By Trendsetter Tribune 
Rep. Mark Amodei of Nevada announced Friday that he will not seek re-election, adding his name to the growing list of House Republicans opting for the exits. Amodei is the only Republican currently representing Nevada in Congress.
In a statement posted on X, Amodei framed his decision as a voluntary handoff after a long career in Washington. He called representing Nevadans “the honor of my lifetime” and said he was proud of his congressional district, arguing that his tenure was defined by listening to constituents and “fighting for our values.” After 15 years in office, he said, the time had come “to pass the torch.”
Amodei said he plans to complete his current term, repeating familiar rhetoric about problem-solving and ensuring Nevada had a strong voice in federal policymaking and oversight — language that contrasts sharply with the gridlock and partisan paralysis that have defined Congress for much of the Trump era.
His sprawling district covers all of northern Nevada, stretching from Reno and Carson City through the Lake Tahoe region and across vast rural areas dominated by mining and agriculture. Politically, it has leaned Republican, but not overwhelmingly so.
During the Trump years, Amodei largely fell in line with GOP leadership, reliably backing the party agenda. He briefly stood out in 2019 when he became the first House Republican to voice support for opening an impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump over the scheme to pressure Ukraine. That moment of independence proved short-lived: Amodei ultimately joined every other House Republican in voting against Trump’s impeachment.
With Amodei stepping aside, Republicans are expected to retain an advantage in the district, but only narrowly. The Cook Partisan Voting Index rates the seat as GOP-leaning by a single-digit margin, leaving open the possibility that Democrats could mount a serious challenge if the national environment turns sharply against Republicans.
His departure underscores a broader pattern of Republican lawmakers choosing retirement rather than defending their records in an increasingly volatile political climate — one still heavily shaped by the fallout from Trump’s influence over the party.