Don Benton

Benton received an A.A. from College of the Canyons and a B.S. from Concordia University. At age 19, he co-founded, with his sister, Santa Clarita Temporaries, a temporary employment agency.{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Don_Benton|title=Don Benton - Ballotpedia|access-date=2013-05-13|archive-date=2013-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502004843/http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Don_Benton|url-status=live}} He later was employed as a district manager for Farmers Insurance Group and worked as an advertising consultant in Southwest Washington.{{cite book |last=Thurber |first=James |author-link=James Thurber |year=2001|title=The Battle for Congress: Consultants, Candidates, and Voters}}

Benton served in the United States Army from December 1975 to February 1976, to be trained for a specific job skill under the Guaranteed Training Enlistment Program. When his training was no longer available, Benton quit the military, receiving an honorable discharge.

Benton was first elected to public office when he won a seat in the Washington state House of Representatives in 1994. In 1996, he won simultaneous special and general elections to the state Senate, and was re-elected four times. In 2012, Benton faced a tight and contentious race, edging Democratic challenger Tim Probst by less than 100 votes.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.columbian.com/political-beat/2013/09/26/democrats-michael-king-embezzlement-benton-probst-election/|title=Did a disgraced Democratic campaign official impact the super close Benton-Probst election? - Political Beat|date=26 September 2013|access-date=2 October 2013|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005000719/http://blogs.columbian.com/political-beat/2013/09/26/democrats-michael-king-embezzlement-benton-probst-election/|url-status=live}} Political scientist James Thurber described Benton as a "shoot from the hip" lawmaker known for a "bombastic" style and a frequent unwillingness to compromise. In the 2012 legislative session, Benton led senate Republicans in introducing a rare procedural motion known as the "ninth order" to push the Republican caucus's budget proposal to a floor vote. The "ninth order" allows any bill to be brought to a vote even if it has not had a public hearing. Democratic lawmakers protested that the maneuver lacked transparency, though three Democratic senators ultimately joined with Benton to help pass the motion.{{cite news | url=http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/03/washington_legislature_partisa.html | work=The Oregonian | title=Washington Legislature: Partisan debate arises as Republicans push budget to Senate floor | date=2 March 2012 | access-date=31 July 2013 | archive-date=3 December 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203020415/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/03/washington_legislature_partisa.html | url-status=live }} In 2014, Benton and Ann Rivers, another state legislator from Clark County, were admonished by a Senate committee for verbal sparring in which Rivers called Benton a "piece of shit," and Benton responded by referring to Rivers as a "trashy trampy-mouthed little girl."{{cite web | title = Clean up your language, 2 senators told | url = http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2014/jan/06/clean-your-language-2-senators-told/ | publisher = Spokane Spokesman-Review | date = 6 January 2014 | accessdate = 30 January 2014 | archive-date = 2 February 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140202182442/http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2014/jan/06/clean-your-language-2-senators-told/ | url-status = live }} The same year, Benton, along with fellow GOP senator Pam Roach, requested his name be removed from the Republican caucus website. While Benton said he would remain a member of the Republican caucus, he no longer wanted to be publicly associated with it due to the caucus's decision to bring a bill granting illegal immigrants in-state tuition at state colleges to a floor vote.{{cite web | title = Sen. Benton angry with majority coalition | url = http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/feb/12/don-benton-angry-majority-coalition/ | publisher = The Columbian | date = 12 February 2014 | accessdate = 13 February 2014 | archive-date = 21 February 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140221232707/http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/feb/12/don-benton-angry-majority-coalition/ | url-status = live }}

Benton served on the Transportation, Government Operations, Rules, and Financial Institutions committees.{{cite web |url=http://donbenton.src.wastateleg.org/about/ |title=Senator Don Benton - About Don |access-date=2013-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007162105/http://donbenton.src.wastateleg.org/about/ |archive-date=2013-10-07 |url-status=dead }} He is a Washington state leader for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).{{cite web|url=http://www.alec.org/about-alec/state-chairmen/|title=State Chairs - American Legislative Exchange Council|website=www.alec.org|access-date=2012-09-22|archive-date=2012-04-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401235511/http://www.alec.org/about-alec/state-chairmen/|url-status=live}}

In 2000, Benton was elected chair of the Washington state Republican Party. His tenure was marked by historical fundraising numbers, though some party members criticized his spending priorities and hiring decisions. After Benton used specific funds he raised to purchase a new headquarters in Olympia without consulting some party leadership, two members of the party's executive board requested his resignation, which he refused to give. The following year Benton lost reelection by three votes.{{cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20010128/republicans28m/vance-replaces-benton-as-gop-chief|title=Local News - Vance replaces Benton as GOP chief - Seattle Times Newspaper|website=community.seattletimes.nwsource.com|access-date=2012-08-02|archive-date=2013-12-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202234655/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20010128&slug=republicans28m|url-status=live}}

In 2013 Benton, while still serving in the Senate, was selected as director of environmental services for Clark County. His appointment was controversial as it bypassed standard civil service hiring procedures and Benton had no previous experience in environmental services.{{cite web | last =Hidle | first =Erik | title =County shocker: Benton tapped for top environmental job (with audio): Commissioner Stuart storms out of meeting, alleges cronyism | publisher =The Columbian | date =May 1, 2013 | url =http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/may/01/madore-mielke-tap-benton-top-county-environmental-/ | accessdate =May 13, 2013 | archive-date =May 13, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130513185702/http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/may/01/madore-mielke-tap-benton-top-county-environmental-/ | url-status =live }}{{cite web | title =In Our View: Benton hire is an Insult, Local environment entrusted to man with virtually no qualifications for the job | publisher =The Columbian | date =May 3, 2012 | url =http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/may/03/benton-hire-environment-clark-columbian-editorial/ | accessdate =May 13, 2013 | archive-date =August 1, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130801061147/http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/may/03/benton-hire-environment-clark-columbian-editorial/ | url-status =live }}{{cite web | author =Editorial Board | title =Editorial: State Sen. Don Benton for environmental post? Really? | publisher =Seattle Times | date =May 5, 2013 | url =http://seattletimes.com/html/editorials/2020918353_editdonbentonxml.html | accessdate =May 13, 2013 | archive-date =June 21, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130621202501/http://seattletimes.com/html/editorials/2020918353_editdonbentonxml.html | url-status =live }}{{cite web | author =Editorial Board | title =Benton appointment shows cronyism is thriving in Clark County | publisher =The Olympian | date =May 8, 2013 | url =http://www.theolympian.com/2013/05/08/2536845/cronyism-thriving-in-clark-county.html | accessdate =May 13, 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url =https://archive.today/20130630103258/http://www.theolympian.com/2013/05/08/2536845/cronyism-thriving-in-clark-county.html | archive-date =June 30, 2013 }} Editorials in The Columbian, The Olympian, and The Seattle Times questioned Benton's qualifications{{cite web | last =Mathieau | first =Stevie | author2 =Erin Middlewood | title =Benton's ballyhooed management experience is hazy: Company discloses little of its work beyond that for Benton campaign | work =Sunday Columbian, p A1 | publisher =The Columbian | date =September 1, 2013 | url =http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/sep/01/bentons-ballyhooed-management-experience-is-hazy-c/ | accessdate =October 24, 2013 | archive-date =October 29, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200517/http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/sep/01/bentons-ballyhooed-management-experience-is-hazy-c/ | url-status =live }} and the county was sued for unfair hiring practices by the department's interim director,{{cite web | title =Unfair hiring complaint names Madore, Mielke: Environmental services employee seeks more than $300,000 | publisher =The Columbian | date =October 17, 2013 | url =http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/oct/17/unfair-hiring-complaint-names-madore-mielke/ | accessdate =October 24, 2013 | archive-date =October 23, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131023001229/http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/oct/17/unfair-hiring-complaint-names-madore-mielke/ | url-status =live }} who claimed she had been denied the opportunity to apply for the position. By November of that year Benton threatened a suit. His attorney contacted Ed Barnes, a Clark County union activist who had declared Benton unqualified for the job, during public comment periods at county commission meetings claiming defamation, though some legal experts questioned whether Benton, as a public figure, could file such a suit.{{cite news | first=Eric | last=Hidle | title=Benton threatens lawsuit against outspoken critic | url=http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/nov/13/don-benton-threatens-lawsuit-ctitic-clark-county/ | work=The Columbian | location=Vancouver | date=November 13, 2013 | access-date=November 16, 2013 | archive-date=November 16, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116055838/http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/nov/13/don-benton-threatens-lawsuit-ctitic-clark-county/ | url-status=live }} In the midst of the matter, county commissioner David Madore, who had voted for Benton's appointment, declared the hiring was an "accident."{{cite web|title=Madore deletes FB post on Benton hiring |publisher=KOIN 6 News |date=October 21, 2013 |url=https://www.koin.com/news/clark-county/madore-no-further-comment |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140122153234/http://www.koin.com/news/clark-county/madore-no-further-comment |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 22, 2014 |accessdate=January 30, 2014 }} The following year, Clark County convened a council of freeholders to rewrite the county's charter.{{cite web | author =Erin Middlewood | title =Freeholders: Add two commissioners | publisher =The Columbian | date =January 25, 2014 | url =http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/jan/25/freeholders-add-two-commissioners-idea-of-an-elect/ | access-date =January 30, 2014 | archive-date =February 1, 2014 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140201171944/http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/jan/25/freeholders-add-two-commissioners-idea-of-an-elect/ | url-status =live }} Benton's position with Clark County was eliminated when the Department of Environmental Services was dissolved in July 2016.{{cite web | author =Katie Gillespie | title =Benton to lose county job as department reorganizes | publisher =The Columbian | date =May 11, 2016 | url =http://www.columbian.com/news/2016/may/11/benton-out-fire-madore-county-job-mccauley-patronage/ | access-date =May 11, 2016 | archive-date =May 13, 2016 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160513111304/http://www.columbian.com/news/2016/may/11/benton-out-fire-madore-county-job-mccauley-patronage/ | url-status =live }} After the implementation of the county charter, hiring and firing decisions for department heads were shifted to the executive county manager. Benton filed a tort claim, a state requirement before filing suit against the county, in October 2016, seeking two million dollars from Clark County for wrongful termination.{{cite web | author=Jake Thomas | title=Benton seeks $2 million from county | publisher=The Columbian | date=October 28, 2016 | url=http://www.columbian.com/news/2016/oct/28/benton-seeks-2-million-from-clark-county/ | access-date=October 28, 2016 | archive-date=October 30, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030135529/http://www.columbian.com/news/2016/oct/28/benton-seeks-2-million-from-clark-county/ | url-status=live }}

Benton served as campaign director for Donald Trump in Washington state during the 2016 Presidential election. Benton was initially the leader of the EPA "Beachhead" team, which oversaw the transition within the EPA from the Obama Administration to the Trump Administration. However, his approach to implementing the President's policies clashed with incoming EPA Director Scott Pruitt. On April 14, 2017, Trump named Benton as the 13th Director of the Selective Service System, responsible for the United States draft.{{Cite news|url=http://www.columbian.com/news/2017/may/28/benton-in-d-c-former-state-senator-touts-his-achievements/|title=Benton in D.C.: It's time to change the narrative|date=2017-05-28|work=The Columbian|access-date=2017-11-26|language=en|archive-date=2017-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041215/http://www.columbian.com/news/2017/may/28/benton-in-d-c-former-state-senator-touts-his-achievements/|url-status=live}} Benton drew criticism when he reportedly suggested changes to the dress code at the Selective Service System that called for women to wear "conservative tops", pantyhose, and closed-toed shoes while telling men to wear dress shoes with sport coats or a suit and tie.{{Cite web|last=Brunner|first=Jim|date=2019-05-26|title='Big Don' Benton goes to D.C., shakes up Selective Service and makes a play for White House chief of staff|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/big-don-benton-goes-to-d-c-shakes-up-selective-service-and-makes-a-play-for-white-house-chief-of-staff/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-27|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526142808/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/big-don-benton-goes-to-d-c-shakes-up-selective-service-and-makes-a-play-for-white-house-chief-of-staff/ |archive-date=2019-05-26 }}{{Cite web|last=Brynelson|first=Troy|date=14 December 2020|title=Like Trump, Vancouver lawmaker Don Benton says his future in DC uncertain|url=https://www.opb.org/article/2020/12/14/like-trump-vancouver-lawmaker-don-benton-says-his-future-in-dc-uncertain/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-27|website=Oregon Public Broadcasting|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214154918/https://www.opb.org/article/2020/12/14/like-trump-vancouver-lawmaker-don-benton-says-his-future-in-dc-uncertain/ |archive-date=2020-12-14 }} Benton left the position of Director of the Selective Service System on January 20, 2021, the day President Biden was inaugurated.{{cite web |title=Past Directors of the Selective Service Systeme |url=https://www.sss.gov/About/Past-Directors-of-the-Selective-Service/ |publisher=Selective Service System |access-date=24 January 2021}} Benton was succeeded by an Acting Director pending President Biden's nomination of a new permanent Director.{{cite web |title=About Selective Service - About the Agency - Leadership |url=https://www.sss.gov/about/ |publisher=Selective Service System |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=14 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014102418/https://www.sss.gov/about/ |url-status=live }}

In 2013, Benton introduced a bill that would require parents to be notified if their minor daughter was having an abortion. Benton stated that "this is a parental rights bill" and not intended to stop abortions. "While minors must have parental permission to get a tattoo or have their ear pierced it is still possible for a young girl to have an abortion without the benefit of their own mother's counseling" said Benton.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2013020056|title=TVW, Washington States' Public Affairs Network – Public Affairs Made Public|website=www.tvw.org|date=11 August 2020 }} In a 2012 survey collected by the Life Political Action Committee of Southwest Washington, Benton indicated that he believes life begins at conception, the State has a compelling interest in protecting human life beginning at conception, abortion is never morally permissible, and medical professionals should be allowed to deny service based on their moral, ethical or religious beliefs. In the survey he also said, "To my knowledge, I am the only Senator to ever sponsor and successfully pass parental notification law in the state senate. It was killed in the House."{{cite web|url=http://lifepac.org/ss1/2012/benton.htm|title=Life Pac of SW Washington|website=lifepac.org|access-date=2012-08-02|archive-date=2012-08-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811171148/http://lifepac.org/ss1/2012/benton.htm|url-status=live}}

In 2005 Benton introduced the Chelsea Harrison Act, which was eventually enacted and signed into law in 2008. The statute amended the state's three-strikes law to expand the law's repeat offender criteria by including persons convicted of felony sexual assault in other states.{{cite news | title=Looking back at three-strikes | url=http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/nov/14/Looking-back-at-three-strikes/ | work=The Columbian | location=Vancouver | date=10 November 2010 | accessdate=16 November 2013 }}{{cite news | title=Benton again pushes "three strikes" bill | url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/politics/2008/01/benson_again_pushes_three_stri.html | work=The Oregonian | location=Portland | date=15 January 2008 | accessdate=16 November 2013 | archive-date=10 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610214120/http://blog.oregonlive.com/politics/2008/01/benson_again_pushes_three_stri.html | url-status=live }} Benton has previously introduced legislation to apply the death penalty to cases of premeditated murder where the victim is a child.{{cite news | title=Death penalty for child killers? | url=http://blog.thenewstribune.com/crime/2007/02/05/death-penalty-for-child-killers | work=The News-Tribune | location=Tacoma | date=5 February 2007 | accessdate=16 November 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611055748/http://blog.thenewstribune.com/crime/2007/02/05/death-penalty-for-child-killers/ | archive-date=11 June 2015 | url-status=dead }}

Benton opposes gay marriage and civil unions, saying on the Senate floor that those laws affect "less than a half of one percent of the population."{{cite web|url=http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/02/02/that-one-half-of-one-percent-is-the-reason-that-we-exist-it-the-reason-this-chamber-is-here-by-washington-state-senator-ed-murray|title="That one half of one percent is the reason that we exist, it the reason this chamber is here," by Washington State Senator Ed Murray|access-date=2012-08-02|archive-date=2012-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524035351/http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/02/02/that-one-half-of-one-percent-is-the-reason-that-we-exist-it-the-reason-this-chamber-is-here-by-washington-state-senator-ed-murray|url-status=live}}

In 2010 Benton, who served as a student member of the Board of Trustees at California's College of the Canyons,{{cite news | title=Vancouver Republican basks in state Senate majority | url=http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestnews/953881-13/vancouver-republican-basks-in-state-senate-majority | work=Yakima Herald | location=Yakima | date=18 March 2013 | accessdate=16 November 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20131117062408/http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestnews/953881-13/vancouver-republican-basks-in-state-senate-majority | archive-date=17 November 2013 }} introduced legislation to create a sixth trustee position at Washington community colleges, which would be filled with a student appointment.{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonvotes.org/2010-SB-6687|title=2010 Senate Bill 6687: Including student members on community college boards.|website=www.washingtonvotes.org|access-date=2013-11-17|archive-date=2015-06-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610205951/http://www.washingtonvotes.org/2010-SB-6687|url-status=live}} Benton has voted against proposed tuition increases at state colleges and universities,{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/9316/25375/3177/donald-benton-voted-nay-passage-hb-2344-allowing-tuition-increases#25375|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|access-date=2013-11-17|archive-date=2015-06-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610225743/http://votesmart.org/bill/9316/25375/3177/donald-benton-voted-nay-passage-hb-2344-allowing-tuition-increases#25375|url-status=live}} but has stated his opposition to offering in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants.{{cite news | title=Capitol Newsmaker, Week 2: Sen. Don Benton | url=http://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-profiles/publicola/articles/capitol-newsmaker-week-2-sen-don-benton | work=Seattle Metropolitan Magazine | date=25 January 2013 | accessdate=16 November 2013 | archive-date=5 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605233922/http://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-profiles/publicola/articles/capitol-newsmaker-week-2-sen-don-benton | url-status=live }} In 2008 he broke with the senate Republican caucus and supported legislation to extend collective bargaining rights to research assistants at Washington State University.{{cite web|url=http://www.wslc.org/legis/vr-sen08.htm |title=WSLC 2008 Senate Voting Record |accessdate=2013-11-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009212438/http://www.wslc.org/legis/vr-sen08.htm |archive-date=2013-10-09 }}

Benton supports reducing taxes on small businesses{{cite web|url=http://www.senatordonbenton.com/issues.html|title=Don Benton on the Issues|access-date=2012-08-02|archive-date=2012-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218064707/http://senatordonbenton.com/issues.html|url-status=dead}} and has also supported efforts to raise the property tax exemption amount for the elderly and disabled. After Washington Initiative 1185 (a measure that required the legislature to submit proposed tax increases to public referendum) was declared unconstitutional by the state supreme court in 2012, Benton stated his support for an amendment to the state constitution that would incorporate the essence of the nullified statute.{{cite news | title=What bills are local lawmakers backing? | url=http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/jan/23/what-bills-are-local-lawmakers-backing/ | work=The Columbian | location=Vancouver | date=23 January 2013 | accessdate=16 November 2013 | archive-date=3 December 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011923/http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/jan/23/what-bills-are-local-lawmakers-backing/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/6030/16678/3177/property-tax-deferral|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|access-date=2012-08-02|archive-date=2013-12-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203093810/http://votesmart.org/bill/6030/16678/3177/property-tax-deferral|url-status=live}} Benton has said he is in alignment with many members of the Tea Party movement.{{cite web|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011011450_benton08m.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211150001/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011011450_benton08m.html|url-status=dead|title=Seattle Times: Don Benton, veteran state senator, seeks to take on Patty Murray in November|archive-date=February 11, 2010}}

Benton has been a vocal opponent of the Columbia River Crossing, calling the proposed bridge an unnecessarily expensive replacement for the existing Interstate Bridge.{{cite news | title=Columbia River Crossing supporters have no valid arguments left: Guest opinion | url=http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/10/columbia_river_crossing_suppor.html | work=The Oregonian | location=Portland | date=15 October 2013 | accessdate=30 January 2014 | archive-date=2 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202170957/http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/10/columbia_river_crossing_suppor.html | url-status=live }} Benton has also expressed concern at tolling plans outlined for the proposed bridge which, he claimed, could cost Clark County residents – many of whom commute to Portland, Oregon daily – $100 per month or more.{{cite AV media |year=2012 |title=MID-SESSION SPECIAL EDITION |trans-title=The Impact |url=http://www.tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2012020093H |accessdate=30 January 2014 |format=web video |location=1:03 |publisher=TV Washington }}

While the legislature ultimately approved partial funding on the project, Democratic governor Jay Inslee vetoed the measure, earning praise from Benton.{{cite news | title=Benton praises governor for veto of Columbia River Crossing funding | url=http://donbenton.src.wastateleg.org/benton-praises-governor-for-veto-of-crc-funding/ | work=src.wastateleg.org | date=21 May 2013 | accessdate=30 January 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202150148/http://donbenton.src.wastateleg.org/benton-praises-governor-for-veto-of-crc-funding/ | archive-date=2 February 2014 | url-status=dead }} When Oregon attempted to move ahead on the bridge without Washington's support, Benton introduced a measure in the legislature to block Clark County's public transit agency C-Tran from cooperating with Oregon state agencies on the project. C-Tran had previously suggested it might enact eminent domain on properties on the Washington side of the Washington-Oregon border on behalf of Oregon transportation planners.{{cite news | title=2014 Washington Legislature: Senator seeks to prevent transfer of eminent domain to agencies from other states | url=http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/index.ssf/2014/01/2014_washington_legislature_se.html | work=The Oregonian | location=Portland | date=22 January 2014 | accessdate=30 January 2014}}

Benton has been described as a Trump loyalist in regards to his support of former president Donald Trump. After Joe Biden defeated Trump in the 2020 election and Trump refused to concede, Benton supported Trump's refusal to concede and challenge the election results.

• 2014 Guardians of Small Business award. Presented by NFIB. {{cite web |url=https://www.nfib.com/content/news/washington/69-lawmakers-win-main-streets-highest-award-65593/ |title=69 Lawmakers Win Main Street's Highest Award |website=nfib.com |date=May 12, 2014 |accessdate=September 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126222746/https://www.nfib.com/content/news/washington/69-lawmakers-win-main-streets-highest-award-65593/ |url-status=live }}

Benton's father was a former member of the Agua Dulce, California school board. Benton has four children with his wife, Mary, who currently runs his former advertising consultancy.{{cite web|url=http://www.donbenton.com/about.html|title=The Benton Group|access-date=2012-08-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210230259/http://www.donbenton.com/about.html|archive-date=2013-12-10|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/sep/01/bentons-ballyhooed-management-experience-is-hazy-c/|title=Benton's ballyhooed management experience is hazy|date=31 August 2013|access-date=25 October 2013|archive-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200517/http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/sep/01/bentons-ballyhooed-management-experience-is-hazy-c/|url-status=live}}

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Category:Washington (state) state senators

Category:Living people

Category:1957 births

Category:State political party chairs of Washington (state)

Category:Concordia University (Oregon) alumni

Category:21st-century members of the Washington State Legislature

Category:First Trump administration personnel

Category:Members of the Washington House of Representatives