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

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← 2024
Nevada's 2nd Congressional District
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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

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.[1][2][3]

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:

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

Kathy Durham (D), Matthew Fonken (D), Mark Jolle (D), Morgan Wadsworth (D), and Samuel White (D) are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nevada District 2 on June 9, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Kathy Durham
Kathy Durham  Candidate Connection
Image of Matthew Fonken
Matthew Fonken  Candidate Connection
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Mark Jolle  Candidate Connection
Image of Morgan Wadsworth
Morgan Wadsworth  Candidate Connection
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Submit photo
Samuel White

There are no incumbents in this race.

Candidate Connection = 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

Image of Kathy Durham

WebsiteFacebook

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"

Key Messages

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

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.

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.

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

Image of Matthew Fonken

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Key Messages

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

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

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.

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.

Mark Jolle

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!

Website

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."

Key Messages

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

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.

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.

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

Image of Morgan Wadsworth

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

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

Key Messages

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

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

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

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

Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
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
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.


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

2023_01_03_nv_congressional_district_02.jpg
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.[4]

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 Democratic PartyDonald Trump Republican Party
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
OfficeOfficeholder
GovernorRepublican Party Joe Lombardo
Lieutenant GovernorRepublican Party Stavros S. Anthony
Secretary of StateDemocratic Party Cisco Aguilar
Attorney GeneralDemocratic Party 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

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Nevada Legislature, "Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.287," accessed September 12, 2025
  2. ↑ Nevada Legislature, "Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.5847," accessed September 12, 2025
  3. ↑ Nevada Legislature, "Nev. Rev. Stat. § 293.560," accessed September 12, 2025
  4. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)," accessed July 1, 2025


Nevada's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Catherine Masto (D)
Jacky Rosen (D)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
Susie Lee (D)
District 4
Democratic Party (5)
Republican Party (1)


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