Retiring Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., says he will not vote for David Flippo, the Trump-endorsed Republican running to replace him in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, openly criticizing the candidate and warning that the traditionally Republican seat could flip to Democrats on Election Day.

Amodei’s refusal to support his party’s nominee creates another obstacle for Republicans trying to preserve their narrow House majority. Rather than rallying behind the candidate backed by Trump, the outgoing congressman has publicly questioned the president’s endorsement and indicated he may vote for an independent candidate instead.

“I think the seat’s at risk,” Amodei said in a Saturday interview, citing allegations involving Flippo’s military service and financial disclosures. He said he would “absolutely not” vote for Flippo and criticized the process that led Trump to endorse him.

“You say, well, the president endorsed him,” Amodei said. “It’s like, well whoever was advising the president on, ‘Hey, this would be a good place for you to go ahead and weigh in,’ gave him awful advice. The vetting process, quote unquote, must have been nearly non-existent.”

Amodei’s comments amount to a public rebuke of both Flippo and the decision to back him, raising questions about whether the retiring congressman is helping Republicans maintain party unity at a critical moment. With Democrats trying to capitalize on the controversy, Amodei’s refusal to endorse Flippo could make the GOP’s task more difficult.

Flippo has faced accusations of exaggerating his military service and criticism over delays in filing financial disclosures. He has said apparent exaggerations in campaign materials were mistakes made by his staff and others. Amodei, however, described the controversy as a pattern of troubling conduct.

“It’s just one thing after another. The stolen valor accusations, all that. But you’re just sitting here going, ‘What the heck?’” Amodei said.

He also criticized Flippo for entering the race after previously pursuing a different congressional district in Las Vegas, arguing that the candidate had effectively dropped into Northern Nevada shortly after Amodei announced his retirement.

Amodei said he plans to vote early and is “looking seriously” at supporting the independent candidate rather than the Republican nominee. His decision leaves Trump’s endorsement as a key source of support for Flippo while the party works to contain the political fallout.

Nevada’s 2nd District, which includes Reno and surrounding rural counties, has never been represented by a Democrat. Trump carried the district by 14 points in 2024, and Amodei held the seat for 15 years. Those advantages have traditionally made the district a reliable Republican stronghold, but Democrat Teresa Benitez-Thompson, a former Nevada Assembly majority leader, has made the race more competitive than party officials expected.

National Republicans remain confident they can hold the seat, although limited polling has shown Flippo either leading narrowly or trailing by several points. The MAGA Inc. super PAC has recently begun spending money to support Flippo, who has also financed a substantial portion of his campaign himself. Republican officials have reportedly considered whether Trump should campaign in the district to help strengthen the nominee’s position.

Economic pressures in Nevada’s rural counties and demographic changes around Reno have also complicated the political landscape. Republicans are increasingly monitoring the race as they look to protect their House majority, even as other Nevada districts draw attention.

Amodei said he still believes Republicans can retain control of the House and has told Speaker Mike Johnson that he sincerely wants the Louisiana Republican to remain speaker next Congress. However, he acknowledged that the political environment has deteriorated compared with a year earlier.

“The mood of the country right now does not feel warm,” Amodei said, adding that Republicans should prepare for a difficult fight through Election Day.

While Amodei has framed his opposition as a matter of candidate qualifications and vetting, his decision not to support the Trump-endorsed Republican risks sending a damaging message to GOP voters. At a time when Republicans are fighting to defend their congressional majority, a retiring member of their own party is withholding his support and publicly warning that the seat could be lost.