A Republican primary contest in rural Nevada on Tuesday is shaping up to be yet another test of the strength of President Trump’s endorsement, pitting a candidate backed by the president against one supported by Gov. Joe Lombardo, a fellow Republican.
At stake is the seat held by Representative Mark Amodei, a Republican in northern Nevada who is retiring from his safely red House district, the only solid G.O.P. turf in the battleground state.
The primary election to replace him is a battle between the Republican Party’s past and present.
On one side is James Settelmeyer, a fourth-generation rancher and former state senator who has deep ties to northern Nevada and endorsements from prominent Republicans in the state. On the other is David Flippo, an Air Force veteran and financial adviser who has never held elected office but who won the endorsement of Mr. Trump.
Mr. Settelmeyer has the backing of Mr. Lombardo and Mr. Amodei, two relative moderates who have had complicated relationships with Mr. Trump. Mr. Amodei, who has represented Nevada’s Second Congressional District since 2011, was the first Republican to support an impeachment inquiry against Mr. Trump in 2019. Mr. Lombardo has aligned himself with the president but has at times kept him at arm’s length, mindful of his standing as a vulnerable governor up for re-election in a swing state largely dominated by Democrats down the ballot.
Still, it could be Mr. Trump’s support for Mr. Flippo that carries the day in the district, which includes Carson City and Reno as well as the conservative and sparsely populated northern and eastern parts of Nevada.
Mr. Flippo has also earned the support of Turning Point Action, a conservative group; Laura Loomer, a far-right influencer; and Greg Bovino, a former Border Patrol leader. Mr. Flippo has accused Mr. Settelmeyer — who most recently served as Nevada’s director of conservation and natural resources under Mr. Lombardo — of being insufficiently conservative, and of voting to give driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. (Mr. Settelmeyer did vote to allow them to have driver authorization cards, which are different from licenses and come with some restrictions).
Mr. Flippo has dealt with criticism, too, including accusations of being a carpetbagger. When Mr. Amodei announced his retirement, Mr. Flippo abandoned a bid for the House in the Las Vegas area and moved to Reno to pursue that seat instead.
In the Democratic primary, the leading candidate is Greg Kidd, a wealthy venture capitalist who self-funded a campaign against Mr. Amodei in 2024 as an independent but lost handily. He would be a significant underdog against either Republican in the general election.
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