The first glimpse. The first words. The first action. They all can serve as a base coat to influence the layers that follow.

In the race for Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District — an under-the-radar race if there ever was one — incumbent Republican Cliff Bentz and Democratic challenger Chris Beck were certainly mindful of the first impression that would be drawn from the opening words in their Voters’ Pamphlet statements.

They chose carefully.

Beck’s opening words: “I will always be there for my constituents.”

Bentz’s opening salvo: “Cliff Bentz-PRO Trump.” (In ALL CAPS.)

 

“The first impression is the lasting impression.”

— Jeff Jarrett, Pro Wrestler

 

Beck knows his candidacy is a longshot in the heavily Republican district that encompasses all of Eastern Oregon, as well as the southern portion of the state. While millions of dollars are being spent in other, more competitive districts across the country, money is being thrown around like manhole covers here. “What would be the point? Fait Accompli!”

But Beck is hoping the incumbent’s unwavering loyalty to President Trump, along with the administration’s policies that have negatively impacted so many of his constituents, will work in his favor. Beck hopes his challenge will fare better than Democrats have experienced in previous elections.

There’s the war in Iran, which has now spread throughout the Middle East, doubling the price farmers and ranchers pay for diesel and 60% or more for gasoline. There are tens of thousands of working poor in the District who are poised to lose healthcare coverage from Bentz’ support of Trump cuts to Medicaid. The incumbent congressman’s Voters’ Pamphlet statement also touts his support of the bill that gave ICE tens of billions of dollars to conduct raids that have often targeted agricultural workers throughout the state.

Beck believes Bentz’s role in enthusiastically supporting those actions do not sit well with the people in his District, even among many Republicans.

Beck’s argument is supported by a recent Oregonian poll by DHM Research that shows 66% of Oregonians have a negative view of Trump, including one in five Republicans. Unlike gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan, who has worked tirelessly to not even utter Trump’s name, Bentz’s campaign approach in tying himself to the President so closely is a point Beck makes everywhere he goes.

“I’ve found young people have become particularly disengaged,” Beck said. “But no one is happy with what is going on. Not at the Rotary Club meeting I attended in Phoenix, or the town hall I held in Grants Pass, or at the Lakeview Rodeo. Heck, Bentz won’t even hold public meetings where his constituents can ask about anything on their mind. He has not had an in-person one in over 500 days.

“His only meetings are well-orchestrated and controlled. He said he doesn’t hold regular town halls because ‘they are too disruptive.’ Yeah, I bet they are. People are unhappy,” Beck said.

Beck grew up in Portland and served in the Oregon House of Representatives over 25 years ago. I reminded him of a bill he sponsored as a young legislator to ban lights on Oregon beaches so that lovers could enjoy the moonlight. It did not fare well.

“Gee, you remember that one,” he said with a chuckle.

He also introduced a bill to ban gas powered leaf blowers in 1999. In an interview with The Oregonianin 2009 he recalled the reaction.

“I was summarily laughed off the planet,” he said then. But it now appears he was just ahead of his time. Many cities, including Portland, have now done just that.

In reflecting on his service in the legislature, Beck says the experience was disheartening in many ways, “because the place was so partisan.”  He says age has made him less judgmental than in his youth.

“I am a guy who just wants to solve problems. We have so much more in common and we have to strive for that in our discourse,” he said. “I hate what is happening in Portland now. I love being east of the mountains. I like the prospect of working at what it would take to have Klamath Falls have a little more economic juice. It still struggles, and I want to help them.”

His dad grew up in Redmond and he remembers all the camping and hunting trips they would take in the Ochoco National Forest. He believes those memories helped push him to return to those roots.

Beck says he loves people and listening to what they have to say. He wants to be their voice in Congress. Without a saddlebag full of money, he is running an aggressive grassroots campaign, knocking doors with volunteers and having conversations with anyone who wants to bend his ear.

Trump won the district by 27 points in 2024 while Bentz beat his Democratic challenger by 31 points. Closing that gap completely would be an earth-shaker. But then again, the Milwaukee Brewers just swept the richest team in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers, to claim the National League crown.

Ballots are out. Voters are now at the plate. We will see soon if the pitches by the two candidates have landed in the strike zone.