Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) stated on Thursday that the defeat of his endorsed candidate by a Trump-backed primary challenger could jeopardize the Republican advantage in his district. Amodei noted that the primary election had low turnout and that no Republican candidate received a majority of the votes. He expressed concern about the upcoming general election, where the Republican candidate will face a strong Democratic opponent.
Amodei's remarks follow a political contest in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, where he announced his retirement in February. He endorsed James Settelmeyer, a former state legislator, while Donald Trump endorsed Air Force veteran David Flippo. The Cook Political Report currently rates the race as 'Solid Republican,' but Amodei indicated that this might not hold true for the first time in the district's history.
Amodei criticized Flippo’s approach, including questioning the Republican credentials of his opponents. He referenced his own experiences in past campaigns, stating that voters were not misled by such tactics. Trump highlighted Flippo’s support for his 'No Tax on Tips' proposal, which is popular among Nevada's hospitality sector. As of early Thursday afternoon, Flippo led the primary race with 45.9% of the vote and will compete against Teresa Benitez-Thompson, a former state House majority leader, in the November election.