Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Dave Flippo, the Republican nominee for Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, has voiced strong support for President Donald Trump’s approach to Iran, describing it as a decisive move to end a decades-long confrontation rather than ignite a new conflict. Flippo, who served multiple deployments in the Middle East, including as a maintenance and logistics officer during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, argued that Trump’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz are aimed at resolving a 47-year struggle involving Iran’s support for militant groups and its disruption of global oil shipments.
«What President Trump is doing with the Strait of Hormuz and Iran, this has been a 47-year conflict,» Flippo said in an interview. «Some in the media have been saying that Trump is starting a forever war, but in my opinion, he’s ending it.» He added that most of his military career was spent fighting threats linked to Iran’s activities in the region, including its backing of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. «What Iran has done is over, and things are going to change, and President Trump sees that,» Flippo said, emphasizing the need to keep the strait open for oil traffic.
Flippo’s campaign is unfolding in a competitive northern Nevada district that leans Republican but has drawn attention as a bellwether for national trends. The district, rated R+7, was won by Trump by 14 points in 2024, and Flippo secured the GOP nomination after defeating a well-funded establishment-backed opponent in the state legislature. He credits his victory to grassroots support from conservative groups such as Turning Point and the Club for Growth, as well as Trump’s endorsement. «I beat the establishment,» Flippo said. «I think people are tired of the establishment politicians that are there just to be a moderate, be that middle ground. I think we need fighters in Congress.»
Having never held elected office, Flippo presents his outsider status as an advantage, arguing that voters in northern Nevada want a constitutional conservative who will prioritize fiscal responsibility. He pointed to the national debt, which he said has climbed to nearly $40 trillion, as a critical issue that demands immediate action. «We have to get to a balanced budget. We have to get this deficit under control,» Flippo said. «Something has to be done. We have to stop spending money that we don’t have.» He advocates for limiting the federal government to its constitutionally defined purposes, arguing that expansion beyond those boundaries has driven unsustainable debt levels.
Illegal immigration is another cornerstone of Flippo’s platform, which he frames in economic terms. He contends that the influx of 20 to 30 million people under the Biden administration’s border policies has strained public services and driven up housing costs. «That’s a supply and demand issue,» Flippo said. «20 million people. That’s 20 cities the size of Las Vegas. All those schools, police departments, fire departments, social service programs have to be paid for by tax dollars.» He argues that taxpayers are bearing an unfair burden as a result of what he calls open-border policies.
Flippo’s Democratic opponent is former Nevada Assembly Majority Leader Teresa Benitez-Thompson, whom he characterizes as a big-government liberal with a record of tax increases. «She’s voted to raise taxes 12 times here in Nevada,» Flippo said. «She voted for the largest tax increase in Nevada’s history. She voted for Planned Parenthood funding. She voted for drivers licenses for illegals.» He believes that her voting record will contrast sharply with his conservative platform, giving him an edge in the district despite Democratic hopes of flipping the seat.
The race is also shaped by broader state dynamics. Nevada, a key battleground, has a booming economy and a stark urban-rural divide. Trump won the state in 2024, and Republican Governor Joe Lombardo defeated a Democratic incumbent in 2022, yet Democrats hold three of four congressional districts, both Senate seats, and large majorities in the state legislature. Flippo sees alignment with Trump and Lombardo as crucial to mobilizing voters in the north. «Getting on a team with the governor being united, getting the vote out is going to be critical,» he said. «Having Trump on my side up in the north is going to be a huge asset.»
Flippo’s campaign emphasizes his military background and his commitment to conservative principles, including national security, fiscal discipline, and border enforcement. He argues that his experience in the Middle East gives him unique insight into the Iran situation, and he remains confident that voters in his district will support a candidate who prioritizes ending long-standing conflicts and restoring fiscal sanity. «We need representatives in Congress that are ready to stop the spending and stand up for the American people,» he said.
