Oregon 2nd District
Cliff Bentz (R) holds this seat and is running again. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Cliff Bentz
Republican · holds this seat today
ALiberty Score AOn the liberty side in 120 of 123 votes and bills.
Raised $1,339,192 since January 2025: 55% from PACs and other committees, 45% from people. The filing at FEC.gov
Chris Beck
Democrat · former Oregon state representative, USDA adviser
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Beck, and what Beck has said and done settles only 2 of my principles. I went through it on October 31. A grade needs 4.
Raised $276,515 since January 2025: 94% from people, 4% from the party, 2% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Voting in Oregon: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Chris Beck, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Beck, so the grade above comes from this list: what Beck has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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In a newspaper interview he called ending the war with the Islamic Republic an urgent need, naming no policy.
“I think ending the war really is this existential need or existential dynamic that’s affecting all of our lives.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
"End the war" with no policy, bill or vote named is unclear for anyone.
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Asked what role Congress should play on the Iran conflict, he said Congress should not fund the defense requests for the war and should stop the flow of money to it.
“We should not fund the defense requests for the war. We should sit down with the administration. We should get a transparent view of how much of a debacle they have created.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
His words name no country and no policy on the regime: rule 3 needs the quote itself to name Iran.
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Speaking to a local news site, he said he would ask allies to join the United States again in an alliance.
“plead with allies to forgive us for electing the current regime and join us again in an alliance that can resolve the mess the Trump administration created.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He names no country, treaty or aid vote, so the line does not settle the measure.
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In a newspaper interview he said the US should work with allies to get out of the situation he blamed on Trump, Hegseth and Israel.
“Work with our allies to take us out of this hole that Trump and Hegseth and Israel have put us into.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
He names Israel but states no policy on weapons, aid or defence, so the line does not settle the measure.
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In a newspaper interview he said Congress should put a national health plan modeled on the Oregon Health Plan on the table.
“I think Oregon’s health care plan, which really focuses on preventive care and downstream impacts, is a really good model”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A national government health plan for everyone is the against side of this measure.
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His campaign site says he would start by ending the war and cancelling tariffs.
“We can start by ending the war and canceling tariffs, but the problem is bigger.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Cancelling broad tariffs is the with side of this measure, as for every candidate who says it.
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His campaign site proposes adjusting tax breaks on vacation and luxury homes.
“Adjusting excessive tax breaks on vacation and luxury homes”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Raising taxes on a named class of property is the against side of this measure.
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His campaign site says he would repeal the tariffs.
“In addition to repealing the tariffs”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Ending broad tariffs is the with side of this measure.
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Asked whether Congress should fund ICE and Border Patrol with $64.5 billion through 2029, he answered no.
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Refusing money for the expansion of ICE is the against side of this measure.
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In his written answers he said he supports border security that is reasonable and bipartisan, and a larger court system.
“I support reasonable and bi-partisan border security and greatly enhancing our court system to fairly process immigrants.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Support for border security with no wall, enforcement or deportation policy named does not settle the measure.
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His campaign site says he will seek a bipartisan approach to legal immigration.
“seeking a sensible, bipartisan approach to legal immigration”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A bipartisan approach to legal immigration with no policy named does not settle the measure.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
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Oregon 2nd District
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