Oregon Republicans pick Walden successor, DeFazio challenger

Republican primary voters in Oregon chose a former soldier who starred as himself in a Clint Eastwood movie and a farmer who fled the state when he served in the Legislature as their nominees for two House seats Tuesday, while a moderate Democratic incumbent survived a challenge from the left.

Former state Sen. Cliff Bentz won the GOP primary in Oregon’s 2nd District on Tuesday in the race to replace Rep. Greg Walden, the only Republican in the Beaver State’s congressional delegation, who is retiring after 11 terms.

With 70 percent of precincts reporting, Bentz was leading a crowded 11-candidate