Week of June 11, 2026

From the publisher’s desk

The voters in Nevada’s Congressional District 2 have spoken—and Republicans selected the Trump-endorsed candidate with no Northern Nevada ties whatsoever, rather than the Rep. Mark Amodei/Gov. Joe Lombardo-supported former state legislator who is a fourth-generation Northern Nevadan.

On the Democratic side, voters selected a former Assembly majority leader with deep local roots over a venture capitalist with deep pockets.

As a result, could deep-red CD 2 end up being in play for Democrats? Could Democratic nominee Teresa Benitez-Thompson really beat David Flippo?

Earlier today, Mark Amodei said that, yes, his district is now in play. He wrote on X:

Well, here we are. 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%.

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. However, my longstanding respect for the voters has not changed. It is my hope that the values and culture that built our Original Nevada, Congressional District Two, will still have a strong voice in the U.S. House of Representatives. I look forward to the next 5 months as an election observer, instead of a candidate.

You’ll notice that Amodei didn’t have anything at all to say about Flippo—and, in fact, Amodei seemingly threw some shade, seeing as Flippo has nothing to do with the “the values and culture that built our Original Nevada, Congressional District Two,” while Benitez-Thompson has longstanding roots in the district.

The plot thickens: The Nevada Independent‘s Mini Racker posted this on X earlier today:

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.

Feel free to do your own reading between the lines.

No matter what happens with endorsements, brace yourselves for one hell of a battle in CD 2.

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Best of Northern Nevada Nomination Round voting ends Sunday!

If you have already headed to vote.renonr.com and completed your Best of Northern Nevada Nomination Round ballot … thank you!

If you have not done so … well, I politely request that you do so.

Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 14. The finalists will advance to final-round voting, which will start on Monday, June 29.

Vote once per round—and only once per round—at vote.renonr.com. Thanks!

—Jimmy Boegle, publisher/executive editor