A Republican candidate backed by Donald Trump is facing an unexpectedly difficult fight in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, after allegations that he overstated his military record and criticism that he only recently moved into the constituency.
David Flippo won the Republican primary comfortably, but the traditionally safe seat has drawn more attention from both parties after campaign materials described him as a recipient of a Bronze Star he received “for Valor”. Flippo did receive a Bronze Star, but not the separate “V” designation awarded for bravery in combat.
Mark Amodei, the retiring Republican congressman who has represented northern Nevada for 15 years, said the contest had become unusually competitive because of the candidate and the way his campaign had been run.
“This seat is some kind of competitive like it has never been in the history since it was created,” Mr Amodei said. “And you know what I attribute that to? I attribute it to the candidate and the way he’s run his campaign.”
Military record claims put Nevada race under pressure
Flippo apologised at a press conference and blamed a young member of staff for confusing the word “valor” with an award received by his entire unit. He later said the wording had been “edited and convoluted” and that he had failed to notice the mistake before it appeared again in campaign material.
“Look, part of leadership is taking ownership,” Flippo said. “It was just an honest oversight.”
Questions have also been raised over photographs of Flippo wearing a military-style cap displaying two “V” pins alongside his Bronze Star. One of the images appeared prominently on his campaign website and was removed shortly after the issue was raised with him.
Flippo defended wearing the pins, saying his grandchildren had put them on the hat. He said he owned another similar cap without the devices and had wondered where the pins had gone.
“You know if you’ve lived with grandkids, and you know, you kind of know, when you ask them to put those things on your hat,” he said.
He dismissed the controversy as political, saying: “It’s just crazy what people are going to go after.”
Flippo’s military service remains central to his appeal to voters. He has described a 24-year Air Force career involving several tours in the Middle East, including work as a logistics commander establishing air bases in Iraq.
“My whole career was spent eating the dust and dirt there in the Middle East and that’s why I have an understanding of what’s going on right now with Iran,” he said.
A new district and a Democratic challenge
The candidate had initially been running for Congress in Las Vegas. After Amodei announced his retirement, Flippo switched to the open seat in the north of the state, about a seven-hour drive away.
The district was created to be strongly Republican and Democrats have never come close to winning it. Trump carried it by 14 points two years ago, while Republican and independent voters still significantly outnumber Democrats.
But Republican-aligned political action committees have reserved more than $1 million in television and digital advertising to support Flippo, according to AdImpact data. Jon Ralston, a Nevada political journalist, said the spending suggested Republicans were treating the race as a genuine concern.
“They must have gotten a poll and had a five alarm fire at headquarters and said we have to pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into that district to save this guy,” Mr Ralston said.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has added Flippo’s opponent, Teresa Benitez-Thompson, to its “Red to Blue” programme, giving her additional support because the party considers the contest winnable.
Benitez-Thompson, a former Miss Nevada who is raising four children in Reno, has made her local roots a central part of her campaign. At a recent event, she said: “This is home.”
She has also focused on affordability, including the cost of petrol and groceries, while presenting herself as a candidate in touch with household pressures.
“No one has to give me talking points on the cost of groceries,” she told a voter. “I know exactly what a full grocery cart looks like. I know exactly what prices have been doing in the last year.”
Benitez-Thompson served in the state legislature, where Democrats say she was known for working across party lines. She is seeking support beyond the Democratic base, acknowledging that the district’s electoral mathematics remain difficult.
“Literally if someone stands still for 5 seconds, I will talk to them,” she said. “We have focused a lot on reaching outside our Democratic circle.”
Affordability dominates campaign
The candidates have both identified the cost of living as a major concern. Benitez-Thompson has argued that Congress should act as a check on Trump’s policies, including trade measures and the conflict with Iran, which she says voters associate with higher prices.
Flippo also accepts that living costs are troubling, saying: “The cost of living is not in our favor right now.” But he supports the conflict with Iran and argues that current price rises are a short-term cost that may be justified if Iran is prevented from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“I feel very confident that once this is taken care of, we’ll see gas prices go right back down,” he said.
Flippo has lent $1.6 million to his campaigns during the election cycle, a substantial proportion of his reported personal wealth. He said he had sold his businesses in preparation for serving in Congress, while his campaign did not respond to requests for overdue financial disclosures.
Some Republican voters have told Amodei they are reluctant to support Flippo. The retiring congressman said he would not endorse his would-be successor.
“It’s like, I’m not hugging this,” Mr Amodei said. “I’m just not doing it. It’s not my last move walking out the door.”
