Nevada's 2nd congressional district

Nevada's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district that includes the northern half of the state of Nevada. It includes most of Lyon County, a small portion of Lincoln County, all of Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine 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. It is the richest congressional district in the state of Nevada. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+7, it is the only Republican-leaning congressional district in Nevada.

Political history 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.

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. 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.

A special election was held on September 13, 2011. Former Republican state senator Mark Amodei defeated Democratic State Treasurer Kate Marshall.

Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentMcCain 48.79%–48.76%2010 SenateAngle 54%–46% GovernorSandoval 66%–34% Secretary of StateMiller 53%–47% TreasurerMartin 53%–47%2012 PresidentRomney 55%–45%2016 PresidentTrump 53%–39% SenateHeck 53%–39%2018 SenateHeller 54%–42% GovernorLaxalt 54%–41% Lt. GovernorRoberson 50%–44% Secretary of StateCegavske 56%–41% TreasurerBeers 55%–39% Attorney GeneralDuncan 55%–38%2020 PresidentTrump 54%–43%2022 SenateLaxalt 54%–43% GovernorLombardo 55%–41% Lt. GovernorAnthony 55%–39% Secretary of StateMarchant 52%–43% TreasurerFiore 53%–41% ControllerMatthews 57%–39% Attorney GeneralChattah 48.3%–47.5%2024 PresidentTrump 56%–42% SenateBrown 51%–43%

Composition For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:

Churchill County (2)

Fallon, Fallon Station

Douglas County (21)

All 21 communities

Elko County (12)

All 12 communities

Eureka County (2)

Crescent Valley, Eureka

Humboldt County (8)

All 8 communities

Independent cities (1)

Carson City

Lander County (3)

All 3 communities

Lincoln County (0)

Contains unincorporated area of Lincoln County

Lyon County (7)

Dayton, Fernley, Silver City, Silver Springs, Smith Valley (part; also 4th), Stagecoach, Yerington

Pershing County (6)

All 6 communities

Storey County (5)

All 5 communities

Washoe County (17)

All 17 communities

White Pine County (6)

All 6 communities

List of members representing the district

Member Party Years Congress Electoral history District location District established January 3, 1983 Barbara Vucanovich Republican January 3, 1983 –January 3, 1997 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. 1983–1993Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine; part of Clark 1993–2003Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine; part of Clark Jim Gibbons Republican January 3, 1997 –December 31, 2006 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. 2003–2013Carson 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 Dean Heller Republican January 3, 2007 –May 9, 2011 Elected in 2006.Re-elected in 2008.Re-elected in 2010.Resigned when appointed U.S. senator. Vacant May 9, 2011 –September 13, 2011 Mark Amodei Republican September 13, 2011 –present 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.Re-elected in 2024.Retiring at end of term. 2013–2023Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Pershing, Storey, and Washoe; part of Lyon 2023–presentCarson City, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine; parts of Churchill, Lincoln, and Lyon

Election results

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2011 (special)

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

Historical district boundaries

Nevada's 2nd congressional district

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