Trump Endorsement Pits Newcomer Against Familiar Face in Deep Red Nevada House Primary

David Flippo has the president’s nod, but some say longtime legislator James Settelmeyer’s local ties will prove decisive in the June 9 Republican election.

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. David Flippo on the deck of the home overlooking downtown Reno he is renting as his campaign headquarters for his June 9 GOP primary race in Nevada’s Second Congressional District. John Haughey / The Epoch Times

RENO, Nevada—Fourth-generation rancher and Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Director James Settelmeyer was the overwhelming favorite to succeed the retiring Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) by winning November’s midterm election in the state’s deep red Second Congressional District.

He earned broad name recognition across the 65,000-square-mile district, which spans 12 northern Nevada counties, as a small government, low tax, “common sense” conservative during his 18 years in the state legislature—including as state Senate minority leader—and as President Donald Trump’s 2020 Nevada campaign co-chair.