# Nevada's 2nd congressional district

Nevada's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district that includes the northern third of the state. It includes most of Lyon County, a small portion of Lincoln County, all of Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine counties, as well as the state capital, Carson City. The largest city in the district is Reno, the state's third largest city. Although the district appears rural, its politics are dominated by Reno and Carson City. As of 2017, over 460,000 people reside in Washoe County alone, totaling about two-thirds of the district's population. It is the richest congressional district in the state of Nevada. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+8, it is the only Republican-leaning congressional district in Nevada.

## Political history

The district was initially created after the redistricting cycle after the 1980 census, when Nevada was split into districts for the first time. From then until 2013, it occupied all of the state outside of Clark County. From 1993 to 2013, it also included the far northern portion of Clark County. Until 2013, it was the third-largest congressional district by land area that did not cover an entire state. Even though it lost much of its southern portion to the new 4th District after the 2010 census, it is still the fifth-largest district in the nation that does not cover an entire state.
The 2nd district has always leaned Republican. It has been represented by only four people since its creation, all Republicans. Democrats have only made four serious bids for the seat. In presidential elections, the district has historically voted Republican; George W. Bush won the district by 20 points in 2000 and 16 points in 2004. However, in the 2008 election John McCain earned only 88 votes more (out of 335,720 votes) than Barack Obama in the district.
On April 21, 2011, U.S. Senator John Ensign (R-Nev.), plagued by scandal and facing an inquiry by the Senate Ethics Committee, announced his resignation effective May 3. On April 27, Governor Brian Sandoval announced he would appoint Dean Heller, the 2nd district's third-term congressman, to fill out Ensign's term in the Senate. Heller had already planned to run for the seat after Ensign announced a month earlier that he would not run for a third term. To fill the vacancy created by Heller's resignation on May 9, Sandoval was required to call a special election to be held within six months of the occurrence of the vacancy.
A special election was held on September 13, 2011. Former Republican state senator Mark Amodei defeated Democratic State Treasurer Kate Marshall.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 48.79% - 48.76% |
| 2010 | Senate | Angle 54% - 46% |
| 2010 | Governor | Sandoval 66% - 34% |
| 2010 | Secretary of State | Miller 53% - 47% |
| 2010 | Treasurer | Martin 53% - 47% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 55% - 45% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 53% - 39% |
| 2016 | Senate | Heck 53% - 39% |
| 2018 | Senate | Heller 54% - 42% |
| 2018 | Governor | Laxalt 54% - 41% |
| 2018 | Lt. Governor | Roberson 50% - 44% |
| 2018 | Secretary of State | Cegavske 56% - 41% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Duncan 55% - 38% |
| 2018 | Treasurer | Beers 55% - 39% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 54% - 43% |
| 2022 | Senate | Laxalt 54% - 43% |
| 2022 | Governor | Lombardo 55% - 41% |
| 2022 | Lt. Governor | Anthony 55% - 39% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Marchant 52% - 43% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Chattah 48.3% - 47.5% |
| 2022 | Treasurer | Fiore 53% - 41% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 56% - 42% |
| 2024 | Senate | Brown 51% - 43% |

## Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:
Churchill County (2)
    Fallon, Fallon Station
Douglas County (21)
    All 21 communities
Elko County (12)
    All 12 communities
Eureka County (2)
    Crescent Valley, Eureka
Humboldt County (8)
    All 8 communities
Independent cities (1)
    Carson City
Lander County (3)
    All 3 communities
Lincoln County (0)
    Contains unincorporated area of Lincoln County
Lyon County (7)
    Dayton, Fernley, Silver City, Silver Springs, Smith Valley (part; also 4th), Stagecoach, Yerington
Pershing County (6)
    All 6 communities
Storey County (5)
    All 5 communities
Washoe County (17)
    All 17 communities
White Pine County (6)
    All 6 communities

## List of members representing the district

| Member (Residency) | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | District location |
| District established January 3, 1983 ||||||
| Barbara Vucanovich (Reno) | Republican | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1997 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th | Elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Retired. | 1983–1993 Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine; part of Clark |
| Barbara Vucanovich (Reno) | Republican | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1997 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th | Elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Retired. | 1993–2003 Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine; part of Clark |
| Jim Gibbons (Reno) | Republican | January 3, 1997 – December 31, 2006 | 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th | Elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Resigned after elected Governor of Nevada. | 1993–2003 Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine; part of Clark |
| Jim Gibbons (Reno) | Republican | January 3, 1997 – December 31, 2006 | 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th | Elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Resigned after elected Governor of Nevada. | 2003–2013 Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine; part of Clark |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 31, 2006 – January 3, 2007 | 109th | | 2003–2013 Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine; part of Clark |
| Dean Heller (Carson City) | Republican | January 3, 2007 – May 9, 2011 | 110th 111th 112th | Elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Resigned when appointed U.S. senator. | 2003–2013 Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine; part of Clark |
| Vacant | Vacant | May 9, 2011 – September 13, 2011 | 112th | | 2003–2013 Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine; part of Clark |
| Mark Amodei (Carson City) | Republican | September 13, 2011 – present | 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected to finish Heller's term. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2003–2013 Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine; part of Clark |
| Mark Amodei (Carson City) | Republican | September 13, 2011 – present | 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected to finish Heller's term. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2013–2023 Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Pershing, Storey, and Washoe; part of Lyon |
| Mark Amodei (Carson City) | Republican | September 13, 2011 – present | 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected to finish Heller's term. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–present Carson City, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine; parts of Churchill, Lincoln, and Lyon |

## Election results
### 1982

1982 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Barbara Vucanovich | 70,188 | 55.49 |
| | Democratic | Mary Gojack | 52,265 | 41.32 |
| | Libertarian | Teresa Vuceta | 4,043 | 3.20 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 126,496 | 100.0 |
| | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) |

### 1984

1984 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Barbara Vucanovich (Incumbent) | 99,775 | 71.21 |
| | Democratic | Andrew Barbano | 36,130 | 25.79 |
| | Libertarian | Dan Becan | 4,201 | 3.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 140,106 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1986

1986 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Barbara Vucanovich (Incumbent) | 83,479 | 58.41 |
| | Democratic | Pete Sferrazza | 59,433 | 41.59 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 142,912 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1988

1988 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Barbara Vucanovich (Incumbent) | 105,981 | 57.26 |
| | Democratic | Jim Spoo | 75,163 | 40.61 |
| | Libertarian | Kent Cromwell | 3,953 | 2.14 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 185,097 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1990

1990 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Barbara Vucanovich (Incumbent) | 103,508 | 59.08 |
| | Democratic | Jane Wisdom | 59,581 | 34.01 |
| | Libertarian | Dan Becan | 12,120 | 6.92 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 175,209 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1992

1992 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Barbara Vucanovich (Incumbent) | 129,575 | 47.91 |
| | Democratic | Pete Sferrazza | 117,199 | 43.33 |
| | Independent American | Daniel M. Hansen | 13,285 | 4.91 |
| | Libertarian | Dan Becan | 7,552 | 2.79 |
| | Populist | Don Golden | 2,850 | 1.05 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 270,461 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1994

1994 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Barbara Vucanovich (Incumbent) | 142,202 | 63.50 |
| | Democratic | Janet Greeson | 65,390 | 29.20 |
| | Independent American | Thomas F. Jefferson | 9,615 | 4.29 |
| | Natural Law | Lois Avery | 6,725 | 3.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 223,932 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1996

1996 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Gibbons | 162,310 | 58.56 |
| | Democratic | Thomas "Spike" Wilson | 97,942 | 35.26 |
| | Independent American | Daniel M. Hansen | 8,780 | 3.17 |
| | Natural Law | Lois Avery | 4,628 | 1.67 |
| | Libertarian | Louis R. Tomburello | 3,732 | 1.35 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 277,192 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1998

1998 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Gibbons (Incumbent) | 201,623 | 81.05 |
| | Independent American | Christopher Horne | 20,738 | 8.34 |
| | Libertarian | Louis R. Tomburello | 18,561 | 7.46 |
| | Natural Law | Robert W. Winquist | 7,841 | 3.15 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 248,763 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2000

2000 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Gibbons (Incumbent) | 229,608 | 64.50 |
| | Democratic | Tierney Cahill | 106,379 | 29.88 |
| | Independent American | Daniel M. Hansen | 5,582 | 1.57 |
| | Green | A. Charles Laws | 5,547 | 1.56 |
| | Libertarian | Terry Savage | 5,343 | 1.50 |
| | Citizens First | Ken Brenneman | 2,367 | 0.66 |
| | Natural Law | Robert W. Winquist | 1,143 | 0.32 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 355,969 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2002

2002 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Gibbons (Incumbent) | 149,574 | 74.34 |
| | Democratic | Travis O. Souza | 40,189 | 19.97 |
| | Independent American | Janine Hansen | 7,240 | 3.60 |
| | Libertarian | Brendan Trainor | 3,413 | 1.70 |
| | Natural Law | Robert W. Winquist | 784 | 0.39 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 201,200 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2004

2004 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Gibbons (Incumbent) | 195,466 | 67.15 |
| | Democratic | Angie G. Cochran | 79,978 | 27.48 |
| | Independent American | Janine Hansen | 10,638 | 3.65 |
| | Libertarian | Brendan Trainor | 4,997 | 1.72 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 291,079 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2006

2006 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dean Heller | 117,168 | 50.35 |
| | Democratic | Jill Derby | 104,593 | 44.94 |
| | Independent | Daniel Rosen | 5,524 | 2.37 |
| | Independent American | James C. Kroshus | 5,439 | 2.34 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 232,724 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2008

2008 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dean Heller (Incumbent) | 170,771 | 51.82 |
| | Democratic | Jill Derby | 136,548 | 41.44 |
| | Independent American | John Everhart | 11,179 | 3.39 |
| | Libertarian | Sean Patrick Morse | 5,740 | 1.74 |
| | Green | Craig Bergland | 5,282 | 1.60 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 329,520 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

2010 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Dean Heller (Incumbent) | 169,458 | 63.30 |
| | Democratic | Nancy Price | 87,421 | 32.66 |
| | Independent American | Russell Best | 10,829 | 4.05 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 267,708 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2011 (special)

2011 special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark Amodei | 75,180 | 57.92 |
| | Democratic | Kate Marshall | 46,818 | 36.07 |
| | Independent | Helmuth Lehmann | 5,372 | 4.14 |
| | Independent American | Timothy Fasano | 2,421 | 1.87 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 129,791 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

2012 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark Amodei (Incumbent) | 162,213 | 57.63 |
| | Democratic | Samuel Koepnick | 102,019 | 36.25 |
| | Independent American | Russell Best | 6,051 | 2.15 |
| | Independent | Michael Haines | 11,166 | 3.97 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 281,499 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

2014 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark Amodei (Incumbent) | 122,402 | 65.73 |
| | Democratic | Kristen Spees | 52,016 | 27.93 |
| | Independent American | Janine Hansen | 11,792 | 6.33 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 186,210 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

2016 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark Amodei (Incumbent) | 182,676 | 58.30 |
| | Democratic | H.D. "Chip" Evans | 115,722 | 36.93 |
| | Independent American | John H. Everhart | 8,693 | 2.77 |
| | Independent | Drew Knight | 6,245 | 1.99 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 313,336 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

2018 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark Amodei (Incumbent) | 167,435 | 58.2 |
| | Democratic | Clint Koble | 120,102 | 41.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 287,537 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

2020 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark Amodei (incumbent) | 216,078 | 56.5 |
| | Democratic | Patricia Ackerman | 155,780 | 40.7 |
| | Independent American | Janine Hansen | 10,815 | 2.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 382,673 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

2022 election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark Amodei (incumbent) | 185,467 | 59.7 |
| | Democratic | Elizabeth Mercedes Krause | 117,371 | 37.8 |
| | Independent American | Russell Best | 4,194 | 1.4 |
| | Libertarian | Darryl Baber | 3,466 | 1.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 310,678 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2024

2024 Nevada's 2nd congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark Amodei (incumbent) | 219,919 | 55.0 |
| | Independent | Greg Kidd | 144,064 | 36.1 |
| | Independent American | Lynn Chapman | 19,784 | 4.9 |
| | Libertarian | Javi Tachiquin | 15,817 | 4.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 399,584 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |