Teresa Benitez-Thompson becomes the first Democrat to win Nevada's 2nd Congressional District since its creation

What happened

Democrat Teresa Benitez-Thompson, a former state legislator, defeated Republican David Flippo in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District, according to the Nevada Current. The outlet reported that no Democrat has won the seat since the district was created following the 1980 Census.

As of Wednesday morning, Benitez-Thompson led by nearly 7 percentage points with an estimated 90% of votes counted, and she declared victory, the Nevada Current reported. The outlet called the outcome unthinkable at the start of the year and described it as a sign of how deeply voters rejected Donald Trump and his policies in the midterm elections.

What the winner said

In a release quoted by the Nevada Current, Benitez-Thompson said, "I am honored that Northern Nevadans have placed their trust in me to represent our home in Congress." She said the region has unique challenges that call for someone with deep local roots and a real commitment to its communities.

"In Congress, I will fight every single day to protect our wallets, our water, and our way of life," she said, according to the outlet. She also thanked supporters, volunteers and staff for working to ensure the region is represented by someone from Northern Nevada.

How the race took shape

An open seat after Amodei's retirement

Republican incumbent Rep. Mark Amodei announced in February that he was retiring, the Nevada Current reported. Flippo had started the year running in Nevada's fourth congressional district against Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford. After Amodei's announcement, Flippo switched to the 2nd District, which the outlet described as much more Republican-friendly.

A Trump endorsement in the Republican primary

Amodei and Gov. Joe Lombardo both endorsed James Settelmeyer in the Republican primary, according to the Nevada Current. Trump endorsed Flippo instead, and Flippo won the nomination.

Democrats unite behind one candidate

Several Democrats had filed to run in the primary. The Nevada Current reported that after Trump backed Flippo, Democrats began to consider that their party might actually win the district and coalesced around Benitez-Thompson.

Controversies around the Republican nominee

The district switch and finance reports

Flippo's campaign drew negative attention almost from the start, according to the Nevada Current. He was criticized as an opportunist for changing districts, and critics faulted what they called shoddy campaign finance reports.

The Bronze Star dispute

The most damaging issue, the outlet reported, involved his military record. Flippo's campaign materials said he had received a Bronze Star with valor while serving in the Air Force. The Nevada Current reported that he was awarded a Bronze Star for merit, not valor, and critics accused him of "stolen valor."

Amodei withholds support

After the primary, Amodei barely concealed his unhappiness with Flippo and with the nominee's limited familiarity with the district, according to the Nevada Current. Amodei eventually said he could not support Flippo and that he had voted for the Independent American Party candidate instead.

Why it matters for Nevada

The result flips a Northern Nevada seat that, according to the Nevada Current, had never gone to a Democrat since the district was created. The outlet's report did not include final vote totals, and the count was not complete as of Wednesday morning.

For more results from this year's ballot, see our Nevada elections coverage and our report on how Democrats won all six statewide offices.

What to watch next

• The rest of the vote count: an estimated 90% of votes had been counted as of Wednesday morning, when Benitez-Thompson led by nearly 7 percentage points, according to the Nevada Current.
• Benitez-Thompson's work in Congress, where she has pledged to protect "our wallets, our water, and our way of life."