Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., is expected to denote contiguous that helium volition not question his party’s information for politician successful 2022, opting alternatively to tally for re-election to his House seat.
Amodei, 63, had declared successful December that helium was considering a bid for governor, saying that incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak “…in immoderate ways has made himself susceptible to re-election.”
“It’s thing wherever rather frankly we’re gonna look astatine it,” Amodei said erstwhile asked astir a imaginable bid during a Vegas Chamber virtual event. But helium added that determination would apt beryllium a crowded Republican superior to consider.
In that, the seasoned congressman was right: Thus far, the superior tract includes erstwhile U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, Las Vegas Councilwoman Michele Fiore, North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee, businessman Guy Nohra and Reno lawyer Joey Gilbert.
By staying retired of the race, Amodei opts for the politically safer course, continuing to correspond the 2nd District spot he’s held since 2011. The territory encompasses astir each of Northern Nevada, including Washoe County, Carson City and agrarian Republican strongholds specified arsenic Elko.
In deciding to skip the race, Amodei besides avoids questions astir his loyalty to erstwhile President Donald Trump. In September 2019, Amodei said helium supported an probe to spot if rules were breached during a Trump telephone telephone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Although Amodei did not accidental helium supported the consequent impeachment of the president, arsenic a effect of his comments, he was not asked successful 2020 to reprise his 2016 relation arsenic Trump run co-chairman successful Nevada. (Amodei voted against some attempts to impeach Trump.)
The congressman disclosed successful 2021 that he’d had surgeries to dainty crab connected his kidneys and esophagus, but said helium was steadfast thereafter.
Amodei began his governmental vocation successful the Nevada Assembly, and was rapidly elected to the authorities Senate, representing Carson City, wherever helium served for a decennary betwixt 1999 and 2010, including arsenic president pro tem. He was archetypal elected to Congress successful a peculiar predetermination successful 2011, aft then-Congressman Dean Heller was appointed to regenerate erstwhile Sen. John Ensign, who resigned from bureau aft an extramarital affair.
Amodei — the lone Republican successful Nevada’s legislature delegation — is known for a sardonic wit and for being a pragmatic blimpish successful the House. He’s besides celebrated for delivering the shortest speeches to the biennial sessions of the Nevada Legislature. He presently serves connected the House Appropriations Committee and is simply a postgraduate of the University of Nevada, Reno and the McGeorge School of Law successful California.
This is simply a processing story. Check backmost for updates.
Contact Steve Sebelius astatine SSebelius@reviewjournal.com. Follow @SteveSebelius connected Twitter.