President Donald Trump is supporting David Flippo in the Nevada GOP primary to replace retiring Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV), which will take place on June 9. Flippo is competing against James Settelmeyer, who is endorsed by both Governor Joe Lombardo and Amodei. The district is considered a strong Republican seat, making the primary significant for both candidates.
Lombardo, who previously received Trump's endorsement, is now at odds with the former president over this primary. The outcome will serve as a test of Trump's endorsement influence following a recent loss in the Iowa primary, where Trump-backed Rep. Randy Feenstra lost to Zach Lahn.
Amodei has publicly supported Settelmeyer, expressing skepticism about Trump's endorsement of Flippo. He stated that the local representatives should choose their candidate without outside influence, noting that Nevada already has several representatives from Clark County, where Flippo has recently relocated.
Settelmeyer has a history in Nevada politics, having served as the state Senate minority leader and in various roles within the state government. He has emphasized his connection to Trump during the campaign. Flippo, an Air Force veteran, has received endorsements from several conservative groups and has positioned himself as the candidate aligned with Trump's agenda.
Despite the rivalry, Trump has maintained his support for Governor Lombardo, endorsing him for re-election and encouraging voters to support him in the upcoming election.