Trump Completes Nevada Hat Trick, Endorses David Flippo in High-Stakes GOP Primary

President Donald Trump has made his pick in Nevada’s most closely watched Republican primary.

On Thursday, Trump endorsed David Flippo in the race to replace retiring Congressman Mark Amodei in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, giving Flippo what may be the most valuable endorsement in Republican politics.

The move instantly reshapes the race and further cements Trump’s influence over Nevada Republican politics heading into 2026.

“It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, David Flippo,” Trump wrote, praising the retired Army officer and highlighting his support from prominent Nevada MAGA leaders.

The endorsement is significant not just because of who Trump backed, but because of what it says about Nevada.

For the first time in two decades, Republicans are treating Nevada less like a swing state and more like the future center of the conservative movement in the West.

Trump already endorsed Carrie Buck in Nevada’s 1st Congressional District and Marty O’Donnell in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District.

Now he has weighed in on the state’s most important Republican primary.

The result is a complete Trump-backed Nevada congressional map.

That is no accident.

After carrying Nevada in 2024 for the first time in twenty years, Republicans increasingly see the Silver State as one of the most important battlegrounds in America. Add in the popularity of Republican Governor Joe Lombardo, a growing Republican voter registration surge, and competitive House races across the state, and Nevada suddenly looks a lot different than it did just a few years ago.

The endorsement also creates a fascinating split among Nevada Republicans.

While Trump is backing Flippo, both Lombardo and Amodei previously endorsed James Settelmeyer.

That means Republican primary voters now face a choice between two candidates backed by some of the biggest names in Nevada and national politics.

Still, Trump’s endorsement carries unique weight with the Republican base.

In a district Trump won comfortably and where Republican voters overwhelmingly support the America First agenda, securing the President’s backing could prove decisive.

The race itself is unlikely to determine control of Congress.

Nevada’s 2nd District remains the most Republican seat in the state and is heavily favored to stay in GOP hands.

But the primary has become a test of where Nevada Republicans see the future of the party heading.

Do they align with the established Carson City and Washington political infrastructure? Or do they follow Trump’s America First movement?

That question now sits at the center of the race.

And regardless of who ultimately wins, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Nevada is no longer an afterthought in national politics.

Between Trump’s victory in 2024, Lombardo’s reelection campaign, and competitive congressional races from Las Vegas to Reno, the Silver State is emerging as one of the most important political battlegrounds in the country. Trump’s endorsement of Flippo is the latest sign that Republicans know it.

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