Biography
David Flippo is the Republican nominee for the open U.S. House seat in Nevada's 2nd District. A retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, he later worked for BP in Alaska, became a financial advisor and now owns a HobbyTown store. He moved to the district this election cycle and won the Republican primary with an endorsement from President Donald Trump.[1][2][3]
Flippo was born in Maryland and graduated from Christiansburg High School, according to Ballotpedia. He earned a bachelor's degree from Montana State University in 1991 and a graduate degree from Valdosta State University in 1995.[1] He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1985 to 2009 and retired as a lieutenant colonel. According to his campaign, he commanded more than 1,000 personnel, stood up three combat bases in Iraq and led maintenance operations at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska; his Ballotpedia survey says he commanded two squadrons there overseeing 800 airmen.[1][3][4]
After retiring from the Air Force, Flippo worked for BP in Alaska for 10 years on a preventive-maintenance program for the North Slope oilfield and the Alaska Pipeline. He later became a licensed financial advisor in Las Vegas and owns a HobbyTown retail store, according to his survey and the Nevada Independent.[1][2][4] Ballotpedia lists him as a 2026 candidate for Nevada's 4th District who did not appear on that district's June 9 primary ballot. The Nevada Current reported that he had first planned to run in the 4th District and switched to the 2nd after Rep. Mark Amodei announced he would not seek re-election, and the Associated Press reports that he moved to the 2nd District this election cycle after losing a race in southern Nevada in 2024.[1][3][5]
Flippo won the June 9, 2026 Republican primary in District 2 after President Donald Trump endorsed him in the closing weeks, defeating former state Sen. James Settelmeyer, who was backed by Gov. Joe Lombardo and the retiring Amodei.[2][3] His campaign website describes him as a Christian, husband of 42 years, father and grandfather, and his Ballotpedia survey says he and his wife, Dawn, live in Nevada.[1][4]
- 1.David Flippo — Candidate Connection survey (2025) · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2025-01-01 Candidate's own words
- 2.Washoe County — Nevada Voter Guide 2026 · The Nevada Independent News report
- 3.Trump-backed David Flippo wins Republican primary in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District · KOLO-TV (Associated Press) News report
- 4.About — Lt. Col. David Flippo · David Flippo for Nevada Candidate's own words
- 5.Candidate filing ends with a congressional throng, a smattering of perennials, and a couple Fords · Nevada Current · 2026-03-16 News report
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.