Cliff Bentz

Republican | Oregon

Candidate Profile

Leans Conservative

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Cliff Bentz


Party

Republican


Election Year

2026


Election

Republican Primary


Race

U.S. Representative, District 2


Incumbent

Yes


Links

Cliff Bentz websites
FacebookXInstagram

EDUCATION

Lewis and Clark, Portland, JD, 1977

Eastern Oregon State College, La Grande, BS, 1974

WORK & MILITARY

Yturri Rose, Law Partner, 40 years

Farmer/Rancher, Owner, 40 years

AFFILIATIONS

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Folk Mass Group, St Peters Primary School

Board Member, Oregon Water Resources Commission, Board Member

Project DOVE - Domestic Violence Prevention Group, Vice Chair, Ontario 8C School Board

Board Member, Oregon Historical Society Board, Board Member

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

State Senator, 2018-2020

State Representative, 2008-2018

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

(Candidate did not provide)

SCORECARDS

CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS


LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS

ENDORSEMENTS

CONSERVATIVE (1)

National Right To Life

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (59)

Matt Van Epps (2025)

National Republican Congressional Committee Joint Campaigns (2025)

WinRed (2025)

Andrew R. Garbarino (2024)

Brian Fitzpatrick (2024)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (56)

Republican Governance Group (2026)

BrettPac (2025)

First In Freedom PAC (2025)

Greg Walden (2025)

Lori Chavez-DeRemer (2025)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (6)

National Air Traffic Controllers Association (2025)

Service Employees International Union (2025)

Three Rivers PAC (2025)

Tulalip Indian Tribes (2025)

National Association of Letter Carriers (2023)

OTHER INFORMATION


One of 81 Republicans
 who joined with Democrats to preserve $315M funding for the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a non-profit agency with a history of bias against conservatives.

 

This candidate voted for H.R. 485, the Protecting Care for All Patients Act, which would prohibit federal health programs from using discriminatory measures known as Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs.)  A vote for the bill is a pro-life position that indicates opposition to reducing or eliminating care for people with various disabilities and chronic conditions. 

One of 149 House Republicans who voted for H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which suspended the nation's debt limit through January 1, 2025. A vote for H.R. 3746 allows the government to spend without limitation for 19 months at an expected cost of $4 trillion.

This candidate voted in favor of HR 8404 repealing the Defense of Marriage Act in early 2023 but voted against it in the final vote

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Did not answer

The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.

Did not answer

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

Did not answer

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Did not answer

The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.

Did not answer


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Did not answer

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

Did not answer


NATIONAL SECURITY

With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.

Did not answer

The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

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Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

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Islamic terrorism is a threat to the United States' national security.

Did not answer


HEALTHCARE

What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.

Did not answer

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

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ECONOMY

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

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People who can afford to pay more taxes should do so in order to provide relief for working families.

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The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.

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List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.

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IMMIGRATION

Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?

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I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.

Did not answer


EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Did not answer

Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.

Did not answer


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Did not answer


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

Did not answer


ABOUT YOU

Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.

Did not answer

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.

Did not answer

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?

Did not answer


VALUES

Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.

Did not answer

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Did not answer

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

Did not answer


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Did not answer


EQUALITY

Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.

Did not answer


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

Did not answer

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