Nevada's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026 (June 9 Democratic primary)

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Nevada's 2nd Congressional District
Democratic primary Republican primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 13, 2026
Primary: June 9, 2026 General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in Nevada
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican DDHQ and The Hill: Pending Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
Nevada's 2nd Congressional District 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th Nevada elections, 2026 U.S. Congress elections, 2026 U.S. Senate elections, 2026 U.S. House elections, 2026 Alabama U.S. House racesAlaska U.S. House raceArizona U.S. House racesArkansas U.S. House racesCalifornia U.S. House racesColorado U.S. House racesConnecticut U.S. House racesDelaware U.S. House raceFlorida U.S. House racesGeorgia U.S. House racesHawaii U.S. House racesIdaho U.S. House racesIllinois U.S. House racesIndiana U.S. House racesIowa U.S. House racesKansas U.S. House racesKentucky U.S. House racesLouisiana U.S. House racesMaine U.S. House racesMaryland U.S. House racesMassachusetts U.S. House racesMichigan U.S. House racesMinnesota U.S. House racesMississippi U.S. House racesMissouri U.S. House racesMontana U.S. House racesNebraska U.S. House racesNevada U.S. House racesNew Hampshire U.S. House racesNew Jersey U.S. House racesNew Mexico U.S. House racesNew York U.S. House racesNorth Carolina U.S. House racesNorth Dakota U.S. House raceOhio U.S. House racesOklahoma U.S. House racesOregon U.S. House racesPennsylvania U.S. House racesRhode Island U.S. House racesSouth Carolina U.S. House racesSouth Dakota U.S. House raceTennessee U.S. House racesTexas U.S. House racesUtah U.S. House racesVermont U.S. House raceVirginia U.S. House racesWashington U.S. House racesWest Virginia U.S. House racesWisconsin U.S. House racesWyoming U.S. House raceSubmit

A Democratic Party primary takes place on June 9, 2026, in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District to determine which Democratic candidate will run in the district's general election on November 3, 2026.

Candidate filing deadline	Primary election	General election
March 13, 2026	June 9, 2026	November 3, 2026

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Nevada has a closed primary system where a voter must be affiliated with a party to vote in that party's primary. A voter may be able to affiliate or change their affiliation on the day of the primary.

This is one of 51 open races for the U.S. House of Representatives this year in which an incumbent is not running for re-election. Across the country, 21 Democrats and 30 Republicans are not running for re-election. In 2024, 45 incumbents — 24 Democrats and 21 Republicans — did not seek re-election.

This page focuses on Nevada's 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Republican primary and the general election, see the following pages:

• Nevada's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026 (June 9 Republican primary)
• Nevada's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026

Candidates and election results

Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:

• Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
• Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies
  

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for U.S. House Nevada District 2

The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nevada District 2 on June 9, 2026.

		Candidate
		Teresa Benitez-Thompson
		Kathy Durham
		Matthew Fonken
		Joshua Hebert
	Submit photo	Mark Jolle
		Morgan Wadsworth
	Submit photo	Samuel White

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Kathy Durham

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I’m a rural public high school teacher who has spent years teaching American Government, history, and economics in Nevada. Every day, I help students understand how our democracy is supposed to work, and I’ve watched the growing gap between those lessons and how government actually functions. I’ve also served as a city councilwoman and raised my family in Nevada. I’m not a career politician, I’m a public servant stepping forward because I believe this moment in history requires it. Nevada’s 2nd District deserves leadership that understands rural communities through lived experience, not talking points. Our towns are resilient and hardworking, yet too often overlooked in Washington. I’m running to stand up for Nevada by bringing a teacher’s mindset, a local leader’s accountability, and a deep respect for democratic institutions to Congress. I believe government should inform, not confuse, solve problems, not create outrage, and be accountable to the people it serves. I support strong public education, fair economic policy for working families, access to healthcare, responsible stewardship of land and water, and robust checks and balances. Oversight, transparency, and the rule of law are not partisan values, they are constitutional ones. This campaign is about standing up for Nevada, strengthening democracy, and proving that ordinary people with integrity and resolve still belong in pub"

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Rural communities don’t need saving, they need standing up for. Families across Nevada are dealing with rising costs, underfunded schools, limited healthcare access, and decisions made far away without local input. I’m running to make sure federal policies actually work for working people and reflect the realities of rural life.

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I show up. As a teacher and former city councilwoman, I’ve spent my career answering questions, listening to concerns, and being accountable to the people I serve. Too often, our current representative is absent, inaccessible, and silent when Nevadans need answers. I believe representation means being visible, responsive, and willing to explain your votes, not disappearing between elections.

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Democracy only works when institutions are respected and leaders are accountable. I believe in strong checks and balances, honest oversight, and governing with facts instead of fear. This isn’t about party loyalty, it’s about constitutional responsibility. I’m running to strengthen trust in government by showing that integrity, transparency, and taking the Constitution seriously still matter.

Matthew Fonken

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Public lands are a trust, not a transaction. I’ll fight to protect them — not put them on the chopping block.

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Health care is not a political game. It’s about whether people can live their lives with security and dignity. I’ll fight to expand access, lower costs, and protect care not rip it away.

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Accountability isn’t about scoring partisan points; it’s about making sure government works within the law and in the public interest. If you give me the job, I’ll treat it like a responsibility, not a perk.

Joshua Hebert

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "I am a Reno-born PhD Physicist working in AI who has also worked in film production. I've had a passion for politics and the republic my whole life, and have a history of political and civic engagement. I've worked on campaigns, been a precinct chair, launched a civic society, and founded an anti-gerrymandering group in Texas. I am also bipolar, which has had a huge impact on my life. Learning to manage it has been a life-long struggle, but I have succeeded. That has made me strong, resilient, compassionate, and self-aware. I bring a truly unique perspective to politics. I am running because the system is broken and the republic is failing, but Democrats keep promising things that the broken system can’t deliver instead of running on fixing it. The first thing we need to do before we can deliver anything real is drive Big Money out of politics. Democrats keep talking about it, but they don’t DO anything; I am tired of waiting. I have a long-term strategic plan for how to do it, and I’m using this campaign to try to launch it. That’s not all I plan to do, but it’s my primary mission. I’m not wealthy. I’m not well-connected. I have not risen through the ranks. I do not meet the system’s expectations. That means I am not bound by that system, and am able to imagine new solutions. That is what we need—we can’t keep electing the usual suspects and expect different results. We have to look outside the system for new leaders. I hope to convince you I can be one of them."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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We will struggle to deliver anything meaningful until we get Big Money out of politics. This is something that people agree on across the political spectrum, yet the problem has only gotten worse. Democrats have said "overturn Citizens United!" for 15 years, but it's only ever been a slogan: there is no plan. I have a long-term strategic plan for how to do it using a constitutional amendment called the Ban Big Money Amendment. The amendment is not a symbolic gesture—it's the centerpiece of a plan to turn people into single-issue voters on getting Big Money out of politics. It will take a popular movement to get that done, so I am consciously trying to launch one with my campaign.

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A strong republic needs strong communities—we need to relate to each other American-to-American in order for our system to work, but our communities are falling apart. That is why I am running experiments in mass community-building. One experiment I call "Citizen Saturday:" on the second Saturday of each month, I encourage people to spend a couple hours engaging in their community. I'm not just talking about it, I'm *doing* it in my community, filming it, and will put it up on YouTube. The goal is to inspire imitators, film *them* doing it, and encourage a community-building movement to spread. The communities we want are right outside our front doors, and it takes just one person in a neighborhood to start one.

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I am running a radically open, honest, and transparent campaign. I am tired of candidates running on broad, vague messages with non-specific plans in order to be as inoffensive as possible, and I think most voters are too because they know it's not honest. I am asking for people's trust, and I feel that they are entitled to know the truth of who I am, what I believe, and what I hope to accomplish. I am unafraid of voters disagreeing with me on some things, because I believe most voters will accept a candidate they like and trust even if they don't agree with everything. Also, I don't presume to have the right answer to everything, and I listen to and learn from everyone. I'm firm in my beliefs, but not rigid.

Mark Jolle

Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "Mark Jolle is a Nevada small-business owner and former archaeologist running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District. Originally form Georgia, he moved to Reno in 2006. He is married with children and sites small business experience and community engagement as influences on his decision to run for office."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Nevada deserves leadership that builds. I’m not a career politician, I’m a Nevadan running to represent the people, not power - and to deliver real accountability and common sense solutions.

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I have spent nearly a decade working as an archaeologist across Nevada, walking its landscapes, studying its history, and building relationships with rural farmers, ranchers, miners, and developers. I have met with industry leaders, agency heads and development proponents. I furthered my understanding of the state at the University of Nevada, Reno. My experience has given me a deep appreciation for Nevada’s history, culture, and natural beauty. I don’t just want to protect Nevada, I want to responsibly share it, strengthen its communities, and help build a future that honors both its heritage and its potential.

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In 2014, I founded my own business and grew it from the ground up by earning trust, building strong brand loyalty, and creating lasting connections within the community. That experience taught me how to listen, collaborate, and deliver value. These are the skills I bring to public service as I work to support local enterprise and strengthen Nevada’s economy from the bottom up.

Morgan Wadsworth

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "Morgan Wadsworth is a 6th generation Nevadan, 1st generation college student, and current UNR student."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Anti-corruption, ending big money in politics, restoring integrity, accountability and accessibility

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Healthcare reform, expanding access, funding and protecting rural hospitals, making healthcare affordable. Is for Universal Healthcare with private insurance options.

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Protecting public lands and waters, making Nevada mines pay their fair share, protecting Nevada from exploitive corporations and billionaires.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Nevada

Election information in Nevada: June 9, 2026, election.

What is the voter registration deadline?

• In-person: June 9, 2026
• By mail: Postmarked by May 12, 2026
• Online: June 9, 2026

Is absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

N/A

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

• In-person: N/A
• By mail: N/A by N/A
• Online: N/A

What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

• In-person: June 9, 2026
• By mail: Postmarked by June 9, 2026

Is early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What are the early voting start and end dates?

May 23, 2026 to June 5, 2026

Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When are polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (MT/PT)

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Teresa Benitez-Thompson	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Kathy Durham	Democratic Party	$7,549	$1,517	$6,033	As of December 31, 2025
Matthew Fonken	Democratic Party	$27,575	$4,158	$23,417	As of December 31, 2025
Joshua Hebert	Democratic Party	$13,525	$5,663	$15,765	As of December 31, 2025
Mark Jolle	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Morgan Wadsworth	Democratic Party	$700	$0	$725	As of December 31, 2025
Samuel White	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Gamaliel Zavala Enriquez	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. *** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

• District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
• Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
• Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
• State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.

• District map
• Competitiveness
• Presidential elections
• State party control

Below is the district map in place for this election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026

Information about competitiveness will be added here as it becomes available.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+7. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 7 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Nevada's 2nd the 170th most Republican district nationally.

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District

Kamala Harris	Donald Trump
42.0%	56.0%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Nevada, 2024

Nevada presidential election results (1900-2024)

• 17 Democratic wins
• 15 Republican wins

Year	1900	1904	1908	1912	1916	1920	1924	1928	1932	1936	1940	1944	1948	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020	2024
Winning Party	D	R	D	D	D	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	R	R	D	D	D	D	R

See also: Party control of Nevada state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Nevada's congressional delegation as of October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Nevada
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	2	3	5
Republican	0	1	1
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	4	6

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Nevada's top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in Nevada, October 2025

Office	Officeholder
Governor	Joe Lombardo
Lieutenant Governor	Stavros S. Anthony
Secretary of State	Cisco Aguilar
Attorney General	Aaron Ford

State legislature

Nevada State Senate

Party		As of January 2026
	Democratic Party	13
	Republican Party	8
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		21

Nevada State Assembly

Party		As of January 2026
	Democratic Party	27
	Republican Party	15
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		42

Trifecta control

Nevada Party Control: 1992-2025
Five years of Democratic trifectas  •  Two years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
Governor	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	R	R	R
Senate	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
House	D	D	D	S	S	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Nevada in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Nevada, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Nevada	U.S. House	ballot-qualified	N/A	$300	3/13/2026	Source
Nevada	U.S. House	unaffiliated	N/A	$300	6/22/2026	Source

See also

• Nevada's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026 (June 9 Republican primary)
• Nevada's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026
• United States House elections in Nevada, 2026 (June 9 Democratic primaries)
• United States House elections in Nevada, 2026 (June 9 Republican primaries)
• United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2026
• United States House Republican Party primaries, 2026
• United States House of Representatives elections, 2026
• U.S. House battlegrounds, 2026

External links

Suggest a link

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Footnotes

[show]

Nevada's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Catherine Masto (D)

Jacky Rosen (D)

Representatives

District 1

Dina Titus (D)

District 2

Mark Amodei (R)

District 3

Susie Lee (D)

District 4

Steven Horsford (D)

Democratic Party (5)

Republican Party (1)

2025-2026 Elections to the United States Congress

Senate by State

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House by State

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Election information

Ballot access for major and minor party candidates • List of candidates running for election • List of congressional challengers • Retiring senators • Retiring representatives

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Super PACs/Organizations

American Bridge 21st Century • American Crossroads • American Unity PAC • Campaign for Primary Accountability • Club for Growth Action • Congressional Leadership Fund • Cooperative of American Physicians IE Committee• Crossroads Generation • Ending Spending Action Fund • Endorse Liberty • Fair Share Action • FreedomWorks for America • Government Integrity Fund • House Majority PAC • Independence USA Fund • League of Conservation Voters • Liberty for All PAC • Majority PAC • National Association of Realtors • NEA Advocacy Fund • Now or Never PAC • Planned Parenthood Votes • Ready for Hillary • Republicans for a Prosperous America • Restore America's Voice PAC • SEIU Pea-Federal • Women Vote!

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