Teresa Benitez-Thompson, a Democrat who served as majority leader of the Nevada Assembly from 2016 to 2022, is her party's nominee for Nevada's open 2nd congressional district seat in 2026 against Republican David Flippo.
2026 Races & Market Forecast
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- Born
- July 25, 1978
- Education
- McQueen High School
University of Nevada, Reno (Bachelor of Arts)
University of Michigan (master's degree in social work)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Teresa Benitez-Thompson, whose full name is Teresa Francisca Benitez-Thompson, was born on July 25, 1978. She graduated from McQueen High School in Reno, earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nevada, Reno, and received a master's degree in social work from the University of Michigan.
She was crowned Miss Nevada 2002 and placed third runner-up at the Miss America 2003 pageant. Her father is of Mexican descent, and she is married to KOLO-TV chief meteorologist Jeff Thompson, with whom she has four children.
Career
Benitez-Thompson worked as a licensed social worker at a hospice company before entering elected office.
In 2010, when Democratic Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie ran for the Nevada Senate and left the District 27 seat in Washoe County open, Benitez-Thompson won the Democratic primary with 55.92% of the vote against Byllie Andrews and the general election with 63.57% against Republican Gabe Jurado.
She was reelected in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020, defeating Republicans Tom Taber, Rex Crouch, Bonnie Weber and Barb Hawn and running unopposed in 2018. She represented the 27th district from 2010 to 2022 and served as majority leader of the Nevada Assembly from 2016 to 2022.
She has also served as chief of staff to Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford.
2026 race
Teresa Benitez-Thompson announced her candidacy for Nevada's 2nd congressional district in February 2026. The district includes Reno, Sparks and Carson City along with White Pine County and part of Lyon County, and the seat is open because Republican incumbent Mark Amodei withdrew from the race.
She won the Democratic primary with 45.6% of the vote, defeating entrepreneur Greg Kidd, an independent candidate for the seat in 2024 who took 22.5%, and former West Wendover city councilor Kathy Durham.
In the general election on November 3, 2026, she faces Republican David Flippo, a financial advisor and former Air Force lieutenant colonel, and Lynn Chapman of the Independent American Party.