Janine Hansen knows Nevada politics. She has been fighting for conservative causes in this state for decades. She is not a Republican. She is an Independent American.
She leads Nevada Families, but she is clear that this letter represents her personal views — not the organization’s position.
In a personal letter this week, Hansen came out in support of State Senator James Settelmeyer in the Republican primary for Congressional District 2. She was clear about one thing up front: this is her personal opinion, not an organizational endorsement.
A Voice People Know
If you have ever watched a Nevada Legislature hearing, you probably know Janine Hansen. She has been showing up since 1971. That is not a typo. More than fifty years of citizen advocacy, and since 1991 a full-time citizen lobbyist for Nevada Families and the Independent American Party.
She is a native Nevadan, born and raised in Sparks. She was named Conservative of the Year in Nevada by Citizen Outreach in 2010. She has been editing the Nevada Families newsletter since 1974.
She is not just a watcher of Nevada politics. She has been a participant in it.
She has run for Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, U.S. House in CD2, and U.S. Senate — all under the Independent American Party banner. She puts her name on the line for what she believes.
She engineered the unanimous rescission by both the Nevada Senate and Assembly of all previous Article V Constitutional Convention applications. She has spent decades fighting to restore Nevada’s jurisdiction over its own lands under the Tenth Amendment.
That is the kind of work that does not make headlines but shapes the state. Over decades of public testimony, she has become one of the most recognizable citizen voices in those chambers.
Some Johnny-come-lately candidates would not know her if she walked past them in the Capitol hallway. Many have never attended a Nevada Legislature hearing. Not one. For folks asking Northern Nevadans to send them to Congress, that is a remarkable gap.
So when a pillar of Nevada’s legislative history sits down and writes a personal letter backing a candidate, it is worth reading.
Why Settelmeyer?
The CD2 race is crowded. There are 27 candidates running for Northern Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District. That is a lot of voices. It is easy to get lost in the noise
Hansen cuts through it.
Her case for Settelmeyer is simple. He is a fourth-generation Nevadan who runs a working ranch in Gardnerville. He is not a newcomer. He is not a tourist. He has roots here.
More importantly, he has a record. He is the only person in the Republican primary with legislative experience — 16 years, having worked in both the majority and the minority.
Hansen wrote:
“I always have concerns about people running for high office who have never served in any elected office before. You as a voter can have no idea what they will do when they get elected, no matter what they say as a candidate.”
That is wisdom earned over many years of watching Nevada politics up close.
Experience That Matters Here
For conservatives who believe in limited government, who want someone in Washington who actually understands Nevada land, water, and rural life — experience is not just a talking point. It is a requirement.
Before running for Congress, Settelmeyer served as the state Senate minority leader and was previously an assemblyman for a district centered in Douglas County. He was first elected to the Assembly in 2006. When he was termed out of the Legislature, Governor Lombardo appointed him to lead the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
He spent his post-legislative career working directly on the land and water issues that define life in Northern Nevada.
Hansen noted that Settelmeyer is:
“well versed in land use and water issues which is critical in Northern Nevada.”
That credential did not come from a campaign speech. It came from actually doing the work.
Federal land policy, grazing rights, and water law are life-and-death issues for rural Nevada communities. You cannot learn that from a briefing book. Settelmeyer did not have to.
The Carpetbagger Question
Hansen did not mince words about the contrast. She took direct aim at retired Lt. Col. David Flippo, calling him a:
“carpet bagger from Las Vegas who moved to Northern Nevada just to run for Congress.”
Flippo had originally planned to run in Nevada’s 4th Congressional District in southern Nevada, but swapped after Congressman Amodei announced he would not run. He said he made the switch:
“after a series of conversations with MAGA leaders, both in Washington and in Nevada.”
Flippo has the backing of Turning Point USA and other national MAGA names. He and his allies have hammered Settelmeyer, accusing him of not being conservative enough.
Hansen’s response to that kind of outsider attack is implicit in her letter: results and roots matter more than borrowed endorsements.
What Conservatives Should Think About
This is the core question in the CD2 primary. Do you want someone who showed up last year with national money and national backers? Or do you want someone who has spent 16 years in the Nevada Legislature, earned the endorsement of Governor Lombardo and Congressman Amodei, and has spent a lifetime actually living the values that conservatives say they believe in?
Settelmeyer said:
“I firmly believe that the citizens of CD-2 want someone who’s well-rounded, has experience in a lot of different fields that represent Congressional District 2 and has legislative experience, which I have the most of any candidate in the race, Republican or Democrat.”
Hansen agrees. So do Lombardo and Amodei.
June 9 Is Coming Fast
The Republican primary is on June 9. In a 15-candidate race, a small, motivated group of voters can decide the outcome.
Hansen’s message is direct:
“This race is critical for Northern and Rural Nevada. I hope you will vote for someone who we can depend on to represent our interests.”
That is good advice. Know the candidates. Know the stakes. Show up.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
