Teresa Benitez-Thompson, who previously served as the Majority Leader of the Nevada Assembly, secured victory in the Democratic primary for Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday. Her win provides the Democrats with a formidable contender as they aim to convert the historically Republican-held seat.
This Northern Nevada district, which includes Reno and various rural “cow counties,” is currently represented by Republican Mark Amodei. Amodei’s decision to retire spurred competitive primaries for both parties. The district, carried by Donald Trump by margins of 14 and 11 points in the last two presidential elections, has never been under Democratic control.
Despite this, Democrats remain optimistic that a significant blue wave could render the seat competitive, especially as Nevada grapples with the challenges of Trump’s economic policies.
In the primary, Benitez-Thompson emerged victorious over seven other Democratic candidates, many of whom positioned themselves as opponents of Republicans in Washington. They pledged to combat the rising cost of living that has severely impacted Nevada residents.
Benitez-Thompson dedicated a decade to the state Assembly, where she rose to the position of majority leader. Upon reaching her term limit in 2024, she took on the role of chief of staff for Attorney General Aaron Ford, who is campaigning against Republican Governor Joe Lombardo. Prior to her political career, Benitez-Thompson worked as a social worker and financed her college education through beauty pageant scholarships.
During her primary campaign, she garnered a significant endorsement from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters by pledging to repeal right-to-work laws. She has also criticized federal funding reductions under the Trump administration, which she argues have negatively affected rural areas, citing the U.S. Forest Service reducing its operations in Nevada.
