Mark Amodei

Mark Amodei
Official portrait, 2017
Mark Amodei
Born	Mark Eugene Amodei 12 6, 1958
Birthplace	Carson City, Nevada, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for Nevada's 2nd congressional district (2011–present); Dean of Nevada's congressional delegation
Education	University of Nevada, Reno (B.A.) University of the Pacific (J.D.)
Children	2
Website	[[amodei.house.gov amodei.house.gov] Official site]

Mark Eugene Amodei (Template:IPAc-en; born June 12, 1958) is an American lawyer, military veteran, and politician who has served as the U.S. representative for Nevada's 2nd congressional district since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, Amodei first entered elected office in 1997 as a member of the Nevada Assembly, went on to serve in the Nevada Senate from 1999 to 2011, and chaired the Nevada Republican Party before winning a special election to fill the congressional seat vacated by Dean Heller. Over the course of nearly three decades in public life, Amodei built a reputation as a pragmatic conservative representing the vast, largely rural expanse of northern Nevada. He became the dean of Nevada's congressional delegation in 2019 and, by the time of his retirement announcement, was the only Republican among the state's federal representatives and senators. On February 6, 2026, Amodei announced that he would not seek reelection, ending a congressional career spanning more than fifteen years.

Early Life

Mark Eugene Amodei was born on June 12, 1958, in Carson City, the state capital of Nevada. He grew up in the Carson City area, which would later form part of the congressional district he represented in Washington. Carson City, situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada near the Nevada–California border, was a small but politically significant community as the seat of state government, and Amodei's upbringing in this environment provided early exposure to Nevada politics and governance.

After completing his primary and secondary education in Nevada, Amodei pursued higher education at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently attended the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific in Sacramento, California, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree.

Following law school, Amodei entered military service. He served in the United States Army from 1983 to 1987, attaining the rank of Captain in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. His service as a JAG officer provided both legal and leadership experience that would inform his subsequent careers in law and politics. After his honorable discharge from the Army, Amodei returned to Nevada to practice law privately, establishing himself in the legal community in the northern part of the state before turning to elected office.

Education

Amodei holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Reno and a Juris Doctor degree from the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific in Sacramento, California. His legal education equipped him for both his military service in the Judge Advocate General's Corps and his subsequent career as an attorney in private practice in Nevada. The University of Nevada, Reno is the state's oldest institution of higher education, and Amodei maintained ties to the university and the broader northern Nevada community throughout his political career.

Career

Early Legal and Political Career

After his discharge from the United States Army in 1987, Amodei practiced law in Nevada. He became involved in Republican politics in the state, and in 1996 he ran successfully for the Nevada Assembly, representing the 40th district. He took office on January 20, 1997, succeeding Thomas Fettic. Amodei served a single term in the Assembly before running for the Nevada Senate.

Nevada Senate (1999–2011)

In 1998, Amodei was elected to represent the 17th district in the Nevada Senate, succeeding Ernie Adler and taking office on February 1, 1999. He would go on to serve in the state Senate for twelve years, spanning six legislative sessions (the Nevada Legislature meets biennially). During his tenure, Amodei was involved in significant legislative matters, including tort reform efforts. In 2003, he was part of Senate deliberations on medical malpractice reform legislation that sought to provide protections for physicians in the state.

Amodei won reelection to the state Senate in 2002 and 2006. In 2006, he ran in the general election and secured his seat for another term.

In 2009, Amodei briefly entered the race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, announcing his candidacy in September 2009. However, he subsequently withdrew from the Senate primary race. The Republican nomination ultimately went to Sharron Angle, who lost to Reid in the general election.

Amodei left the state Senate on February 7, 2011, and was succeeded by James Settelmeyer.

Chair of the Nevada Republican Party

On May 15, 2010, Amodei was elected chair of the Nevada Republican Party, succeeding Chris Comfort. He served in this role during a period of significant activity for Nevada Republicans, including the 2010 midterm elections. Amodei held the chairmanship until June 17, 2011, when he stepped down to pursue the special election for Nevada's 2nd congressional district. He was succeeded as party chair by Amy Tarkanian.

2011 Special Election

When Representative Dean Heller was appointed to the United States Senate in May 2011 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of John Ensign, a special election was called to fill Heller's seat in Nevada's 2nd congressional district. Amodei resigned as chair of the Nevada Republican Party to run for the seat.

The special election was held on September 13, 2011. Amodei won the race decisively, defeating Democratic nominee Kate Marshall and other candidates. He was sworn into office on September 15, 2011, becoming the representative for the 2nd district, which encompasses most of northern Nevada, including Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and a vast expanse of rural territory.

U.S. House of Representatives (2011–present)

Reelection Campaigns

Following his special election victory, Amodei ran for a full term in 2012 and won. He continued to win reelection in subsequent cycles, including 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, representing what has been one of the more competitive but generally Republican-leaning congressional districts in Nevada.

Legislative Record and Committee Work

In the U.S. House, Amodei focused on issues of particular relevance to his district and to Nevada more broadly, including public lands management, water resources, mining, and military affairs. Nevada's 2nd congressional district encompasses a significant amount of federally managed land, making public lands policy a central concern for his constituents.

Amodei served on the House Committee on Appropriations, where he rose to prominence within the committee's structure. By the time of his retirement announcement, he served as the top Republican on the Department of Homeland Security appropriations subcommittee, a position of considerable influence over border security and immigration enforcement funding.

2013 Government Shutdown Vote

In October 2013, during the federal government shutdown, Amodei drew attention for his vote on the continuing resolution to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling. He issued a public statement explaining his "no" vote on the measure in the U.S. House, articulating his position on fiscal policy and the federal budget process.

Dean of the Nevada Delegation

Following the defeat of Senator Dean Heller in the 2018 election, Amodei became the longest-serving member of Nevada's congressional delegation, earning the informal title of "dean" of the delegation. He also became its sole Republican member, a distinction he maintained through the remainder of his tenure, as Nevada's other federal representatives and both U.S. senators were Democrats.

Retirement Announcement

On February 6, 2026, Amodei announced that he would not seek reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives. In a statement released through his congressional office, Amodei said, "Serving the people of Nevada has been the honor of my lifetime." His retirement announcement made him one of the largest groups of House Republicans choosing not to seek reelection ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. According to The Hill, he was the 30th House Republican to announce he would not seek another term. Ballotpedia reported that Amodei was the 51st overall U.S. House member—across both parties—who announced they would not seek reelection in 2026.

The Nevada Current noted that Amodei's departure would leave Nevada's congressional delegation without any Republican members, barring the outcome of the 2026 special or general election to fill his seat. The Reno Gazette Journal reported on his retirement, noting his long tenure representing northern Nevada.

In a February 2026 interview with KUNR Public Radio, Amodei reflected on his fifteen years in Congress, discussing his career and his experiences representing northern Nevada in Washington.

Personal Life

Amodei is a native of Carson City, Nevada, where he has maintained his residence throughout his political career. He has two children. His deep roots in the Carson City area and northern Nevada have been a consistent theme in his political identity, with his campaigns and public statements frequently referencing his upbringing and connection to the region.

Amodei served in the United States Army from 1983 to 1987 as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, reaching the rank of Captain. His military service preceded his entry into politics and has been a part of his public biography throughout his career.

Before entering elected office, Amodei worked as an attorney in private practice in Nevada, a career that continued to inform his approach to legislation and policy throughout his time in the state legislature and in Congress.

Recognition

Throughout his congressional career, Amodei received endorsements and ratings from various political and advocacy organizations. He received favorable ratings from the National Rifle Association (NRA) Political Victory Fund for his positions on Second Amendment issues.

As the longest-serving member of Nevada's congressional delegation from 2019 onward, Amodei held the informal distinction of being the delegation's dean. This role, while largely ceremonial, carried symbolic weight as it designated him as the senior federal legislator from the state. His tenure of more than fifteen years in the U.S. House, combined with his prior twelve years in the Nevada Senate and one term in the Nevada Assembly, gave him one of the longest cumulative records of elected service among Nevada politicians of his era.

His role as the top Republican on the DHS appropriations subcommittee in the House placed him in a position of influence on matters of homeland security funding, border security, and immigration enforcement—issues of national significance during his final terms in office.

Legacy

Mark Amodei's political career spanned nearly three decades, beginning with his election to the Nevada Assembly in 1996 and concluding with his announced retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026. Over that period, he served in every level of state legislative office—the Assembly, the state Senate, and the party chairmanship—before representing Nevada's 2nd congressional district in Washington for more than fifteen years.

His departure from Congress is notable in the context of Nevada's evolving political landscape. Once a reliably Republican-leaning state, Nevada shifted toward greater competitiveness and, in many cycles, toward Democratic dominance in its federal delegation. By 2026, Amodei was the sole Republican among Nevada's four U.S. House members and two U.S. senators, and his retirement raised questions about whether the Republican Party could retain the 2nd district seat.

Amodei's career in Congress was defined in significant part by his work on appropriations, particularly on homeland security matters, and by his representation of a geographically vast district that included urban areas like Reno and Sparks as well as large swaths of rural Nevada. His focus on public lands, water, and natural resource issues reflected the priorities of a constituency that includes significant federally managed territory.

His nearly thirty years of continuous elected service—from the Nevada Assembly beginning in 1997 through his expected departure from Congress at the end of the 2026 term—represented one of the longer careers in Nevada Republican politics. In his retirement statement, Amodei characterized his service to Nevada as "the honor of my lifetime."