Flippo, O'Donnell And Ford Win Key Nevada Primaries For Congress And Governor
Republican David Flippo and Marty O'Donnell won key Nevada GOP primaries for U.S. House seats, and Democrat Aaron Ford captured his party's gubernatorial nomination, with results called Wednesday, June 10, 2026 in Nevada.[1]
Flippo's victory in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District came after he secured former President Donald Trump's late endorsement.[1] The NV-2 primary pitted Trump's pick of Flippo against former state Sen. James Settelmeyer, who was backed by Gov. Joe Lombardo and retiring Rep. Mark Amodei.[1] In Nevada's 3rd District, Trump-backed composer Marty O'Donnell won the Republican nod and will face Democratic Rep. Susie Lee in the fall.[1] Aaron Ford's primary win sets up a rematch with incumbent Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in November.[1]
Mark Amodei announced his retirement from Nevada's 2nd Congressional District on February 6, 2026, creating the open NV-2 seat that drew heavy interest. Joe Lombardo defeated Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak in 2022 and took office in January 2023, and Attorney General Aaron Ford launched a Democratic bid for governor after winning statewide office in 2018 and 2022. In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump received 56% of the vote in Nevada's 2nd District, a result that helps explain why his endorsement carried weight there.
Statewide turnout in the June 9, 2026, Nevada primary was about 13.6%, with roughly 282,000 ballots cast out of about 2.07 million active registered voters. Some critics on social platforms accused Flippo of carpetbagging and noted he has never previously won elected office, while supporters highlighted Trump's backing as decisive.
The mainstream summary does not address the significant skepticism surrounding David Flippo's candidacy, particularly accusations of carpetbagging due to his lack of prior elected office experience. Critics on social media have pointed out that this could jeopardize the Republican hold on the NV-2 seat, a sentiment echoed by users who warned that Flippo's inexperience might allow Democrats to gain ground in a district that Trump carried in 2024 with 56% of the vote. Furthermore, while the summary mentions Trump's endorsement as a key factor in Flippo's victory, it overlooks the broader context of Trump's influence in Republican primaries, where his backing has become a powerful mobilizing force for the party base, as evidenced by his success in nearly all targeted races this election cycle.
Additionally, the turnout figure of approximately 13.6% in the primary raises questions about voter engagement, which the summary does not explore. This low turnout could reflect a broader trend of erosion in institutional trust among Republican voters, influenced by ongoing skepticism about electoral integrity fostered by party leaders, including Trump, following the 2020 election. This context is crucial for understanding the dynamics at play in Nevada's political landscape as these candidates head into the general election.
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📊 Relevant Data
In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump received 56% of the vote in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District compared to 42% for Kamala Harris.
Nevada's 2nd congressional district — Wikipedia
Statewide turnout in the June 9, 2026, Nevada primary was approximately 13.6% as of late on election day, with roughly 282,000 ballots cast out of about 2.07 million active registered voters.
The early voting blog, Primary 2026 — The Nevada Independent
📌 Key Facts
- David Flippo won the Republican primary in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District, with results called Wednesday, June 10, 2026 (Central), after securing former President Donald Trump's late endorsement.
- The NV-2 primary pitted Trump's endorsement of Flippo against Gov. Joe Lombardo and retiring Rep. Mark Amodei, both of whom backed former state Sen. James Settelmeyer.
- Teresa Benitez-Thompson was nominated by Democrats as their candidate in NV-2; she is chief of staff to Attorney General Aaron Ford and a former Assembly majority floor leader.
- In Nevada's 3rd Congressional District, Republican Marty O'Donnell — a composer best known for the 'Halo' video game soundtrack who also had Trump's backing — will face Democratic Rep. Susie Lee.
- Aaron Ford won the Democratic gubernatorial primary and will face incumbent Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in November.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Retired Air Force Lt. Col. David Flippo won the Republican primary in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District in results called Wednesday, June 10, 2026, after securing former President Donald Trump's late endorsement.
- The NV-2 primary pitted Trump's endorsement of Flippo against Gov. Joe Lombardo and retiring Rep. Mark Amodei, who both backed former state Sen. James Settelmeyer.
- Democrats nominated Teresa Benitez-Thompson, chief of staff to Attorney General Aaron Ford and a former Assembly majority floor leader, as their candidate in NV-2.
- In Nevada's 3rd Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Susie Lee will face GOP nominee Marty O'Donnell, a composer best known for the 'Halo' video game soundtrack, who also had Trump's backing.
- The article confirms that Aaron Ford won the Democratic gubernatorial primary and will face incumbent Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in November.