Cliff Bentz | |
|---|---|
_(centered).jpg) Official portrait, 2020 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOregon's2nd district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Greg Walden |
| Member of theOregon Senate from the30th district | |
| In office January 4, 2018 – January 2, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Ted Ferrioli |
| Succeeded by | Lynn Findley |
| Member of theOregon House of Representatives from the 60th district | |
| In office January 22, 2008 – January 4, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Butler |
| Succeeded by | Lynn Findley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Cliff Stewart Bentz (1952-01-12)January 12, 1952 (age 73) Salem, Oregon, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Eastern Oregon University (BA) Lewis and Clark College (JD) |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Cliff Stewart Bentz (born January 12, 1952) is an American politician and lawyer serving as theU.S. representative forOregon's 2nd congressional district since 2021. He previously served in theOregon Senate, representing the30th district, and in theOregon House of Representatives, representing the60th district. Following the departure ofLori Chavez-DeRemer in 2025, Bentz is the sole member of theRepublican Party and inOregon's congressional delegation and the lone man to be a member of theUnited States House of Representatives from Oregon following the retirement ofEarl Blumenauer.[1]
In May 2020, Bentz won theRepublican primary forOregon's 2nd congressional district and facedDemocrat Alex Spenser andindependent Patrick Archer in November. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives on November 3, 2020.
Bentz was born inSalem, Oregon, and raised on ranches in theeastern Oregon communities ofFields andDrewsey. He graduated fromRegis High School in the Willamette Valley city ofStayton in 1970.[1][2] He received a bachelor's degree fromEastern Oregon State College (now Eastern Oregon University) in 1974 and aJ.D. fromLewis & Clark Law School in 1977.[1][2]
From 1977 to 1980, Bentz was a law associate with theOntario, Oregon, law firm Yturri Rose, and was made a partner in the firm in 1980, a position he still holds. He specializes in agricultural, water, and real property law. He also owns a 100-acre alfalfa farm.[1][2]
Bentz began his career as a member of the Oregon Water Resources Commission from 1988 to 1996.[3] He served as chair of the commission from 1994 to 1996.[3]
In 2008, Bentz was appointed by county commissioners in House District 60 to replaceTom Butler in the Oregon House of Representatives after Butler resigned to pursue a church mission.[4] He defeated Tim K. Smith in the Republican primary in May 2008, and was unopposed in thegeneral election.[5][6] In 2010, Bentz won another term unopposed in both the primary and thegeneral election.[7]
On January 8, 2018, Bentz was sworn in as state senator to replaceTed Ferrioli, who resigned to take a political appointment.[8] Bentz resigned his seat in the Oregon House and was appointed to the senate seat by the county commissioners in the senate district.[8]
Since 2018, Bentz's largest campaign contributors have been Ironside Associates, a London-based security firm; his brother James Bentz; and his farm, Actin Ranch.[9]
Beginning June 20, 2019, all 11 Republican state senators for Oregon, including Bentz,refused to show up for work at theOregon State Capitol, instead going into hiding, some even fleeing the state. Their aim was to prevent a vote on HB2020, acap-and-trade proposal that could lowergreenhouse gas emissions by 2050 tocombat climate change, in part by increasing fuel taxes. The Senate has 30 seats. Without the Republican senators, the remaining 18 Democratic senators could not reach a quorum of 20 to hold a vote.[10][11] Republican state senators, including Bentz, continued their boycotts in 2020 to prevent the passage of climate change mitigation response, and 2021, after he left for Congress.[12]
Bentz served asvice-chair of the following committees: Transportation and Economic Development, Revenue, Joint Tax Credits, Revenue, Tax Expenditures, Carbon Reduction, and Finance and Revenue. Heco-chaired the Transportation Committee and was a member of others.
Bentz resigned from the Oregon State Senate effective January 2, 2020, to run in the 2020 election forOregon's 2nd congressional district in theUnited States House of Representatives.[13] He won theRepublican primary and defeatedDemocrat Alex Spenser andIndependent Patrick Archer in the general election.[14]
In the aftermath of theJanuary 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol, Bentz was reported to have been sheltering in place during the event. In a phone interview withOregon Public Broadcasting, he declined to callJoe Biden the president-elect, but said any outcome where Biden does not take office was "highly unlikely".[15][16] The next day, Bentz joined 139 U.S. representatives who objected to Pennsylvania's electoral votes.[17] On January 8, Bentz acknowledged that Biden would become president.[18]
On May 19, 2021, Bentz was one of 35 Republicans who joined all 217 Democrats present in voting to approve legislation to establish theNational Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex meant to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol.[19][20][21]
A 2025 investigation by theMalheur Enterprise found Bentz used federal taxpayer money for "luxury" accommodations when traveling, such as visiting the $338Davenport Hotel, $1,294Coeur d'Alene Resort, and $381Churchill Hotel all of which advertise themselves as luxurious.[22]
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On March 3, 2022, Bentz and many other Republicans voted against theHonoring our PACT Act of 2021. Bentz was the only member of Oregon's House delegation to do so.[27]
On January 12, 2022, Bentz voted against theGuard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act, which would expand eligibility for educational assistance under theG.I. Bill.[28]
Bentz describes himself aspro-life, saying, "I believe that life begins at conception and that life should be protected until death by natural causes occurs." He supports abortion only when the mother's life is at risk.[29][non-primary source needed]
In 2019,Oregon Right to Life gave Bentz theAtterberry Award, which recognizes Oregon legislators who "are tenacious in their public defense of Oregon’s vulnerable."[30]
Bentz has said: "I strongly oppose government run healthcare... I believe Obamacare should be replaced with solutions that focus on free market principles to help drive down the skyrocketing cost of healthcare."[31]
On March 31, 2022, Bentz voted against theAffordable Insulin Now Act, which would cap the cost-sharing of insulin to $35 or 25% of the negotiated price (whichever is lower) for private insurance and $35 for Medicare.[32]
Bentz joined the Republican members of Congress who sided with the Trump campaign'sattempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election. He voted not to certify Pennsylvania's electoral votes, citing constitutional concerns over actions taken by Pennsylvania's Secretary of the Commonwealth and Supreme Court, which he believed improperly changed election procedures without legislative approval, leading to a loss of public confidence in the process.[33] However, he voted to certify the electoral votes from Arizona, stating that in that case, the state legislature had lawfully delegated broader authority to local election officials. In a public statement, Bentz acknowledged Joe Biden's victory and supported the peaceful transfer of power.[34]
On July 19, 2022, Bentz joined 46 other House Republicans in voting for theRespect for Marriage Act, which would repeal theDefense of Marriage Act and require each state, as well as the federal government, to recognize any marriage performed in another state.[35] However, Bentz voted against final passage on December 8, 2022.[36]
Bentz voted to provide Israel with support following2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[37][38]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cliff Bentz | 17,443 | 98.0 | |
| Write-in | 365 | 2.0 | ||
| Total votes | 17,808 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cliff Bentz | 15,341 | 98.5 | |
| Write-in | 233 | 1.5 | ||
| Total votes | 15,574 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cliff Bentz | 20,310 | 98.7 | |
| Write-in | 265 | 1.3 | ||
| Total votes | 20,575 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cliff Bentz | 16,909 | 82.0 | |
| Democratic | Peter W Hall | 3,662 | 17.8 | |
| Write-in | 53 | 0.3 | ||
| Total votes | 20,624 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cliff Bentz | 22,339 | 98.4 | |
| Write-in | 352 | 1.6 | ||
| Total votes | 22,691 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cliff Bentz | 39,536 | 71.7 | |
| Democratic | Solea Kabakov | 15,525 | 28.2 | |
| Write-in | 87 | 0.2 | ||
| Total votes | 55,148 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cliff Bentz | 37,045 | 31.4 | |
| Republican | Knute Buehler | 25,976 | 22.0 | |
| Republican | Jason Atkinson | 22,966 | 19.5 | |
| Republican | Jimmy Crumpacker | 21,117 | 17.9 | |
| Republican | Travis A. Fager | 4,201 | 3.6 | |
| Republican | Jeff Smith | 2,494 | 2.1 | |
| Republican | Mark R. Roberts | 1,307 | 1.1 | |
| Republican | Justin Livingston | 1,306 | 1.1 | |
| Republican | David R. Campbell | 410 | 0.3 | |
| Republican | Glenn Carey | 280 | 0.2 | |
| Republican | Kenneth W. Medenbach | 262 | 0.2 | |
| Republican | Write-in | 447 | 0.4 | |
| Total votes | 117,811 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cliff Bentz | 273,835 | 59.9 | |
| Democratic | Alex Spenser | 168,881 | 36.9 | |
| Libertarian | Robert Werch | 14,094 | 3.1 | |
| Total votes | 457,433 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cliff Bentz (incumbent) | 67,051 | 75.3 | |
| Republican | Mark Cavener | 17,372 | 19.5 | |
| Republican | Katherine Gallant | 4,598 | 5.2 | |
| Total votes | 89,021 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cliff Bentz (incumbent) | 208,369 | 67.5 | |
| Democratic | Joseph Yetter III | 99,882 | 32.4 | |
| Write-in | 425 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 308,676 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cliff Bentz | 224,601 | 63.9 | |
| Democratic | Dan Ruby | 115,337 | 32.8 | |
| Constitution | Michael Kurt Stettler | 11,255 | 3.2 | |
| Write-in | 296 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 351,489 | 100% | ||
Bentz and his wife, Lindsay, aveterinarian, live in Ontario and have two children.[1] Bentz has six siblings. He was born to Kenneth and Anne Bentz and raised on family ranches inHarney County. Bentz's grandfather Paul Stewart moved toHarney County in 1916 and purchased a small ranch, slowly trading ranches until he got the current family ranch. Bentz is a devoutRoman Catholic and attends Blessed Sacrament Church inOntario.[49] He chaired the St Peter Catholic grade school board for five years.[citation needed]
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| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromOregon's 2nd congressional district 2021–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 245th | Succeeded by |
