David Flippo, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel with the backing of President Donald Trump, has secured victory in the GOP primary to succeed the retiring Nevada Rep. Mark Amodei.
The contest in Nevada’s 2nd District became a battleground between Trump and influential state Republicans, many of whom, including Amodei and GOP Gov. Joe Lombardo, supported former state Senator James Settelmeyer. Ultimately, Flippo emerged triumphant on Wednesday, defeating a crowded field of 13 Republican candidates.
This win extends Trump’s successful streak in GOP primary endorsements for 2026, with only a minor setback in the recent Iowa gubernatorial primary. Trump endorsed Flippo in a Truth Social post in late May, just under two weeks before Election Day.
Flippo’s campaign was marked by a firm stance on immigration and transgender issues, and he criticized Settelmeyer in ads as a “woke liberal.” Meanwhile, Settelmeyer’s supporters raised concerns about Flippo, a longtime Las Vegas resident who only recently acquired property in Reno, as he aimed to represent the state’s only solidly Republican district.
Amodei expressed his disagreement with Trump’s decision, stating in a post on X that Trump “made a mistake.”
Nonetheless, Flippo succeeded, benefiting from support from Trump and Turning Point Action. He now heads into November’s election as the frontrunner in a district where Trump secured a 14-point victory in 2024.
