Oregon State Senate District 19 candidate surveys, 2022

This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Oregon State Senate District 19 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

Click here to see candidates and election results.
Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Oregon State Senate District 19

Incumbent Rob Wagner defeated Ben Edtl in the general election for Oregon State Senate District 19 on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Rob Wagner (D / Independent Party)	66.0	48,309
	Ben Edtl (R)	33.9	24,767
	Other/Write-in votes	0.1	85

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 73,161
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

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Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Ben Edtl (R)

It's time to end the one party political system in Oregon. Ben is a fierce advocate for individual rights and will bring powerful energy and balance to Salem politics.

Since 2020 we've endured the most insane social experiments imposed by radical leftists with super majority powers at the Oregon legislature. Our democracy thrives with checks and balances. The last check remaining in Oregon is YOU. It's time to elect people like yourselves to represent you in Salem and restore sanity to our great state.

Ben is proudly endorsed by Oregonians for Medical Freedom, PAC, Oregon Firearms Federation, PAC, Restore Oregon Now, PAC and Parents Rights in Education, PAC.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Ben Edtl (R)

Ben is an advocate for medical freedom, free speech, Second Amendment rights, transparent elections, school choice and local democratic control. He believes that BIG GOVERNMENT is the problem and supports tax reductions, right to work, free economy and defense of property rights and single family zoning. He is passionate about fighting homelessness by attacking the root causes and conditions: alcoholism, addiction and mental illness instead of the continued and expensive enabling methods tried and failed by Democrats. He will stand up for your right to self defense and work to rebuild our Democrat destruction of our criminal justice and public safety systems. He will fight to end institutionalized radical left political indoctrination in our public schools and believes children belong to their parents, not the State. He'll work to stop race based income redistribution at the state level and stand up to any bill with mention of "equity" - he understands that you cannot end racism with more racism.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Ben Edtl (R)

I did not go to college so I had to build my career as an entrepreneur. I learned and grew through tenacity, hard work and experience, I am also a recovering alcoholic / addict. In 2010 I got sober and changed my life.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Ben Edtl (R)

Should be a check and balance. Not like it is now, where Executive Branch and Legislative Branch share the same radical views.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Ben Edtl (R)

Our greatest challenge will be repairing the social and economic impact of the radical lockdowns, dismantling of our public safety systems and the damage and division imposed on our children with radicalized indoctrination in our public schools.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Ben Edtl (R)

No, I do not. It is most beneficial that legislators truly represent the people who elected them.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Ben Edtl (R)

My favorite legislatures in Oregon are Kim Thatcher and Dennis Linthicum.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Ben Edtl (R)

Yes. Possibly U.S. Senate after gaining experience in Salem.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Ben Edtl (R)

Yes, absolutely. Emergency powers have been severely abused by the Governor and supported by her collogues in legislature.