David Flippo, a retired Air Force Lt. Col., has won the Republican primary in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District, following an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. The primary results were announced on Wednesday, and Flippo's victory comes as he competes against former state Senator James Settelmeyer, who was supported by retiring Rep. Mark Amodei and Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo. Amodei's retirement opened up the primary for the only Republican-held House seat in Nevada.
Democrats are optimistic about their candidate, Teresa Benitez-Thompson, who is the chief of staff to state Attorney General Aaron Ford, believing that Flippo's nomination could attract less partisan voters in the general election.
In a statement on social media, Flippo expressed gratitude to Nevadans and emphasized his commitment to advocating for the state's working population. The 2nd District race is one of several closely monitored contests in Nevada this year. In the 3rd Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Susie Lee will face Marty O'Donnell, who has received Trump's backing.
The primary also determined candidates for the governor's race, with Ford winning the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Governor Lombardo. Ford has criticized Lombardo's association with Trump and has pledged to address rising costs for families.
In statewide races, Republican candidates for attorney general and secretary of state included individuals who have previously expressed skepticism about election integrity. Adriana Guzmán Fralick won the GOP nomination for attorney general, while the secretary of state primary featured candidates with varying views on the 2020 election results.
Flippo has stated that he is aware of the key issues affecting the region, such as mining, water rights, and fuel prices, and has sought to leverage Settelmeyer's political history against him. Flippo relocated to the district for this election cycle after previously losing a race in southern Nevada. The 2nd District encompasses all of northern Nevada, which is primarily rural but includes the battleground county of Washoe, home to Reno.
