Retiring Rep. Mark Amodei of Nevada says he will “absolutely not” vote for the Republican candidate tapped to replace him in a once-solidly red congressional district.
Amodei made the declaration in a Saturday interview, saying he views Trump-endorsed candidate David Flippo as entirely the wrong person for Nevada’s 2nd District.
“I think the seat’s at risk,” Amodei warned, pointing to a string of stolen valor and financial allegations that have dogged Flippo’s campaign in recent weeks.
President Donald Trump carried the Northern Nevada district, which encompasses Reno and surrounding rural counties, by 14 points in 2024, and the seat has never been held by a Democrat.
Amodei has represented the district for 15 years and says Flippo’s controversies have put what was once considered safe Republican territory in genuine jeopardy ahead of Election Day.
Flippo, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, has faced reporting this week that he repeatedly and falsely claimed he earned a different type of Bronze Star than he actually received, something military experts say is tantamount to stolen valor.
Flippo’s campaign has attributed apparent exaggerations about his military service on campaign materials to mistakes made by staff and other parties, not the candidate himself.
Amodei also criticized Flippo for pulling out of another Las Vegas-area district shortly after Amodei announced his own retirement, describing the move as opportunistic and cynical.
“It’s the cynical attitude towards the process to me that has just been staggering in terms of the end justifies the means,” Amodei said in the interview.
Amodei described Flippo as “somebody who air drops into the district” and “announces their intent, pulls out of another district in Las Vegas, within hours of when I said, ‘Hey, I think the time is right.'”
Despite his sharp criticism, Flippo did secure endorsements from Trump and Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo after emerging from a bitterly contested primary that featured more than a dozen candidates.
GOP officials have reportedly been weighing whether Trump should campaign in the region to boost Flippo before Election Day, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions.
Amodei, who has pointedly refused to endorse Flippo throughout the campaign, said he is now “looking seriously” at casting his ballot for the independent candidate running in the race.
National Republicans are growing increasingly wary about the ability of candidates like Flippo to hold once-reliable seats as Election Day approaches.
