Nevada's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district that includes the northern third of the state. It includes most of Lyon County, all of Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Pershing, Storey, and Washoe 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.
Nevada's 2nd congressional district | |||
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![]() ![]() Interactive map of district boundaries. Points indicate major cities in the district with a population over 50,000, ordered by population (Reno, Sparks, and Carson City). | |||
Representative |
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Population (2021) | 766,406 | ||
Median household income | $74,468[1] | ||
Ethnicity |
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Cook PVI | R+8[2] |
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.
Former state Senator Mark Amodei has held the seat since 2011 after he won the special election to replace Dean Heller, who was appointed to the United States Senate following the resignation of John Ensign.
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.[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.[4]
A special election was held on September 13, 2011. Former Republican state senator Mark Amodei defeated Democratic State Treasurer Kate Marshall.[5]
Election results from presidential and statewide races[6]
Year | Office | Result |
---|---|---|
1984 | President | Reagan 69 – 29% |
1988 | President | Bush 62 – 35% |
1992 | President | Bush 38 – 33% |
1996 | President | Dole 47 – 39% |
2000 | President | Bush 57 – 37% |
2004 | President | Bush 57 – 41% |
2008 | President | McCain 49 – 49% |
2012 | President | Romney 53 – 45% |
Senator | Heller 64 – 25% | |
2014 | Governor | Sandoval 53 – 45% |
2016 | President | Trump 52 – 40% |
Senator | Heck 65 – 27% | |
2018 | Governor | Laxalt 68 – 25% |
Senator | Heller 68 – 26% | |
2020 | President | Trump 53 – 43% |
Member (Residency) |
Party | Years | Cong ress |
Electoral history | District location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
District created 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 |
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 | December 31, 2006 – January 3, 2007 |
109th | |||
![]() 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. | |
Vacant | May 9, 2011 – September 13, 2011 |
112th | |||
![]() Mark Amodei (Carson City) |
Republican | September 13, 2011 – present |
112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th |
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. | |
2013–present![]() Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Pershing, Storey, and Washoe; part of Lyon |
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 | 126,496 | 100.0 | |||
Republican win (new seat) |
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 | 140,106 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Barbara Vucanovich (Incumbent) | 83,479 | 58.41 | |
Democratic | Pete Sferrazza | 59,433 | 41.59 | |
Total votes | 142,912 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 185,097 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 175,209 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 270,461 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 223,932 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 277,192 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 248,763 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 355,969 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 201,200 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 291,079 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 232,724 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 329,520 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 267,708 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 129,791 | |||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 281,499 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 186,210 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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 | 313,336 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mark Amodei (Incumbent) | 167,435 | 58.2 | |
Democratic | Clint Koble | 120,102 | 41.8 | |
Total votes | 287,537 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mark E. Amodei (incumbent) | 216,078 | 56.5 | |
Democratic | Patricia Ackerman | 155,780 | 40.7 | |
Independent American | Janine Hansen | 10,815 | 2.8 | |
Total votes | 382,673 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold | ||||
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Nevada's congressional districts | |
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