OR-02: Former Democratic Oregon lawmaker will face Bentz in sprawling 2nd Congressional District

A former Democratic state lawmaker is leading the Democratic primary to take on Oregon’s lone Republican member of Congress in the state’s sprawling 2nd Congressional District.

U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, of Ontario, was fending off primary challenges from Peter Larson, a former teacher, and Andrea Carr, a former rodeo queen and barrel racer, claiming nearly 80% of the vote in initial results in the Republican primary.

That means he’ll face off against Chris Beck, a former state lawmaker from Phoenix and rural land use expert, in the general election. Beck secured 34% of votes in the Democratic primary against five challengers: Bend-La Pine school teacher Mary Doyle, Medford pediatrician Rebecca Mueller, Peter Quince, a retired technical writer from Ashland, Dawn Rasmussen, a small business owner from The Dalles, and Patty Snow, a former small business owner from Ashland.

The Associated Press called races for Beck and Bentz.



https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/05/19/former-democratic-oregon-lawmaker-leads-race-to-face-republican-cliff-bentz/