Nevada congressional race tests Democrats' midterm strength - Los Angeles Times

Nevada's 2nd Congressional District Race Draws Attention Ahead of Midterms

Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District covers a large area of northern Nevada between the Sierra Nevada and the Utah border. The seat has been held by Republicans since the district was established more than 40 years ago. The November contest between Republican nominee David Flippo and Democratic nominee Teresa Benitez-Thompson is being examined for signs of broader shifts in voter support.

The district includes rural counties and Washoe County, home to Reno. In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump received 56 percent of the vote to Kamala Harris’s 42 percent. Trump’s margin exceeded 50 percentage points in many rural portions of the district. Incumbent Representative Mark Amodei, who has held the seat since 2011, announced his retirement in February 2026.

Flippo, 63, is a 25-year Air Force veteran. He previously ran in the Republican primary for Nevada’s 4th District in 2024 and lost. After Amodei’s retirement announcement, Flippo moved from Las Vegas to the 2nd District and entered the race. He defeated state Senate minority leader James Settelmeyer and 11 other candidates in the June primary. Flippo received an endorsement from Trump and support from several outside groups. During the primary, Flippo’s campaign criticized Settelmeyer on issues including state budget votes and immigration policy.

Amodei stated after the primary that he would not endorse Flippo. In an appearance on the program “Nevada Newsmakers,” Amodei described the primary contest as negative and said he wished Flippo well but would not support his candidacy.

Reports have noted Flippo’s recent move into the district and questions about his financial disclosures. Flippo has loaned his campaign more than $1.6 million. The news outlet NOTUS reported that Flippo did not file required personal financial disclosure statements during his 2024 campaign and that a prior employer in the financial services industry terminated his employment for alleged policy violations. Flippo has not publicly responded in detail to those specific reports.

Benitez-Thompson, 48, is a former member of the Nevada Assembly from Reno. She has described herself as a moderate Democrat. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has included the 2nd District on its target list for the first time in several cycles. It remains unclear how much national party resources will be directed to the race.

Voting patterns in recent midterm elections show high partisan loyalty. Pew Research Center data indicate that more than 90 percent of Republican and Republican-leaning voters supported Republican House candidates in the last two midterms. Election analyst Charlie Cook has written that Republican turnout could be lower than usual in some districts but that persuading Republican voters to support Democratic candidates remains difficult.

Nevada political observer Jon Ralston has stated that a Democratic victory in the district would be difficult given the area’s voting history, though he did not rule it out entirely. The district’s rural counties have consistently supported Republican candidates by wide margins in recent cycles.

The outcome in the 2nd District will be one data point among many in November. Democrats would need a net gain of three seats to win House control. Historical midterm results show that large shifts in House seats have occurred when national conditions, including economic indicators and presidential approval ratings, moved against the party holding the White House. Whether conditions this cycle produce comparable movement remains to be measured by actual vote totals.

Both candidates continue to campaign on their records and policy positions. Flippo emphasizes his military service and alignment with Trump-era priorities. Benitez-Thompson highlights her legislative experience in the state Assembly and local residency. Voter registration data, fundraising reports, and subsequent polling will provide additional information on the race’s trajectory through the fall.