[CAPTURE PORTAL] 119TH CONGRESS
Legislative Integrity Monitor
Goblin House Intelligence
Congress → Officials → Cliff Bentz

Cliff Bentz

Republican · Representative, OR ·2

Cliff Bentz is the Republican U.S. Representative (OR's 2nd congressional district). The platform has 10 voting records on file (2017-2025) and 52 verified facts on file covering this member's voting positions, financial disclosures, and stated platform commitments.

Score Components
66 ELEVATED
Connection Density 20%
29 → 6
Donor Influence 15%
35 → 5
Silence Risk 25%
99 → 25
Contradiction Risk 25%
95 → 24
Intelligence Volume 15%
67 → 10
Constituency Deviation 0%
57 → 0
Voting Misalignment 0%
1 → 0
% = weight in composite score · Raw component 0–100 × weight = weighted contribution (→) · Sum of contributions = overall score. Hover a row for details.
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Cook Partisan Voting Index: R+32 (LegisLetter 2026)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Unemployment Rate: 5.8% (vs. 3.5% nationally, 2026 estimate)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Median Age: 42.8 years (vs. 38.5 nationally); 16% of residents 70+
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Medicaid Enrollment: Approximately 40% of district residents enrolled in Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) — among the highest rates in the nation. 1 in 4 Oregonians is on OHP.
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Racial/Ethnic Composition: White (Non-Hispanic) 79.2%, Hispanic 15.5%, Two or More Races 3.3%, Black 0.8%, Asian 0.6%, Native American (tribal communities significant in Umatilla, Warm Springs, Burns Paiute areas)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Bachelor's Degree or Higher: 24.4% (vs. 33.7% nationally); 10.3% lack a high school diploma
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Homeownership Rate: 69.1% (vs. 65.5% nationally); median property value $366,400
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Poverty Rate: 9.3% (LegisLetter) / 13.8% (Data USA Census ACS)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Median Household Income: $67,259 (vs. $78,538 national median)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Demographic anchor: Population (2024): 708,237
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Ballot measure: Oregon Measure 110 (2020) — Decriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs and fund addiction treatment (effects still debated through 2024) (2020) — passed, margin 58.5% Yes — 41.5% No
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Ballot measure: Oregon Measure 109 (2023) — Establish a commission to set salaries for state elected officials (2023) — passed, margin 57.1% Yes — 42.9% No
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS 44-45 (Retail Trade) (share 0)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS 31-33 (Manufacturing — wood products, food processing) (share 0)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS 62 (Health Care and Social Assistance) (share 0)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Dominant industry: NAICS 11 (Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting) (share 0)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Top employer: Les Schwab Tire Centers (headquartered in Bend) (7000 employees)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Top employer: Wildhorse Resort & Casino (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation) (1200 employees)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Top employer: St. Charles Health System (Bend, Madras, Prineville, Redmond) (4500 employees)
secondary ✓ Verified
[constituency_baseline] Top employer: Murphy Forest Products / Murphy Plywood (Oregon) (500 employees)
secondary ✓ Verified
Donald Trump impeachment vote Bentz voted against impeaching Trump for inciting the January 6th insurrection, calling it a 'rush-to-judgment impeachment'
Steve Bannon oversight Bentz voted against holding Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress for defying the January 6th commission's subpoena (Oct 2021), despite voting to create the…
American Revival PAC donor $5,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00639229/
American Wood Council PAC (Woodpac) donor $5,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00602698/
Electing Majority Making Effective Republicans (Emmer PAC) donor $5,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00592089/
Transcanada USA Services PAC donor $5,500 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (4 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00525055/
Woolpert, Inc Political Action Committee donor $6,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00479899/
Pacific Seafood Group Employee PAC donor $6,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (4 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00475350/
Republican Governance Group/Tuesday Group PAC donor $8,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (8 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00433060/
Charter Communications Inc. PAC donor $5,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00426775/
Avangrid PAC donor $5,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (3 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00406801/
Calportland Company Political Action Committee (Cpcc-PAC) donor $5,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00389429/
Koch Industries, Inc. PAC (Kochpac) donor $5,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00236489/
Ernst & Young PAC donor $7,500 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (3 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00227744/
Republican Mainstreet Partnership PAC donor $7,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (7 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00165159/
National Association Of Convenience Stores Nacspac donor $5,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00126763/
American Crystal Sugar Company PAC donor $5,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (1 contribution), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00110338/
Pge Bipartisan Committee donor $5,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00082008/
National Automobile Dealers Association Political Action Committee donor $10,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00040998/
National Association Of Realtors PAC donor $5,000 to Cliff Bentz's principal committee in the 2026 cycle (2 contributions), FEC Schedule A line 11C. https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00030718/
BillVoteDateAlignment
PROOF Act Yea 2026-09-16 unknown
National Fraud Enforcement Division Act Yea 2026-09-16 unknown
Ratepayer Protection Act Yea 2026-09-16 unknown
An Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow early childhood… Yea 2026-09-16 unknown
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United… Yea 2026-09-16 unknown
Water Resources Development Act Yea 2026-09-16 unknown
Retire through Ownership Act Yea 2026-09-16 unknown
Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers… Nay 2026-09-15 unknown
GUARD Act Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes… Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 9576 and H.R. 10326, providing… Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United… Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Fostering the Use of Technology to Uphold Regulatory Effectiveness in… Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills H.R. 9576 and H.R. 10326, providing… Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
Whistleblower Protection Act Yea 2026-09-15 unknown
National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act Yea 2026-09-14 unknown
Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act Yea 2026-09-14 unknown
Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act Yea 2026-09-03 unknown
Protecting Domestic Mining Act Yea 2026-09-02 unknown
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require… Yea 2026-09-02 unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 1501, H.R. 9436, and H.R… Yea 2026-09-01 unknown
To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period… Yea 2026-09-01 unknown
To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period… Nay 2026-09-01 unknown
Providing for the condemnation and denouncement of socialism in all its forms… Yea 2026-09-01 unknown
In the matter of allegations relating to Representative Chuck Edwards Yea 2026-09-01 unknown
AGOA Extension Act Yea 2026-09-01 unknown
Providing for consideration of the bills (H.R. 1501, H.R. 9436, and H.R… Yea 2026-09-01 unknown
Local Access to Courts Act Yea 2026-08-31 unknown
Last contradiction analysis: Never
platform_vs_vote 90/100
Platform: "Before voting for the Big Beautiful Bill in May 2025, Bentz vowed on his campaign website and in public statements to be a fiscal conservative who would not add to the national deficit."
Vote: on "Bentz voted to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which the nonpartisan CBO projected would add…"
Bentz campaigned as a deficit hawk but voted for the Big Beautiful Bill, which the CBO projected would add trillions to the national debt. The East Oregonian noted this directly contradicted his 'past vows not to add to the national deficit.'
statement_vs_disclosure 90/100
Platform: "Bentz voted against certifying Pennsylvania's electoral votes on January 7, 2021, citing 'concerns about the election.' He stated he 'joined many of my colleagues in asking for a congressional investigation and review…
[ Show full platform position ]
Bentz voted against certifying Pennsylvania's electoral votes on January 7, 2021, citing 'concerns about the election.' He stated he 'joined many of my colleagues in asking for a congressional investigation and review into what has happened in states where election irregularities have been observed.'
"
Vote: on "Later in the same OregonLive interview, Bentz conceded he 'saw no evidence' of election…"
Bentz voted to object to Pennsylvania's electoral votes citing 'irregularities,' but in the same interview admitted he had seen 'no evidence' of those irregularities and did not accept Trump's fraud claims. The East Oregonian called it a 'major misstep' that raised 'questions about his political judgment.'
reversal 90/100
Platform: "Bentz voted against the Respect for Marriage Act on July 19, 2022 — and voted 'yes' on final passage in December 2022. No, that's incorrect. He voted yes in July 2022 and then flipped to no on December 8, 2022. The…
[ Show full platform position ]
Bentz voted against the Respect for Marriage Act on July 19, 2022 — and voted 'yes' on final passage in December 2022. No, that's incorrect. He voted yes in July 2022 and then flipped to no on December 8, 2022. The Hill identified him among 10 House Republicans who flipped from yes to no. Bentz offered no public explanation.
"
Vote: on "Bentz previously voted in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act when it first passed the House on…"
Bentz voted yes on the Respect for Marriage Act in July 2022, then flipped to no on final passage in December 2022. He was one of 10 House Republicans to reverse without public explanation — declining to disclose his reasoning even as other GOP members who flipped published statements justifying their change.
statement_vs_disclosure 60/100
Platform: "Bentz then voted in support of creating the bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6 insurrection, becoming one of only 35 House Republicans to do so."
Vote: on "Despite supporting the Jan. 6 commission, Bentz voted against impeaching Trump for inciting the…"
Bentz voted to create the Jan. 6 commission — a rare bipartisan act — but then voted against holding Bannon in criminal contempt for defying the very commission he authorized. This earned him an 'F' democracy grade from Republican Accountability.
Last silence detection: Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:38:59 GMT (via scheduled run)
Silence on the contradiction between accepting federal infrastructure dollars and voting against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
1347d silent
Expected position: As a representative who voted against the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law while subsequently celebrating federal funding arriving in his district, Bentz would be expected to explain the inconsistency. Evidence of activity on…
[ Show full donor-interest summary ]
Expected position: As a representative who voted against the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law while subsequently celebrating federal funding arriving in his district, Bentz would be expected to explain the inconsistency. Evidence of activity on adjacent topics: Bentz voted against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November 2021. Yet he subsequently (1) urged President Biden for 'sufficient investment in Coos Bay Port' (May 2022), (2) introduced legislation expanding The Dalles water supply infrastructure (April 2025), and (3) publicly celebrated FEMA authorizing funds to fight the Highland Fire, thanking the White House for protecting 'homes, infrastructure, and natural resources' (July 2025). Bentz was active on social media and in Congress throughout this period but did not address the inconsistency between his no vote and his subsequent demands for federal investment in his district. Primary URL: https://www.bendbulletin.com/2025/08/25/bentz-plans-to-meet-with-small-groups-on-district-tour-instead-of-large-town-halls/
Abandonment of in-person town halls in favor of controlled-access group meetings and telephone town halls
189d silent
Expected position: As the sole Republican representing Oregon in Congress — and representing the 7th largest, most rural district in the nation — Bentz would be expected to maintain robust, public, in-person town halls accessible to all…
[ Show full donor-interest summary ]
Expected position: As the sole Republican representing Oregon in Congress — and representing the 7th largest, most rural district in the nation — Bentz would be expected to maintain robust, public, in-person town halls accessible to all constituents. Evidence of activity on adjacent topics: Bentz held four in-person town halls in February 2025 (Pendleton, La Grande, Boardman, Baker City) then abruptly stopped. After the NRCC advised members to avoid in-person town halls, he shifted to telephone town halls and small-group gatherings. In August 2025, he addressed the Rotary Club in The Dalles — a private event with a 60-person maximum — while protesters gathered outside chanting 'Where's the town hall meeting Cliff?' and 'Face your voters!' A constituent noted Bentz hadn't held a town hall in The Dalles in three years. On September 5, 2025, Bentz formally announced he would no longer hold in-person town halls, citing 'hostile behavior from activists' and 'disruptive tactics.' He defended the shift in media interviews, telling OPB: 'Is it important that I spend time with them? If it's productive... yes. If it's for people to engage in shouting matches, then no.' Constituents called the telephone town halls 'overly scripted, with curated questions and little chance to participate.' Primary URL: https://www.bendbulletin.com/2025/08/25/bentz-plans-to-meet-with-small-groups-on-district-tour-instead-of-large-town-halls/
other / unclassified
American Bakers Association American Bakers PAC, Republican Mainstreet Partnership PAC, American Wood Council PAC (Woodpac), American Revival PAC, Tzedek PAC (amounts: $5,000 (2026), $7,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,500 (2024)) — interest…
[ Show full donor-interest summary ]
American Bakers Association American Bakers PAC, Republican Mainstreet Partnership PAC, American Wood Council PAC (Woodpac), American Revival PAC, Tzedek PAC (amounts: $5,000 (2026), $7,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,500 (2024)) — interest area: other / unclassified
other candidates' committees
Huck PAC (amounts: $5,000 (2024)) — interest area: other candidates' committees
colleagues' leadership pacs
Bringing Republican Excellence To Town PAC (Brettpac), Buckeye Liberty PAC, Electing Majority Making Effective Republicans (Emmer PAC) (amounts: $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2026)) — interest area: colleagues' leadership pacs
party committees
Republican Governance Group/Tuesday Group PAC (amounts: $8,000 (2026)) — interest area: party committees
ideological & single-issue
Oregon Right To Life PAC (amounts: $5,000 (2024)) — interest area: ideological & single-issue
corporate pacs, industry unlisted
J.R. Simplot Company Political Action Committee, Avangrid PAC, Transcanada USA Services PAC, Ida-PAC, Calportland Company Political Action Committee (Cpcc-PAC), Woolpert, Inc Political Action Committee (amounts: $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2026), $5,500 (2026)…
[ Show full donor-interest summary ]
J.R. Simplot Company Political Action Committee, Avangrid PAC, Transcanada USA Services PAC, Ida-PAC, Calportland Company Political Action Committee (Cpcc-PAC), Woolpert, Inc Political Action Committee (amounts: $5,000 (2024), $5,000 (2026), $5,500 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026), $6,000 (2026)) — interest area: corporate pacs, industry unlisted
party & leadership pacs
Republican Governance Group/Tuesday Group PAC, Electing Majority Making Effective Republicans (Emmer PAC) (amounts: $8,000 (2026), $5,000 (2026)) — interest area: party & leadership pacs
National Beer Wholesalers Association PAC (Nbwa PAC) Alcohol & tobacco $6,500 (2024)
Electing Majority Making Effective Republicans (Emmer PAC) Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2026)
Republican Governance Group/Tuesday Group PAC Party committees $8,000 (2026)
Mn8 Energy LLC PAC (Mn8 PAC) Oil, gas & mining $5,000 (2026)
Roseburg Forest Products Co. PAC Agriculture & food $6,600 (2024)
American Israel Public Affairs Committee PAC Law & lobbying firms $10,000 (2024)
Constellation Energy Corporation Employee Political Action Committee (Cepac) Oil, gas & mining $5,500 (2026)
Tzedek PAC Other / unclassified $5,500 (2024)
Buckeye Liberty PAC Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2024)
American Revival PAC Other / unclassified $5,000 (2026)
American Wood Council PAC (Woodpac) Other / unclassified $5,000 (2026)
Electing Majority Making Effective Republicans (Emmer PAC) Party & leadership PACs $5,000 (2026)
Transcanada USA Services PAC Corporate PACs, industry unlisted $5,500 (2026)
Nga Grocers PAC Agriculture & food $6,000 (2024)
Bringing Republican Excellence To Town PAC (Brettpac) Colleagues' leadership PACs $5,000 (2026)
TopicPriorityAlignmentDeviation
Medicaid & Rural Healthcare Access 92 -55 70
Social Security & Medicare for Aging Population 85 -40 55
Infrastructure, Broadband & Rural Connectivity 70 -45 55
Education & Workforce Training 60 35 30
Labor, Wages & Cost of Living 72 40 30
Public Lands Access & Recreation 62 55 20
Wildfire Prevention & Forest Management 88 70 15
Water Rights & Drought 80 70 12
Agriculture, Ranching & Federal Lands 90 75 10
Taxes & Federal Spending 75 80 8
Disaster Relief & Emergency Coordination 68 75 8
Immigration & Border Security 78 85 5
No platform commitments archived
No committee memberships recorded
Scoring Methodology

The Capture Risk Score is a composite 0–100 index measuring potential regulatory capture of elected officials. It is computed from seven weighted components:

ComponentWeightSignal
Contradiction Risk30%Stated positions contradicted by the record (recent findings boosted)
Donor Influence20%Distinct documented donors (FEC Schedule A PACs); inferred donors do not count
Connection Density20%Mapped relationships to lobbyists, contractors, interest groups; donor links excluded
Silence Risk15%Topics where donors have interests but the official is silent
Intelligence Volume15%Documented facts from verified sources
Constituency Deviation0%Shown, not weighted — a model estimate, not a record
Voting Misalignment0%Shown, not weighted — needs platform commitments almost nobody has; the roll-call record on /votes is the vote signal

Each component is the member's standing among all scored members of Congress, and the weighted sum is the overall score. Tiers are ranks: Critical is the top 5%, High the next 10%, Elevated the next 20%, Moderate the next 30%, and Low the rest.

Officials without at least 2 documented facts, 1 contradiction analysis, 1 voting record, or 1 constituency baseline are marked Insufficient Evidence and excluded from numeric ranking.

Contradiction findings from the last 180 days receive a recency boost. High-severity contradictions (score ≥ 70) receive additional weight.

Full methodology: /congress/methodology

[PUBLIC COST ESTIMATE]
Documented financial relationships span 0 money flow chains.
$3.8BDonor Contributions
0Money Chains
0Traced Hops
Calculation Methodology

Contract values are summed from documented money flow chains where this entity appears as a source or destination node. Amounts are drawn from USASpending.gov, FEC filings, SEC EDGAR, or LD-2 lobbying registrations.

Donor contributions aggregate documented amounts from the donor_interests table, sourced from FEC individual and PAC contribution filings.

Connected officials are elected officials in our database with a mapped relationship (lobbying, board membership, campaign contribution, etc.) to this entity.

Annualised flow represents the total documented dollar amount traced through money flow hops involving this entity. Where hop-level amounts are unavailable, the chain-level documented total is used as a conservative upper bound.

All figures are drawn from public filings. Estimates are conservative — undisclosed transactions, dark money, and vanish-point hops are excluded from totals. This is a minimum documented floor, not a ceiling.

View Full Entity Profile →