Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Dave Flippo has a reputation for winning tough fights. He deployed around the world during his military career, including serving as a maintenance and logistics officer in Iraq during the lead-up to the 2003 invasion. Now, he's engaged in a heated battle in a Republican-leaning open swing district in northern Nevada.
Nevada is a hotly contested state with a strong economy and a rapidly growing population, marked by a stark divide between its rural and urban populations. The state's politics are a microcosm of the nation's, with a Republican governor and a Democratic majority in the state legislature.
Flippo won the Republican nomination in a competitive primary, despite opposition from a well-known establishment-backed candidate in the Nevada legislature. He presents his newcomer status as an advantage, arguing that voters are tired of establishment politicians and want fighters in Congress.
Flippo spent much of his military career in the Middle East, where he saw firsthand the impact of Iran's policies on the region. He believes that Trump's approach to Iran is ending a 47-year conflict, rather than starting a new one. "What President Trump is doing with the Strait of Hormuz and Iran, this has been a 47-year conflict," he said.
Flippo also emphasizes the need for a balanced budget and a reduced national debt, which currently stands at over $39 trillion. He argues that government has taken on too much power and needs to be reined in. "We need to stop spending money that we don't have," he said.
Illegal immigration is another key issue for Flippo, who sees it as a pressing economic problem. He argues that the influx of new immigrants has driven up housing costs and put pressure on public services. "All those schools, the police departments, the fire departments, all those social service programs. All that has to be paid for by tax dollars, by taxpayers," he said.
The district leans Republican, but Flippo's opponent, former Nevada Assembly Majority Leader Teresa Benitez-Thompson, is a formidable candidate. Flippo believes that his conservative outlook and her left-wing voting record will give him an edge in the election.
Flippo also believes that Trump's support in the district will be a significant factor in his campaign. "My district in northern Nevada, District 2, is an R+7 that Trump won by 14. So Trump obviously carries some weight in northern Nevada," he said.
