Rep. Mark Amodei, a veteran Republican from Nevada, announced Friday that he will retire at the end of his current term, making him the 30th House Republican not seeking reelection ahead of an increasingly uncertain midterm election cycle for his party.
Amodei, 67, has represented Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District since 2011. His decision adds to a growing list of GOP departures that are signaling potential vulnerabilities for the party’s slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In a statement released Friday, Amodei said public service “has been the honor of my lifetime” and underscored his connection to the district he has represented for 15 years. “Serving the people of Nevada has been the honor of my lifetime. Nobody is prouder of our Nevada Congressional District than me. Thank you for the honor.”
He added that his time in Congress was defined by an effort to “solve problems” and ensure that both his state and the nation have “a strong voice in the federal policy and oversight processes.” Amodei said he looks forward to completing his current term, which runs through January 2027, and believes now is the right time to “pass the torch.”
Amodei’s retirement comes at a politically sensitive moment for Republicans. The party holds a narrow advantage in the House, and widespread retirements have raised concerns among analysts about Republican prospects in the 2026 elections. While Democrats have also seen departures — with at least 21 House members announcing retirements or bids for other offices — the pace of Republican exits has drawn particular attention given the party’s fragile majority.
Within Congress, Amodei has held senior roles, notably on the House Appropriations Committee, where he oversaw funding matters including for the Department of Homeland Security. That committee work placed him at the center of recent legislative battles over border and immigration policy.
One of the most contentious national debates has centered on federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, where the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis man by federal agents spurred nationwide protests and heightened scrutiny of federal tactics. While unrelated to Amodei’s retirement decision, those events have shaped the broader political environment in which lawmakers are navigating public sentiment on border policy and law enforcement oversight.
Amodei’s departure opens up a competitive seat in a state that has been trending politically in recent cycles, setting the stage for what is likely to be a closely watched 2026 House contest in Nevada’s 2nd District.
