RENO, Nev. — For the first time in a decade and a half, Nevada’s sole Republican House seat is up for grabs, setting up a primary battle that will gauge whether GOP voters prefer seasoned political experience or fresh faces with President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
After Republican Rep. Mark Amodei declared his retirement this year, an opportunity emerged in the state’s 2nd District, encompassing all of northern Nevada. Former state Sen. James Settelmeyer has gained support from Amodei and Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, while retired Lt. Col. David Flippo — who lacks elected office experience but secured Trump’s endorsement along with key MAGA movement figures — presents the alternative. Voters head to the polls Tuesday.
The district heavily favors Republicans in voter registration, and political observers are monitoring the contest for insights into Trump’s ongoing sway over party members as he navigates the latter portion of his final presidential term. Nevada Democrats acknowledge the challenging path ahead but plan to compete for the seat, believing Flippo might prove more vulnerable due to his Trump connections potentially alienating independent voters in swing county Washoe, which includes Reno.
With nearly twenty years of legislative and state government experience, Settelmeyer emerged as an early favorite upon joining the race. However, Flippo rapidly drew attention after switching from a southern Nevada congressional campaign. He established residency by renting a home to pursue the seat and brought endorsements from prominent conservative organizations like Turning Point Action, established by the late political activist Charlie Kirk.
Following both candidates’ efforts to demonstrate their Trump connections, the former president endorsed Flippo last week. Settelmeyer had previously served as a co-chair of Trump’s 2024 Nevada campaign.
“I love the State — The People are special! I will never let you down and, with David Flippo, I am just adding to that Statement,” Trump wrote on his social media platform.
Both candidates have concentrated on economic issues, water resources, and land management — particularly significant in Nevada where federal ownership encompasses most of the state’s territory — and share similar policy positions. Consequently, their backgrounds and personal qualities have become central campaign themes.
Financial adviser Flippo joined the race after prominent Nevada conservative leaders chose not to run, arguing the contest required a “strong conservative.”
His campaign strategy has targeted Settelmeyer’s legislative history, particularly his support for legislation permitting undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.
“I’m strong on my values, I’m stronger on the conservative principles, and I don’t have the voting record,” Flippo stated in a recent interview.
However, Settelmeyer contends his legislative background demonstrates his grasp of state issues and governance capabilities. His service spans both the Senate and Assembly, plus his role as director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. He has committed to maintaining regular travel between Nevada and Washington, following Amodei’s example.
“It’s just very important that at the end of the day, that northern Nevada chooses a northern Nevadan to go to DC to represent northern Nevada,” Settelmeyer told a small gathering in Washoe Valley recently.
He has reinforced this theme by highlighting Flippo’s recent relocation to the district and absence of political experience. Flippo previously competed in the Republican primary for Nevada’s 4th District in 2024 but was unsuccessful.
“Twenty years ago, we would have said this race is probably a shoe-in for the more experienced candidate,” observed Jeremy Gelman, a political science professor at the University of Nevada in Reno. “The way Republican primary politics have evolved, that’s not the case anymore.”
Amodei’s effectiveness stemmed partly from his ability to advance Trump’s priorities while occasionally challenging him, noted Fred Lokken, political science professor at the Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno.
He became the first House Republican to endorse an impeachment inquiry into Trump in 2019, though he eventually opposed impeachment. He criticized Trump’s immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota this year and resisted proposals to eliminate public broadcasting funding in 2025.
Trump’s influence proved decisive in recent Senate primaries in Louisiana and Texas, Gelman noted. The former president appears focused on identifying allies who will advance his priority agenda during his term’s final two years, likely viewing Flippo as more reliable given his campaign’s emphasis on national issues.
Flippo has secured backing from national Republicans closely tied to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement, including former Rep. Matt Gaetz and the Freedom Caucus Fund, the political action committee representing the hard-right conservative House Republican faction. In his endorsement, Trump highlighted that Flippo has support from “the most Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in Nevada.”
Settelmeyer’s campaign responded that northern Nevada voters “deserve a representative who knows our issues, understands our communities, and has the experience to represent them in Washington, not someone who only moved here when a political opportunity opened up.”
