Trump notches win in Nevada GOP House primary for Amodei’s seat

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Retired Lt. Col. David Flippo, who was endorsed by President Trump, is projected to win Nevada’s GOP primary for the state’s only Republican congressional seat, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

His Tuesday victory in the open 2nd Congressional District — which retiring Rep. Mark Amodei has held for 15 years — marks another win for Trump after a series of his endorsees prevailed in elections across the South, reinforcing the president’s endorsement power and influence over Republican primaries.

Flippo faced off against former Nevada Senate Minority Leader James Settelmeyer (R), who entered the race as a frontrunner with nearly two decades of elected experience in the Nevada Legislature and state government. Settelmeyer was also backed by high ranking Nevada officials, including Amodei and Gov. Joe Lombardo (R).

Flippo, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and financial adviser who has never held elected office, successfully cast himself as a conservative outsider and won support from key allies in the MAGA movement, including Turning Point Action founded by the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Trump carried the district by roughly 14 percentage points in 2024. The Cook Political Report rated the race as “solid red,” making Flippo the favorite heading into the November general election.

The president endorsed Flippo in the final stretch of the primary race, calling him an “America First Patriot” who is “strongly supported by the most Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in Nevada.” He also highlighted Flippo’s support for his “no-tax-on-tips” proposal, which Trump first unveiled in Nevada during his 2024 campaign.

Amodei previously called Trump’s endorsement of Flippo a “mistake,” and criticized the candidate for living outside of the district, which covers northern Nevada. Flippo was previously running for the state’s 4th District and living in southern Nevada before withdrawing to run for the open seat in the 2nd District.

“The time has not come for a national private political organization to pick for Nevadans, who speaks for them in the U.S. House of Representatives,” he wrote in a post on social media platform X shortly after Trump announced the endorsement. “I proudly voted for pure Nevada, Nevada proud, James Settelmeyer.”

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Mark Amodei

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