Lucetta Elmer is an Oregon state representative for House District 24, which includes McMinnville, and has served since January 2023. House Republicans elected her leader of their caucus in October 2025.
Case
A Border Patrol agent shot and wounded two unarmed Venezuelan nationals in a Portland hospital parking lot on January 8, 2026. DHS says the driver weaponized his truck; charges against both were later reduced, and a bullet-removal incident drew scrutiny.
Role at the time: Oregon state representative (R-McMinnville), speaking at a press conference of Republican legislators in Salem
Statement summary
Rep. Lucetta Elmer said at a press conference of Republican legislators that over the last 72 hours Oregonians saw immediate conclusions, inflammatory rhetoric and public statements made before all the facts were known. She said that was not restraint.
“What Oregonians saw over the last 72 hours was not restraint. They saw immediate conclusions, inflammatory rhetoric and public statements made before all the facts were known”
The case asks whether the Border Patrol agent was justified in shooting the two people. Elmer did not address the agent's conduct directly. She said that over the last 72 hours Oregonians saw immediate conclusions and inflammatory rhetoric before the facts were known. That challenges how other officials responded to the shooting, so we used the label Challenged the characterization.
Statement dates: January 11, 2026
Statement dates: January 11, 2026
Statement dates: January 11, 2026
