Oregon House of Representatives District 24 candidate surveys, 2022

This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Oregon House of Representatives District 24 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

Click here to see candidates and election results.
Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Oregon House of Representatives District 24

Lucetta Elmer defeated Victoria Ernst in the general election for Oregon House of Representatives District 24 on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Lucetta Elmer (R)	56.2	17,030
	Victoria Ernst (D / Independent Party / Working Families Party)	43.6	13,216
	Other/Write-in votes	0.1	43

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 30,289
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

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Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Lucetta Elmer (R)

Holding the Line on Taxes and No More Cost Increases

Getting Tough on Crime

Improving Education by Empowering Parents

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/VictoriaErnst.jpg

Victoria Ernst (Democratic, Independent, Working Families)

I want to be a voice for this district in Salem. The rural perspective is often left out of the conversation, which has resulted in the dramatic underfunding and neglect of rural and bordering suburban communities. Rural communities face a lot of the same issues as other parts of the state, but we also have our own challenges, and the solutions cannot be one size fits all. We need solutions to issues like access to justice, affordable housing, homelessness, and environmental protection, that are equitable and take into account the unique circumstances of rural communities. I will represent the interests of this community and bring a necessary rural perspective to the table in Salem.

I will work to bring this community back together again. This district is too divided. This district deserves elected representatives that are serious about finding solutions to the issues we face and that are dedicated to service and not to their own political aspirations or ideologies. The past few political cycles have turned people in this community against each other, and this division doesn’t serve any of us. At the end of the day, there is so much more that we agree on than disagree on. I believe we will find the best and most durable solutions if we bring together more perspectives. We can do much better. But, we have to be open to listening to all sides and working together towards solutions.

I will work to find equitable and sustainable solutions that protect our environment and our workers, while also preserving the strong agricultural industries that built this district. I grew up in agriculture and I understand and am sensitive to the challenges those industries face. As a lawyer that has worked in human rights and environmental law, I also look for solutions that put people first. Everyone agrees that we need to adapt to extreme weather, like wildfires, heatwaves, and droughts. We can find aggressive solutions that meet the environmental challenges we are facing, that also center people and protect our vital rural industries. I will work to find solutions to the environmental crisis that benefit all of us.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Lucetta Elmer (R)

Advocating for Small Businesses

When COVID-19 hit, unnecessary shutdowns and mandates destroyed our neighborhood stores and restaurants while helping the big chain stores remain open. Lucetta knows the impact that mandates and bad policies have had on our local District 24 businesses. As a businesswoman and mother, and she has seen the struggles of signing both sides of a paycheck in Oregon. She understands that successful businesses lead to thriving communities, not only through the revenue they generate that keep our communities safe and our infrastructure humming, but through the needed jobs they provide. We have to advocate for our small businesses so that they can go back to fueling Oregon’s economy.

Lucetta will work to roll back unnecessary regulations and taxes on businesses and stand against mandates and policies that would burden our small businesses.

Everywhere we look, our Constitutional Rights and Right to Bear Arms are being challenged by the state government. We have to defend the Constitution and protect our individual liberties and rights in order for “We the People” to have a voice again.

Lucetta will always work to protect our Constitutional Rights, including the Right to Bear Arms.

Victoria Ernst (Democratic, Independent, Working Families)

The environment; agriculture; affordable housing and homelessness; access to healthcare, mental healthcare, and substance abuse care; access to justice, including both the civil and criminal legal systems; supporting strong public education; ensuring our economy works for all of us; and protecting democracy and human rights.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Lucetta Elmer (R)

OR

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Lucetta Elmer (R)

OR

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

Lucetta Elmer (R)

OR

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Lucetta Elmer (R)

OR