Benítez-Thompson obtiene el respaldo nacional del Partido Demócrata en su intento por ganar el 2.º Distrito Congresional de Nevada

Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026 | 2 a.m. Editor's note: Este artículo está traducido al inglés. The Congressional Democratic Campaign Committee added Teresa Benítez‑Thompson to its “Red to Blue” roster on Monday, granting her national organizational and fundraising backing for her bid to capture Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District—a seat that has never been held by a Democrat. Benítez‑Thompson, who previously led the Nevada Assembly majority, will square off against Republican David Flippo in the Nov. 3 general election. The district stretches across northern Nevada, taking in Reno and Carson City, and has remained in Republican hands since its creation after the 1980 census. Its Cook Partisan Vote Index sits at R+7, indicating that in the last two presidential elections the electorate favored Republicans by roughly seven percentage points more than the national average. The closest a Democrat has come to winning the seat was in 2006, when Jill Derby fell to Dean Heller by about five points. The “Red to Blue” program supplies selected candidates with strategic direction, staff resources, candidate training and fundraising assistance, according to the committee. Representative Suzan DelBene (D‑WA), chair of the committee, said in a statement: “Teresa Benítez‑Thompson is a dedicated public servant who has spent her life fighting for Nevada workers. In the state legislature, Teresa stood out for bridging parties and doing right for northern Nevada residents. Against an opponent plagued with scandals who isn’t even well‑liked by Republicans, Teresa is the leader Nevada families deserve.” The committee also noted that Representative Mark Amodei (R‑NV), who is retiring from the 2nd District, has labeled Flippo a “fraud” and described him as “arrogant” and “incredibly disrespectful.” The Washington Post reported on September 24 that Flippo had repeatedly asserted in recent years that he received a Bronze Star “for valor.” The Post clarified that the Bronze Star is awarded for combat heroism, not meritorious service, and that the medal Flippo earned in 2004 during a 24‑year Air Force career lacked the “V” device denoting valor. Flippo campaign spokesperson Rory McShane told the Post that the campaign “has literally sent hundreds of fundraising solicitations via text message, email, letters, etc. That a writer would accidentally use outdated campaign talking points does not constitute a scandal.” In a joint statement, Nevada Republican Party chairman Michael McDonald and Combat Vets for Congress president Bill Conrad defended Flippo: “Lieutenant Colonel David Flippo earned the Bronze Star. His military record also includes a Distinguished Unit Award with Valor. A writer confused the two distinctions. That does not erase or diminish the military record that David Flippo earned.” The committee had already placed the district on its “Battleground Districts” list in July, shortly after a Wedgewood Polling survey released July 21 showed Benítez‑Thompson ahead of Flippo by two points. That poll surveyed 350 respondents and was conducted by a firm with limited experience in political polling. Flippo campaign manager Woodrow Johnston questioned the survey’s credibility, citing another Wedgewood poll that indicated Republican Governor Joe Lombardo was receiving 85 % of the Black vote while Democratic gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford—who is Black—trailed far behind. A Strategies 360 poll conducted August 22‑26 gave Flippo a 45 % to 42 % edge. A GBAO poll for the Nevada Alliance, which leans Democratic, fielded August 31‑September 3 found Benítez‑Thompson leading 38 % to 37 %, with Independent American Party candidate Lynn Chapman at 14 %. In August, prediction markets assigned Flippo a 75 % probability of victory. UNLV professor David Damore told the Sun in August: “No one polls that district because it’s simply not competitive.” Damore observed that this cycle’s dynamics stem from a combination of factors: a well‑known Democratic challenger, an open seat, contentious Republican primaries, and a Republican incumbent who has not endorsed his party’s nominee. Amodei, who has held the seat since 2011, announced his surprise withdrawal on February 6. He secured 55 % of the vote in 2024. In an August interview with “Nevada Newsmakers,” Amodei declared he would “in no way” endorse Flippo. Benítez