Population (2010 ( 2015 est.)) 679,147 (706,464) Cook PVI R+5 | Median income 51,505 | |
 | ||
Current Representative Mark Amodei (R–Carson City) Ethnicity 60.2% White
2% Black
3.8% Asian
21.1% Hispanic
2.5% Native American
10.4% other | ||
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.
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The district was initially created after the 1980 Census. From then until 2013, it occupied all of the state outside of Clark County, and the far northern portion of Clark County. It was the third-largest congressional district by land area . Population estimates indicates that the district need to be expand after the 2020 Census. As of 2015 the district is underpopulated by 15,000. A possible second district based on the 2015 population estimates encompass all of the state outside Clark County and Pahrump, but 17,000 residents.
Historically, the 2nd has had a heavy Republican lean. Republicans have held the district since its creation, and Democrats have only made three 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.
Republican Mark Amodei has held the seat since 2011.
2011 special election
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.
Voting
Election results from presidential races