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Republicans vying to unseat Bentz, Merkley fire off in Pendleton

Smith criticized Merkley and voiced opposition to Oregon’s sanctuary status and support for immigration enforcement.

Republicans vying to unseat Bentz, Merkley fire off in Pendleton
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Outlet credibilityEast Oregonian75/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 8, 2026
tl;dr

At a Pendleton forum, Republican candidates running against Cliff Bentz and Jeff Merkley discussed election rules and immigration. They broadly supported the SAVE Act, while Peter Larson raised concerns about its costs and burdens on some voters.

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David Smith R · OR
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People in this story

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Oregon state senator and Republican Senate candidate seeking to challenge Jeff Merkley

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Republican Senate candidate seeking to challenge Jeff Merkley

Rae Perkins's version of this story ↗

Republican House candidate challenging Cliff Bentz

Larson's version of this story ↗

Republican Senate candidate seeking to challenge Jeff Merkley

McAlmond's version of this story ↗
Cliff Bentz
R · OR-2

Representative and incumbent Larson is challenging

Republican House candidate challenging Cliff Bentz

Jeff Merkley
D · OR · SEN

Senator and incumbent the Republican candidates hope to challenge

ALSO MENTIONED  Barack Obama, Former president mentioned in Perkins’s account of when she felt called to public office; Klaus Hoehna, Umatilla County Republican Party chair and forum questioner; Tina Kotek, Oregon governor, cited by Smith in a comparison about popularity

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