Helen Bentley
Last held office: U.S. House, MD-2 (1985–1995). Ran in 8 elections between 1980 and 2002, winning 5.
Last office: U.S. House, MD-2Born 1923
- Last margin
- −8.6
- Lost 2002
- Elections
- 8
- 1980–2002
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET
Career
Offices held, and every time Bentley was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Every race Bentley has run
Margin: how far Bentley finished ahead of (+) or behind (−) the runner-up.
| Year | Office | Stage | Result | Opponents | Share | Margin | Raised |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | U.S. House, MD-2 | General | Lost | C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D) | 45.7% | D+8.6 | $1.1M |
| 1992 | U.S. House, MD-2 | General | Won | Micahel C. Hickey Jr. (D) | 65.1% | R+30.2 | $1M |
| 1990 | U.S. House, MD-2 | General | Won | Ronald P. Bowers (D) | 74.4% | R+48.7 | $834.2K |
| 1988 | U.S. House, MD-2 | General | Won | Joseph Bartenfelder (D) | 71.5% | R+42.9 | $850.9K |
| 1986 | U.S. House, MD-2 | General | Won | Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (D) | 58.7% | R+17.3 | $1.1M |
| 1984 | U.S. House, MD-2 | General | Won | Clarence D. Long (D) | 51.4% | R+2.7 | $607.7K |
| 1982 | U.S. House, MD-2 | General | Lost | Clarence D. Long (D) | 47.4% | D+5.2 | $210.3K |
| 1980 | U.S. House, MD-2 | General | Lost | Clarence D. Long (D) | 42.6% | D+14.7 | $253K |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Campaign money, 2001–02
- Raised
- $1.1M
- Spent
- $1.1M
- Cash
- $3.1K
Source: FEC filings through Dec 31, 2002Updated Oct 8, 2026, 10:35 AM ET
Seats Bentley has held
- U.S. House, MD-2 · 1985–1995
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Bentley has run against
- C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D) · 2002 election, lost
- Micahel C. Hickey Jr. (D) · 1992 election, won
- Ronald P. Bowers (D) · 1990 election, won
- Joseph Bartenfelder (D) · 1988 election, won
- Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (D) · 1986 election, won
- Clarence D. Long (D) · 1984 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
In the polls
Included in 3 polls; Bentley’s best result was 43% (Maryland's 2nd District, 2002).
Bentley’s polls in the database →How we know Bentley
One person, matched across every source we use.
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:00 PM ET