Retiring GOP Rep. Mark Amodei Says He Will “Absolutely Not” Vote for Trump-Endorsed Nominee David Flippo, Warns Safe-Red Nevada Seat Is “At Risk”
Retiring Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., says he will “absolutely not” vote for David Flippo, the Trump-endorsed Republican running to replace him in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, and warns that the once-safe Republican seat is “at risk” in November, Politico reported Saturday. Amodei cited allegations that Flippo exaggerated his military service and was late filing financial disclosures.
“I think the seat’s at risk,” Amodei told Politico.
WHY MARK AMODEI WON’T BACK THE GOP NOMINEE
Amodei took aim at the vetting behind President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Flippo. “You say, well, the president endorsed him,” Amodei told Politico. “It’s like, well whoever was advising the president on, ‘Hey, this would be a good place for you to go ahead and weigh in,’ gave him awful advice. The vetting process — quote unquote — must have been nearly non-existent.”
Politico reported that Amodei named a series of allegations against Flippo as disqualifying, including reports that Flippo lied about his military service and failed to file financial disclosures on time. The Washington Examiner, citing Fox-5 Vegas, reported that Flippo allegedly exaggerated the extent of his military background.
FLIPPO’S RESPONSE
Flippo, a businessman and former Air Force lieutenant colonel, has said that “apparent exaggerations about his military service on campaign materials” were mistakes made by staff, according to the Washington Examiner.
The rift between the two Republicans is not new. In August, Amodei told The Nevada Independent there was “no way” he would endorse Flippo, who beat Amodei’s preferred successor in the GOP primary. At the time, Flippo’s general consultant, Rory McShane, called Amodei’s stance “sour grapes” and “the definition of petty,” and said Flippo had reached out to Amodei to discuss a smooth handoff of constituent casework. Amodei said then that he would not endorse the Democrat either.
A SEAT DEMOCRATS HAVE NEVER WON
Nevada’s 2nd District, which covers Reno and rural Northern Nevada, has never elected a Democrat. Trump carried it by 14 points in 2024, according to the Washington Examiner. Flippo faces Democratic nominee Teresa Benitez-Thompson in November.
The Washington Examiner reported that Flippo is still likely to win, according to the latest RealClearPolitics polling, and that Republicans view the seat as less vulnerable than other races where safe seats may be in play.
Amodei is retiring in January.
Sources: Politico (Oct. 17, 2026), the outlet that conducted the interview with Amodei; Washington Examiner (Oct. 17, 2026); The Nevada Independent (Aug. 7, 2026).
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