FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: January 27, 2026

Contact: Seth Benham

Phone: 541-218-7707

Email: info@sethbenham.com

Website: sethbenham.com

Grants Pass Business Owner and City Councilor Seth Benham Announces Candidacy for Oregon House District 3

GRANTS PASS, OR – Seth Benham, a Grants Pass native, small business owner, and Grants Pass City Councilor, announced today that he is running for Oregon State Representative for House District 3 in the 2026 Republican primary. Benham said his decision to run stems from a deep commitment to the community he calls home and frustration with the lack of representation Southern Oregon has received in Salem."I was born and raised right here in Grants Pass. This is home. It's where I've built my business, where I'm raising my family, and where I want to serve," Benham said. "For too long, Josephine County has been ignored in Salem. We send our tax dollars north, and we get nothing back. Our families are struggling with housing costs, our small businesses are drowning in high taxes and regulations, and our voice isn't being heard. That needs to change." According to legislative analysis, the lack of active representation form the current State Representative has cost the district an estimated $5.8 million in lost resources and funding opportunities, and most recently submitted zero bills for the upcoming short session." Josephine County deserves a representative who shows up, listens, and delivers results," Benham said. "I'm not running because I want a title. I'm running because I see what's happening to our community, and I know we can do better."

Three Pillars for Southern Oregon

Benham outlined three core priorities for his campaign:

1. Fight for Business Owners and Working Families
2. Decrease Regulations and Increase Affordable Housing
3. Defend Public Safety and Community Standards

A Conservative Voice with Deep Roots in Southern Oregon

Benham's connection to Josephine County runs deep. Born and raised in Grants Pass, he has built his life and career in the community. He owns and operates a local business, serves on the Grants Pass City Council, is the current vice president of the Southern Oregon Aspire Board of Directors, and currently chairs Main Street Grants Pass, an organization dedicated to revitalizing downtown Grants Pass and supporting local businesses.

"I'm not a career politician," Benham said. "I'm a dad raising two daughters here with my wife. I'm a business owner who knows what it's like to balance a budget and make payroll. And as Chair of Main Street Grants Pass, I've worked to bring our community together, support local businesses, and make downtown a place where families want to gather. That's the perspective we need in Salem—someone who understands what real families and real businesses are going through."

Benham's experience as a City Councilor has given him firsthand knowledge of local government challenges and the disconnect between Salem's policies and Southern Oregon's needs. "I've seen how state mandates impact our city budget, how one-size-fits-all regulations don't work for rural communities, and how often our concerns fall on deaf ears," he said.

Benham describes himself as a constitutional conservative who believes in limited government, individual liberty, and personal responsibility. He is a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights, pro-life, and committed to protecting parental rights in education.

"I believe in the Constitution, I believe in freedom, and I believe government works best when it stays out of people's lives," Benham said. "But when government does act, it should be efficient, accountable, and responsive to the people it serves. Right now, Salem is failing on all three counts." Benham emphasized that his campaign will focus on practical solutions rather than partisan rhetoric. "I'm not interested in political games or scoring points," he said. "I'm interested in results. Our families need lower costs, better opportunities, and a government that actually works for them. That's what I'll fight for every single day."

MEDIA KIT:

Please find media assets at:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/gbs3bu4iacrzi5n3lrmq0/AOF\_WX73u6JwAU0aTXZ-Vv0?rlkey=apu0j7kqo54ed1oi8jmgzbnib\&st=c4jmgl4h\&dl=0

CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: sethbenham.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

•Facebook: facebook.com/BenhamForOregon

•Instagram: @benhamfororegon

•Twitter/X: @benhamfororegon

Contact Information:

Seth Benham for Oregon House District 3

321 SE 6th Street Suite 206
Grants Pass, OR 97526
United States

Seth Benham
+1 (541) 218-7707
https://sethbenham.com