ONTARIO — U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz easily won a third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, racking up nearly two-thirds of the vote against two opponents in the Nov. 5 election.

As of Nov. 11, the Republican Bentz had 218,827 votes (64.1%). Dan Ruby, the Democratic and Progressive Party candidate, had 111,303 votes (32.6%). The third candidate, Michael Kurt Stettler of the Constitution Party, had 10,770 votes (3%).

Bentz’s 2nd Congressional District seat is considered a safe one for Republicans, and he was widely favored to win reelection after walloping Prineville Mayor Jason Beebe in the May primary.

The district has been represented by a Republican since 1981.

The 2nd Congressional District covers roughly two-thirds of the state east of the Willamette Valley.

It includes all of Baker, Crook, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco and Wheeler counties, all but a small sliver of Jefferson County and the southeastern portions of Deschutes (excluding Bend and areas to its northwest) and Douglas counties.

Bentz, of Ontario, served in the Oregon Legislature for a decade before winning election in 2020 to the U.S. House to succeed the retiring Greg Walden.