Where do the candidates in Northern Nevada's 2nd Congressional District stand on the issues?

In November, voters will choose a new representative in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District, which spans the northern half of the state. 

After a frenzied primary season following incumbent Rep. Mark Amodei's (R-NV) surprise retirement announcement, small business owner David Flippo (R) and former Assembly Majority Leader Teresa Benitez-Thompson (D-Reno) claimed their parties' nominations. 

Flippo is favored to win the seat, which a Democrat has never represented and where registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats by more than 70,000. But Benitez-Thompson has attracted national attention for her policy chops and polished image, and many Democrats think they are better-positioned to win the district than ever before.

The Nevada Independent asked the candidates to share where they stand on key subjects that have dominated national policy debates — including the SAVE America Act, immigration enforcement, tariffs, foreign policy and health insurance changes — as well as on solutions to America's fiscal problems and on efforts to unlock more of Nevada's federal land.

The candidates were given the option to participate in an interview with The Nevada Independent or fill out a form rating their level of agreement with each statement from 1 (Yes) to 5 (No). The Nevada Independent defines 2 as "Mostly yes," 3 as "Neutral" and 4 as "Mostly no."

Flippo's campaign provided his answers and comments via email. Benitez-Thompson completed the form. Each campaign responded to clarifying questions. 

Read details about the candidates' policy positions below. 

SAVE America Act

Undocumented immigrants

Tariffs

Iran

Israel

Affordable Care Act subsidies

Medicaid work requirements

Raising the Social Security retirement age

Raising federal taxes

Northern Nevada lands bills

1. Congress should pass the SAVE America Act.

Flippo: Yes. "Congress should absolutely pass the SAVE America Act. If you have to verify your identity to use an Olive Garden coupon, you can verify your identity to vote." He mentioned the majority of Nevadans who support one of the bill's key provisions, implementing voter ID — 84 percent of voters expressed support in a 2024 Fox News poll and a voter ID ballot measure passed in Nevada with 74 percent support that year. (It's on the ballot again in November.)

Benitez-Thompson: No. "Every eligible American has the right to vote and nothing should come between that right and the opportunity to exercise that right," Benitez-Thompson wrote. "Criminal penalties already exist for those who cast an illegal ballot, and people get prosecuted for those crimes. The Constitution gives the states the power to hold elections, and I stand by the state's authority to do so."

2. All undocumented immigrants should be deported.

Flippo: Mostly yes. "The Obama administration deported 3 million illegal immigrants, and no hysterics from the liberal media," Flippo wrote. "Deportations are necessary to ease the housing demand and make job salaries more competitive for American workers, especially in the construction trades. America's deportation policy must focus on the needs of American citizens first." His campaign added that he would support small exceptions for immigrants with specific, sought-after skills. 

Benitez-Thompson: Mostly no. "We've seen needless deaths and chaos resulting from this administration's hardline mass deportation policy," Benitez-Thompson wrote. "This is not how the country should carry on, with families being torn apart, and the legal process being undermined. Tackling immigration policy is a priority for me, and honestly, both parties have gotten it wrong. We are long overdue for fair and efficient reform with humane enforcement."

3. President Trump's tariffs have harmed Nevada.

Flippo: Flippo did not give a clear yes or no answer. He wrote, "Looking at price increases over a couple of months isn't fair to assess their effectiveness. In a world economy where Nevada's producers are competing with currency manipulation, corporate espionage, and data mining, that isn't a system that can exist in perpetuity. Tariffs have been a tool to bring other countries into line to build a fair global marketplace."

Benitez-Thompson: Yes. "The courts have struck down multiple illegal applications of tariffs, yet the tariffs keep coming," Benitez-Thompson wrote. "The cost of groceries and household goods have increased. Families, small businesses and Nevada's tourist-based economy are feeling the negative effects and trying to figure out ways to absorb the extra cost. We are caught in costly trade wars with no relief in sight."

4. America's ongoing war in Iran is worth the costs.

Flippo: Flippo did not give a clear yes or no answer. He wrote, "Iran has been a state sponsor of terrorism for 4 decades, from financing terrorism to providing a safe haven for terrorist training camps. I spent the bulk of my military career deployed in the Middle East — I can tell you that crippling the Iran regime will save American lives."

Benitez-Thompson: Mostly no. "The current war was launched without evidence of an imminent threat, and the administration keeps changing the mission and objectives of the war," Benitez-Thompson wrote. She noted that 18 American service members have died and more than 750 have been wounded in the past six months. She put the costs of the war in the "hundreds of billions," with her campaign pointing to the Pentagon's internal estimates, expert analysis, long-term costs, such as veterans care, and the fact that there's no end in sight to support that claim. Benitez-Thompson added, "Iran is not our friend, but I lack confidence that this war will produce measurable success for the US."

5. The United States should reduce its support for Israel.

Flippo: No. "I don't understand why my opponent's website called Israel genocidal but doesn't condemn Hamas," Flippo wrote. "There was a time when Republicans and Democrats were united in acknowledging that Israel is a plural society in which all faiths can practice, and even be elected to office — but now, to get through a Democratic primary, my opponent has appeased the radical fringe left that denies the atrocities committed by Hamas." 

Benitez-Thompson: Mostly yes. "The U.S. and Israel have long held a strategic alliance, but the relationship must be recalibrated," Benitez-Thompson wrote. "Regional stability must include both Israelis and Palestinians living in freedom and security. The brutality of Hamas must end, as should the hardline policies of the Netanyahu government. The U.S. needs to move away from funding offensive arms sales to Israel." 

6. Congress should reinstate Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies.

Flippo: No. "Obamacare was a disaster for the American people, specifically Nevadans," Flippo wrote. He mentioned those who lost their doctors when the ACA went into effect. Nearly 25,000 Nevadans had their existing insurance plans canceled at the time.

Benitez-Thompson: Yes. Benitez-Thompson argued the subsidies helped Nevadans access care across the state, writing, "When people can't afford insurance, it means the only form of medical care they can access are the emergency rooms. Our ERs are going to be overcrowded, and everyone's care will be compromised."

7. I support the 80-hour monthly work requirements for Medicaid eligibility enacted last year.

Flippo: Yes. "There was a time when this wasn't controversial — President Bill Clinton introduced work requirements for those receiving government assistance in 1996, and it was championed by the Democratic Party," Flippo wrote. "Now my opponent and the Democratic Party have moved so far to the radical left that President Clinton's sensible policy — that someone should have to try to better themselves when getting government assistance — is now the enemy."

Benitez-Thompson: No. "I value hard work, but I know some individuals are not able to meet these requirements," Benitez-Thompson wrote. "This is why social safety net programs exist." She again noted the likelihood of more crowded emergency rooms and longer wait times for everyone when people lose health insurance. 

8. Congress should raise the Social Security retirement age above 67.

Flippo: No. "We should not raise the retirement age," Flippo wrote before referencing a new tax break in last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. "We should protect no tax on Social Security!"

Benitez-Thompson: No. Benitez-Thompson criticized the GOP budget for hastening the insolvency of Social Security. "It is wholly unfair to move the retirement age on people who are planning for retirement. This is why people don't trust the government, because everyday people work hard and then the goal post gets moved on them." Instead, she said she supports bipartisan solutions such as the PROMISE Act, which aims to create a framework for Congress to make the program sustainable. 

9. Congress should raise federal tax rates.

Flippo: No. "Absolutely not," Flippo wrote. "We should cut federal tax rates!"

Benitez-Thompson: No. Benitez-Thompson wrote "taxes shouldn't be raised for the sake of raising taxes" and slammed the Trump administration for giving permanent tax breaks to those with high incomes and only temporary cuts to most Americans.

10. I support the lands bills put forward in the district by Nevada's senators and by Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV). 

Flippo: Yes. Flippo said he supports the majority of the lands bills and will work with the governor to return federal land to the state to help create more housing supply. 

Benitez-Thompson: Mostly yes. Benitez-Thompson said all public land sales should have input from "the public, ranchers, developers, local governments, tribal entities and conservationists," should "keep with the Nevada tradition of including conservation easements," and that any "proceeds from these land sales should be held and spent in Nevada." She said she'll support all lands bills that meet those criteria.