Teresa Benitez-Thompson becomes first Democrat to win Nevada's 2nd District as Titus, Lee and Horsford hold Las Vegas seats

What happened

Teresa Benitez-Thompson became the first Democrat to win Nevada's 2nd Congressional District, which covers northern Nevada, according to The Nevada Independent. She defeated Republican businessman David Flippo in a district that President Donald Trump carried by 14 points in 2024. The outlet described her win as part of a national Democratic wave that also swept Nevada.

Results did not begin coming in until close to midnight Tuesday, the outlet reported. Flippo did not speak publicly or give interviews. Benitez-Thompson spoke with voters and reporters early Wednesday and now joins the state's Democratic members of Congress. Our elections coverage includes the Democrats' sweep of Nevada's statewide offices.

How the seat opened up

A surprise retirement

The race became the most closely watched contest in Nevada after longtime Republican Rep. Mark Amodei announced a surprise retirement in February, The Nevada Independent reported. Election analysts had always treated the seat as Republican.

A contentious Republican primary

Flippo had Trump's endorsement and beat Amodei's preferred successor in a divisive primary. According to the outlet, that result gave Democrats an opening. Flippo had earlier run for the seat held by Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford and moved to Reno specifically to switch races, which was expected to draw criticism that he was an opportunist.

What was not anticipated, the outlet reported, were controversies over Flippo's military record and decorations. He also drew criticism for not filing a financial disclosure.

How Benitez-Thompson ran

Affordability and anti-corruption

Benitez-Thompson is a social worker, a former beauty queen and a former Assembly Majority Leader. She campaigned even in the district's most conservative counties, The Nevada Independent reported. Her strategy centered on affordability and highlighted her legislative experience on economic issues and fighting corruption.

She was known as a moderate in the Assembly. This year, though, she backed some progressive causes, including placing conditions on aid to Israel. She told the outlet that on Tuesday she encouraged get-out-the-vote workers, urged University of Nevada, Reno students to vote and helped people drop off their ballots.

In remarks to supporters, she said she decided she had to run when the seat came open and would have regretted not running. She also said she had stayed focused on what her region needs rather than on races elsewhere in the country.

Voters with mixed feelings

Polls had shown a narrow gap between the candidates. James Peters, a 38-year-old Republican who said he holds libertarian views, told The Nevada Independent he was still undecided when he arrived at the polls. He said he saw little good in Flippo and would find it hard to vote for a Democrat for Congress, so he would probably choose the nonpartisan option.

According to the outlet, even some voters who backed Flippo had mixed feelings. Jeff Hohnholz, a 48-year-old salesman and Republican from Reno, said he voted for Flippo.

Las Vegas-area seats stay Democratic

In Southern Nevada, Democratic Reps. Dina Titus, Susie Lee and Steven Horsford easily defeated their Republican opponents, The Nevada Independent reported. All three have represented their districts for years.

National Republicans recruited video game composer Marty O'Donnell to run against Lee and state Sen. Carrie Buck to challenge Titus. The outlet reported that by October, Republican chances of taking any of the Las Vegas seats had clearly faded.

What to watch next

• Whether David Flippo addresses the result publicly. The Nevada Independent reported he had not spoken publicly or given interviews as results came in.
• How Benitez-Thompson acts on her focus on the region's needs, after a campaign built on affordability, economic issues and fighting corruption.