pivotal moment. The state’s struggling schools, economy and housing market all show that “Oregonians are crying for change,” she said.

“They are just so tired of feeling like they can’t afford to live here, and feeling the pressure and the squeeze on their home state,” Elmer said in an interview with OPB Friday.

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Elmer, who grew up on a farm in Yamhill County, said she has spent much of her career buying, selling and developing businesses.

She helped develop and sold a school in the unincorporated Polk County community of Rickreall in the 1990s. She currently co-owns a coffee shop, a boutique hotel, a reclaimed wood business and real estate holdings in different parts of the state, state records show.

Her four adult children work for the family business, with her daughter taking over as the chief operating officer when Elmer stepped down to run for office.

Over time, she said she and her husband became frustrated by Oregon’s regulations on businesses. She described that as “a big motivator” for her decision to leave the private sector for public office.

“We’re in a negative business decline,” said Elmer, who served as the vice chair of the House Business and Labor Committee. “Our businesses are declining. Businesses are leaving. To me, that’s worth fighting for.”

Elmer, who was elected in 2022, assumes the role amid a shakeup within the party. Former House Republican Leader Christine Drazan is vying for a state senate position after Senate Minority Leader Daniel Bonham announced his resignation last month. Former minority leader Rep. Jeff Helfrich, R-Hood River, has also launched a campaign to succeed Bonham.

Elmer served as deputy leader under Drazan, who ran for governor in 2022 and recently resigned from her leadership position. In a statement earlier this week, Drazan said Elmer “has demonstrated a commitment to Oregonians in her role as deputy leader, and I trust that she will continue fighting to lower costs, make homeownership more affordable, fix our schools, and end homelessness, as leader.”

Elmer described Drazan as “a powerhouse” and said she plans to take a similar approach.

“She just moves forward with such a command of respect and knowing exactly the direction in which she’s going,” said Elmer, who added: “I just really appreciated watching that.”

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Democrats hold supermajority in both legislative chambers and the governor’s office, meaning they can pass bills on a party-line vote. Elmer acknowledges this makes it challenging for the Republican party to pursue their policy agenda, saying: “All we can do is use our voice and we’ll continue to do that.”

At a time of widespread political division, Elmer said she aspires to “true Democracy” of working across the aisle despite competing ideas. Many of her constituents, she said, are “frustrated with the constant rhetoric and the constant fighting and the political scene that most would view as just ugly war.”

“Maybe we can try to change that,” she said. “But then I say that, and I know how challenging that is, because as Republicans, as a super minority, we’re frustrated that we never get to put forth our ideas.”

In her new role as leader, Elmer said she’s excited to help steer the party into next year’s election, which will include a race for governor.

“I think we have a huge opportunity to listen, to put into action what we have been listening to from Oregonians,” she said. “It’s just a huge moment to where we could pivot, and Oregon could pivot, and they could choose some representation that would be more balanced.”

Oregon Democratic leadership issued statements this week congratulating Elmer.

“I know while we do not see eye-to-eye on every issue, we share a desire to improve the lives of Oregonians across our state,” House Majority Leader Ben Bowman said in a press release earlier this week. “I look forward to working with her to find common ground and keep the Oregon House focused on delivering for the people we represent.”

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2025/10/03/oregon-new-house-republican-leader/