BIOGUIDE B000668 · FEC H0OR02127
Cliff Bentz
U.S. Representative (since 2021)RINCUMBENT
- Race
- U.S. House · Oregon's 2nd District
- Result
- Cliff Bentz, projected winner
- Opponent
- Chris Beck (D)
- Research
- Basic
Party line24 votes tracked
With party = voted the same way as most Republicans who voted.
Said vs. did2 statements · 24 votes
What we’re doing is barely slowing the growth of the program.
Expand public health coverage
Compare statements with votes ›Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
What we’re doing is barely slowing the growth of the program.
In an August 2025 OPB interview defended the budget law's Medicaid changes, saying they slow the program's growth and that people above the income limit should not be covered.[4]
Cosponsored H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (119th Congress), which would require states to honor other states' concealed-carry permits.
Documented position[8]
- NOAssault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 2022-07-29), which would have banned the sale of many semiautomatic assault weapons.[9]
- NOBipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, 2022-06-24), which expanded background checks for buyers under 21 and funded state red-flag programs.[10]
2 of 2 votes point the same way as the statement
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- YESLaken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22).[11]
- YESOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.[5][6]
- YESSecure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11).[12]
- NOAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2021 (H.R. 6, 2021-03-18).[13]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- YESSAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).[14]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization.[17]
- NOWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.[18]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.[19]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOBuild Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.[15]
Biography
Cliff Bentz is the Republican U.S. Representative for Oregon's 2nd Congressional District, which he has represented since 2021, and won re-election on November 3, 2026, according to unofficial results. A third-generation Oregonian raised on a family cattle ranch, he practiced water and ranch-reorganization law in Ontario for decades and served in both chambers of the Oregon Legislature before winning Congress in 2020.[1][2][3]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Cliff Bentz is a third-generation Oregonian who was raised on his family's cattle ranches in Harney County; he attended Regis High School near Salem and graduated in 1970.[1][2] He graduated cum laude from Eastern Oregon State College with a bachelor's degree in history and business in 1974 and earned a J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School in 1977.[1][2] Bentz joined the Yturri, O'Kief, Rose and Burnham law firm in Ontario in 1977 and became a partner four years later, specializing in ranch reorganizations and water law.[2]
While practicing law, he served eight years as a member and then chair of the Oregon Water Resources Commission and as a director and chair of the Ontario 8C public school board; he also served on the Project Dove (domestic violence prevention) board, the Eastern Oregon University Foundation Board and the Oregon Historical Society Board.[1][2] Bentz was appointed to the Oregon House of Representatives (District 60) in January 2008, was elected that year, and served five two-year terms, including on the Revenue, Transportation, Energy and Environment and Joint Tax Credits committees.[2] He resigned from the Oregon House in 2018 when he was appointed to the Oregon Senate (District 30), where he served on the Finance and Revenue, Judiciary, Energy and Joint Tax Credits committees, and resigned January 2, 2020, to campaign full-time for Congress.[2]
Bentz was elected to the U.S. House on November 3, 2020, and took office in 2021; he won the May 19, 2026 Republican primary with 79.6% of the vote.[2][22] In the 119th Congress he serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Natural Resources, with subcommittee assignments listed on Ballotpedia.[1] According to his official biography, he married Dr. Lindsay Norman, a veterinarian who practices small animal medicine in Ontario, in 1987.[2] He won the November 3, 2026 general election with 61.6% of the vote to Chris Beck's 38.3%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[3]
Recent votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207 |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted no | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210 |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted yes | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21 |
| 2026-01-08 | With partyvoted no | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196 |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212 |
| 2025-12-10 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18 |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1 |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted yes | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2 |
Showing the 8 most recent of 24 votes.
All 24 recorded votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-03 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans. |
| 2026-02-11 | With partyvoted no | Resolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy. |
| 2026-02-03 | With partyvoted yes | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026. |
| 2026-01-08 | With partyvoted no | Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans. |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region. |
| 2025-12-10 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year. |
| 2025-11-18 | With partyvoted yes | Epstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support. |
| 2025-11-12 | With partyvoted yes | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively. |
| 2025-07-17 | With partyvoted yes | CLARITY Act — digital asset market structureH.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · roll call ↗Democrats 78–134 · Republicans 216–0The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries. |
| 2025-07-17 | With partyvoted yes | GENIUS Act — stablecoin regulationS. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · roll call ↗Democrats 102–110 · Republicans 206–12The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law. |
| 2025-07-03 | With partyvoted yes | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passageH.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 218–2H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025. |
| 2025-06-12 | With partyvoted yes | Rescissions Act of 2025H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–208 · Republicans 214–4The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades. |
| 2025-05-22 | With partyvoted yes | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passageH.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 215–2H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients. |
| 2025-04-10 | With partyvoted yes | SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registrationH.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 4–208 · Republicans 216–0The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls. |
| 2025-03-11 | With partyvoted yes | Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 1–212 · Republicans 216–1The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations. |
| 2025-01-22 | With partyvoted yes | Laken Riley Act — final passageS. 5 · Passed 263–156 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–156 · Republicans 217–0The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions. |
| 2023-05-11 | With partyvoted yes | Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passageH.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–211 · Republicans 219–2Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers. |
| 2022-08-12 | With partyvoted no | Inflation Reduction Act — final House passageH.R. 5376 · Passed 220–207 · roll call ↗Democrats 220–0 · Republicans 0–207Enacted clean-energy and climate tax credits, a 15% minimum tax on large corporations' book income, a 1% excise tax on stock buybacks, and Medicare drug-price negotiation. |
| 2022-07-29 | With partyvoted no | Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passageH.R. 1808 · Passed 217–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 215–5 · Republicans 2–208Would have banned the sale, manufacture and import of many semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. |
| 2022-07-15 | With partyvoted no | Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passageH.R. 8296 · Passed 219–210 · roll call ↗Democrats 219–1 · Republicans 0–209Passed after Dobbs; would have created a federal statutory right to abortion services and limited state restrictions. |
| 2022-06-24 | With partyvoted no | Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passageS. 2938 · Passed 234–193 · roll call ↗Democrats 220–0 · Republicans 14–193Expanded background checks for buyers under 21, funded state red-flag and crisis-intervention programs, and narrowed the "boyfriend loophole." |
| 2021-11-19 | With partyvoted no | Build Back Better Act — House passageH.R. 5376 · Passed 220–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 220–1 · Republicans 0–212Would have funded clean-energy tax credits, universal pre-kindergarten and child-care subsidies, and extended health-coverage subsidies; it did not pass the Senate. |
| 2021-09-24 | With partyvoted no | Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passageH.R. 3755 · Passed 218–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 218–1 · Republicans 0–210Would have created a federal statutory right for providers to offer, and patients to receive, abortion services, limiting state restrictions. |
| 2021-03-18 | With partyvoted no | American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passageH.R. 6 · Passed 228–197 · roll call ↗Democrats 219–0 · Republicans 9–197Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders. |
On the record
Official actions: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.
- actionIn the 119th Congress (2025-2026), serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (Subcommittees on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade; Health; Energy) and the Committee on Natural Resources (Subcommittees on Federal Lands; Water, Wildlife and Fisheries).[23]
- actionIn the 118th Congress (2023-2024), served on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Judiciary Committee (Subcommittees on Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust; Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet).[23]
- actionAs an Oregon state senator (appointed 2018; resigned January 2, 2020), served as Vice-Chair of the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee and Co-Vice Chair of the Tax Expenditures Committee, and sat on the Joint Transportation Committee, the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, and the Judiciary and Ballot Measure 110 Implementation Committee.[23]
Campaign money$1.0M raised · 44% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $449K
- PACs & committees $562K
Largest committee contributions
- National Association of Broadcasters Political Action Committee (Nabpac) PAC$11K
- American Optometric Association Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- National Cattlemen's Beef Association Political Action Committee (Ncba-Pac) PAC$10K
- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association America's Electric Cooperatives PAC PAC$10K
- Republican Governance Group/Tuesday Group PAC PAC$10K
- Koch, Inc. Political Action Committee (Kochpac) PAC$10K
- Build Political Action Committee of the National Association of Home Builders (Buildpac) PAC$10K
- Space Exploration Technologies Corp. PAC PAC$10K
- American Health Care Association Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- National Automobile Dealers Association Political Action Committee PAC$10K
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/cliff-bentz
Where they stood out
Voted against most of their party on 12 of 471 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (12), Climate & energy (9), Foreign affairs & defense (2)
Amendment (Roy) to H.R. 8595 — Making appropriations for national security, Department of State, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes.
A yes vote supported an H.R. 8595 amendment that bars any funds in the bill from being made available to the United Nations. (AI-written)
What it does: National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 This bill provides FY2027 appropriations for national security, the Department of State, and related programs.
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–210, Republicans 136–80
Jul 15, 2026Official record ↗
Amendment (Norman) to H.R. 7148 — Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026
A yes vote adopted Amendment 2 to H.R. 7148, which would have removed earmarks (Community Project Funding) in the bill's Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education division. (AI-written)
What it does: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and provides continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homel…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–215, Republicans 136–75
Jan 22, 2026Official record ↗
Amendment (Crane) to H.R. 7006 — Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026
A yes vote adopted Amendment 2 to H.R. 7006, which would have struck the bill's provisions funding the National Endowment for Democracy. (AI-written)
What it does: Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides FY2026 appropriations to several federal departments and agencies…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–210, Republicans 127–80
Jan 14, 2026Official record ↗
Their votes on the most contested roll calls
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 214–212 · Yes 214–No 212 · Democrats 0–211, Republicans 214–0
Jun 9, 2026Official record ↗
- No
Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act
With most of their party · Failed 214–217 · Yes 214–No 217 · Democrats 214–0, Republicans 0–216
Feb 11, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 217–215 · Yes 217–No 215 · Democrats 0–214, Republicans 216–1
Feb 25, 2025Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Failed 215–215 · Yes 215–No 215 · Democrats 213–0, Republicans 2–214
Jan 22, 2026Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Failed 213–213 · Yes 213–No 213 · Democrats 211–0, Republicans 2–212
Jun 4, 2025Official record ↗
Compare all 2 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Cliff Bentz · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.About · Office of Rep. Cliff Bentz Official record
- 3.Oregon U.S. House District 2 election results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 4.Oregon Rep. Cliff Bentz on his vote for the ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ and engaging with constituents · OPB News report
- 5.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
- 6.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
- 7.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
- 8.H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 9.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
- 10.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
- 11.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
- 12.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
- 13.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record
- 14.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
- 15.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
- 16.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
- 17.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
- 18.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
- 19.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
- 20.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
- 21.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record
- 22.Oregon's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
- 23.Cliff Bentz · Ballotpedia Reference