Rep. Mark Amodei (R‑Nev.), a veteran eight-term lawmaker and top Republican on the DHS appropriations subcommittee, announced Friday that he will not run for reelection this year — a move that comes just weeks after President Donald Trump showered him with a “Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-election.”
“I came to Congress to solve problems and to make sure our State and Nation have strong voice in the federal policy and oversight processes,” Amodei said in a statement, according to Politico. “I look forward to finishing my term.”
Amodei’s decision underscores the growing uncertainty for Republicans ahead of a midterm election that already looks murky for the party. While Nevada’s 2nd District leans Republican and is likely to stay in GOP hands, Amodei is the only Republican in the state’s congressional delegation — and his departure leaves a vacuum of experience and influence.
Part of the context may lie in Amodei’s recent willingness to break with the president on key policy areas. Just over a week ago, he called for a “pivot” in ICE’s core mission in Minnesota — a rare public rebuke from a Republican lawmaker — and he spearheaded a DHS funding bill that included explicit funding for body cameras for ICE officers and additional deescalation training.
He also tried to curtail DHS’ ability to move congressionally appropriated funds, a decision he admitted in January could be unpopular with White House officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. That push, combined with stalling negotiations over a federal DHS funding deal, likely contributed to a perfect storm of frustration and political uncertainty.
Amodei’s exit is part of a wider pattern: high-profile Republicans retiring amid a tense midterm landscape and internal tensions with Trump-aligned factions. Even a “Complete and Total Endorsement” from the president isn’t enough to keep some incumbents in the game when the political waters are this rough.
