For the first time in its history, Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District will send a Democrat to Washington — a result few political observers predicted at the start of the race. The upset is part of a broader Democratic wave that swept across Nevada and the nation on election night.
Teresa Benitez-Thompson, a social worker, former beauty queen, and ex-Assembly Majority Leader, defeated Republican businessman David Flippo in a northern Nevada district that President Donald Trump carried by 14 points in 2024. Her victory adds a new Democratic voice to Nevada’s congressional delegation and marks a significant political shift in a region long considered solidly Republican.
Results trickled in just before midnight Tuesday. Flippo did not issue a public statement or grant interviews. Benitez-Thompson spoke to supporters and the press early Wednesday morning, her voice barely contained as Democrats celebrated wins across the country.
“I know you’ve been waiting a long time to win Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, and when the seat became open, I thought: ‘I have to run. I’ll regret it every single day if I don’t go out and fight for every one of you.'”
She attributed that sense of purpose to her decision to enter the race.
How a Safe Republican Seat Became Competitive
The seat opened unexpectedly in February when veteran Republican Rep. Mark Amodei announced his surprise retirement, instantly making the district the most closely watched race in Nevada. Election analysts had long viewed the seat as a safe Republican hold — but a turbulent GOP primary changed the calculus.
After contentious Republican primaries, Trump-backed Flippo defeated Amodei’s preferred successor. Democrats quickly saw an opening.
Flippo brought his own vulnerabilities into the general election. He had previously run for the seat held by Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford before relocating to Reno to switch races — a move that invited criticism of opportunism. Questions also surfaced about his military record and decorations, as well as the delayed filing of his financial disclosure, drawing further scrutiny.
Benitez-Thompson’s Strategy
Benitez-Thompson campaigned across even the most conservative counties in the district, centering her message on affordability and her legislative record on economic issues and anti-corruption efforts. Though she was known in the state Assembly as a moderate, she embraced some progressive positions this cycle, including supporting conditions on aid to Israel.
On Election Day, she described a ground-level operation focused entirely on turnout — canvassing with volunteers, encouraging students at the University of Nevada, Reno to vote, and helping people submit their ballots.
“We’ve been working all day. We’re not taking a single vote or a single minute for granted.”
When asked about the broader Democratic wave playing out nationally, she kept her focus close to home.
“I know there are big elections happening across the country, but I’ve been very, very focused on what our region needs, and that’s where I continue to focus my attention tonight.”
Pre-election polling had shown the race as extremely tight.
Voters Weigh In
Some Republican voters in the district expressed mixed feelings about their own party’s candidate. James Peters, a 38-year-old Republican with libertarian leanings, told The Nevada Independent he was still undecided when he arrived at the polls Tuesday.
“I just don’t see much good in David Flippo. I don’t even remember seeing ads that make sense. So it’s pretty hard for me to vote for him. To be honest, I don’t know why I would. It would be very hard for me to vote for a Democrat for Congress, so I’ll probably vote for the nonpartisan.”
Even a voter who ultimately supported Flippo did so with reservations. Jeff Hohnholz, a 48-year-old Reno salesman, told The Nevada Independent he cast his ballot for Flippo but put it plainly:
“I chose the lesser of two evils.”
Southern Nevada Results
Elsewhere in Nevada, Democratic incumbents in the Las Vegas area faced little resistance. Reps. Dina Titus, Susie Lee, and Steven Horsford each won reelection comfortably against their Republican challengers. National Republicans had recruited video game composer Marty O’Donnell to run against Lee and state Sen. Carrie Buck to challenge Titus, but by October, Republican prospects in the Las Vegas-area districts had faded considerably.
This article is based on original English-language reporting, translated and edited for Spanish-language readers as part of The Nevada Independent‘s En Español coverage and its ongoing Elecciones 2026 series.