Benitez-Thompson wins Nevada's 2nd District, ending decades of GOP control

Democrat Teresa Benitez-Thompson was elected to represent Nevada’s Congressional District 2 in the early hours of November 4, 2026. At 3:00 a.m., she learned that her race against Republican David Flippo had been called. This victory ends a long period of Republican representation in the district, which was established in the 1980s and has always been held by a member of the Republican Party.

The district contains more registered Republicans than Democrats, a factor that led political analysts to predict a win for Flippo. Benitez-Thompson attributed her success to consistent outreach across the region. She traveled to the north, east, south, and west portions of the district to hold conversations with residents about their daily challenges. “I did not just sit around,” she said. “I did what I always do. I put my head down every day and did the work. And I had conversations. I hope that’s not lost on this.”

Her campaign emphasized the rising cost of living, a concern shared by many constituents in the area. Benitez-Thompson, a mother of four, cited specific grocery prices to illustrate the financial pressure on families. “You don’t need to tell me what groceries cost,” she stated. “I don’t need talking points on groceries. When I bought three gallons of milk on my grocery store run this week at my local grocery store, that gallon of milk was over $7.00.”

Benitez-Thompson identified several policy issues that she will prioritize upon taking office. She expressed concern about SNAP benefits, which many residents in Nevada stand to lose early next year. She also noted that high insurance premiums and co-pays lead many residents to forgo healthcare due to the expense. The November 3 vote, she said, gave Democratic candidates a mandate to lower the cost of living for those struggling to make ends meet.

She emphasized that her role is to represent all residents of the district, not just her supporters. “I did not sit around waiting for a blue wave to take me over the finish line,” she said. “We’ve been beating the pavement since day one.”

Benitez-Thompson will travel to Washington, D.C., next week for orientation. She plans to review proposed legislation to determine its specific impact on her constituents. “I think you need people who have got real skin in the game, going back there and making policy because I won’t let people, I won’t let congress stop thinking about families like mine,” she said.