Swing-state Republican says Nevada’s only red district no longer a guarantee

When Donald Trump won Nevada's six electoral votes in the 2024 presidential race, Democratic strategists were quick to express their frustration — as the western swing state had gone to Joe Biden in 2020 and Hillary Clinton in 2016. But according to conservative Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nevada), who isn't seeking reelection, Nevada is shaping up to be a problem for Republicans in the 2026 midterms.

Amodei is serving in the U.S. House of Representatives via Nevada's 2nd Congressional District, where, in a GOP congressional primary on Tuesday night, June 9, the Trump-backed David Flippo (a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel) defeated former Nevada State Sen. James Settelmeyer (who Amodei endorsed). Now, Flippo goes up against Democratic nominee Teresa F. Benitez-Thompson in the general election.

Amodei praised Settelmeyer in a Thursday morning post on X, writing, "James Settelmeyer ran a campaign rooted in integrity, energized on the issues, and fueled by a deep passion for the place he calls home. That is something I hope he is proud of. The candidate I supported did not prevail Tuesday night."

Before the primary, the Cook Political Report said that Republicans had a clear advantage in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District. But Amodei believes that the seat is very much in play for Democrats in November.

"Well, here we are," Amodei wrote. "While this primary election wasn't a big turnout, and no Republican in CD-2 received a majority of the vote, the Republican candidate advancing to the general election faces a well-positioned Democrat opponent. It will be an interesting summer and fall, but I believe it's fair to say that CD-2, for the first time in its history, isn't a Republican guarantee. What was once a safe prediction may quickly become an expensive one. Why? The fact that the largest block of registered Republican voters in CD-2 is 35.5 percent."

Amodei's tweet is drawing strong reactions on X.

Nevada Independent CEO Jon Ralston tweeted, "Whoa. This is news on Nevada's only GOP congressional district."

Nevada Independent reporter Mini Racker, formerly of Time and the Los Angeles Times, observed, "Amodei is out with his first statement on the results in #NV02, saying he believes the Democrats have a chance to win the seat. I was just in his office talking to him about what happened and if he might make an endorsement in the general. Stay tuned."

The Nevada Politics account on X, meanwhile, lashed out at Amodei — angrily tweeting, "[Settelmeyer] lost because of you. Why did you disparage Trump, causing him to endorse Flippo? Why didn't you spend any of your $400k supporting him? You caused this, coward."

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