Oregon House Republicans Halt Proceedings, Demand Probe Into Conduct Complaint Against Bend Lawmaker

GOP leaders claim incident involving Rep. Jason Kropf pressuring a colleague to change a vote has not been thoroughly investigated.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Oregon House Republicans paused floor deliberations on Monday to protest the handling of a conduct complaint against Representative Jason Kropf (D-Bend), which alleged he pressured a colleague into changing her vote on a firearm bill. Republican leaders claim the incident has not been thoroughly investigated and have called for a transparent review by the Legislative Equity Office. The move comes after House Democrats accepted Kropf's resignation from the House Committee on Conduct without floor debate.

Why it matters

The continued conflict highlights partisan tensions in the Oregon legislature and raises questions about the integrity of the democratic process, as well as the handling of conduct complaints against lawmakers.

The details

The incident stems from a February 16th committee work session for House Bill 4145, which would tighten firearm regulations in Oregon. During the House Judiciary Committee meeting, Representative Thủy Trần (D-Portland) initially voted against the measure, expressing concerns that the bill was contradictory and could negatively impact lawful gun owners. Following a recess called by Rep. Kropf, Trần changed her vote to "yes" after a private conversation with Kropf. A citizen later filed a formal conduct complaint alleging Kropf had pressured Trần, who said Kropf "created a hostile working environment."

  • On February 16th, the incident occurred during a House Judiciary Committee meeting.
  • On Monday, House Republicans paused floor deliberations to protest the handling of the complaint.
  • Also on Monday, House Democrats accepted Kropf's resignation from the House Committee on Conduct without floor debate.

The players

Jason Kropf

A Democratic representative from Bend, Oregon who was accused of pressuring a colleague to change her vote on a firearm bill.

Thủy Trần

A Democratic representative from Portland, Oregon who initially voted against the firearm bill but changed her vote after a private conversation with Rep. Kropf.

Lucetta Elmer

The House Republican Leader who released a statement requesting a full investigation into the matter and claiming Democratic leadership attempted to "sweep this under the rug".

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What they’re saying

“The allegation that a lawmaker created a hostile working environment by intimidating another lawmaker into changing their vote is a serious allegation that creates distrust in the democratic process. It must be properly addressed and thoroughly investigated through a transparent process that respects the victim and remedies the wrong committed against them.”

— Lucetta Elmer, House Republican Leader (ktvz.com)

“Kropf "created a hostile working environment.”

— Thủy Trần (ktvz.com)

“I have previously offered to cooperate with the Legislative Equity Office and will be happy to do so in the future should the need arise.”

— Jason Kropf, Representative (ktvz.com)

What’s next

The Legislative Equity Office is expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the conduct complaint against Rep. Kropf. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for the lawmaker's political future.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the partisan tensions and allegations of misconduct that can arise in state legislatures, underscoring the importance of transparent and impartial processes for addressing such complaints in order to maintain public trust in the democratic process.