Michigan Senator Slotkin rallies Washoe Democrats as Flippo declines one congressional forum and last-minute negotiations derail his participation in another.
Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin took aim at Republican congressional nominee David Flippo’s military-record controversy Wednesday night, telling Washoe County Democrats to imagine waking up after Election Day to headlines announcing that Nevada’s historically Republican 2nd Congressional District had flipped blue.
“I want you guys to visualize and think ahead to the day after the election and what the New York Times is going to write about flipping Nevada two,” Slotkin told attendees at a fundraiser at Reno’s Grand Sierra Resort, according to KOLO.
Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and Pentagon official, also criticized Flippo over exaggerating aspects of his military service, adding another prominent Democratic voice to the controversy surrounding the Republican nominee.
Her remarks came as Flippo missed a congressional candidate forum in Carson City on Wednesday, with his participation in a separate Thursday debate falling through after last-minute negotiations.
Slotkin Brings National Attention to NV-02
Slotkin’s appearance was part of a two-day Nevada visit that has attracted attention beyond the state’s congressional races.
Axios reported that the Michigan senator was meeting with Democratic officials and labor leaders amid speculation about a possible 2028 presidential campaign.
Nevada’s spot near the beginning of the Democratic presidential nominating calendar makes visits by potential national contenders even more significant.
Wednesday’s Washoe County Democratic fundraiser also featured several candidates on the November ballot, including Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, who is seeking reelection; Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, who is running for attorney general; Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor; and former Lt. Gov. Kate Marshall, who is running for Reno mayor.
But Slotkin devoted part of her remarks to the congressional contest between Flippo and Democrat Teresa Benitez-Thompson, who was listed as a featured guest according to the official event listing.
According to KOLO, she argued that Flippo’s military-record controversy and his relatively recent arrival in Northern Nevada could prove politically consequential.
Reporter Dax McCoy, who attended the event, also described Slotkin criticizing veterans who exaggerate their military backgrounds. He reported that Slotkin said she could count on one hand the number of veterans she personally knew who had overstated their records.
She later took several shots at David Flippo saying veterans, including herself, downplay their military background, and that she can count on one hand how many she knows who have overstated their record.
— Dax McCoy (@DaxGotFacts) October 8, 2026
Slotkin’s remarks are particularly notable given her own national-security background. Before entering Congress, she served in intelligence and defense positions under both Republican and Democratic administrations.
Her attention to NV-02 comes as national Democrats look beyond their traditional battleground districts for potential opportunities. Nevada’s second district has been represented by Republicans since its creation, with retiring Rep. Mark Amodei holding the seat since 2011.
Military Record Controversy Continues to Grow
Slotkin’s criticism follows weeks of reporting about discrepancies between Flippo’s actual military decorations and claims made in his campaign materials.
The Washington Post reported in September that campaign advertisements and fundraising solicitations had repeatedly described Flippo as receiving a Bronze Star with Valor.
Flippo received a Bronze Star for meritorious service during the Iraq War, but not the additional Valor distinction, which recognizes specific acts of heroism in combat.
Flippo’s campaign attributed the inaccurate descriptions to mistakes in campaign materials.
Subsequent reporting raised additional questions about how his decorations were presented, including the use of Valor device-type pins on a cap he had worn publicly.
The controversy widened again this week when retired Air Force Col. Steven Lawlor, Flippo’s former commanding officer at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, confirmed that he relieved Flippo of squadron command in 2008.
“I relieved him shortly thereafter for loss of confidence in his ability to command,” Lawlor told the Reno Gazette Journal.
Lawlor declined to disclose the circumstances behind the removal, and the newspaper independently corroborated the change in command with the officer who replaced Flippo.
Nevada News & Views reported Wednesday on Lawlor’s account and the continuing scrutiny of Flippo’s military record.
Read More:
Flippo’s Former Commanding Officer: ‘I Fired Him for Loss of Confidence in His Ability to Lead’
The distinction between Flippo’s documented military service and the disputed claims is important. Flippo served more than two decades in the Air Force and received the Bronze Star. The controversy concerns how specific decorations and aspects of his service have been represented to voters.
Some Northern Nevada veterans have publicly criticized the inaccuracies, while others have defended Flippo and questioned whether the mistakes were intentional.
An Empty Chair at Wednesday’s Candidate Forum
While Slotkin addressed Democrats in Reno, Benitez-Thompson participated in a congressional candidate forum at the Nevada Legislative Building in Carson City.
The October 7 event was hosted by Sierra Nevada Forums, with support from KUNR Public Radio, the League of Women Voters of Northern Nevada and the Nevada Appeal.
The organizers’ published candidate list identified Benitez-Thompson as confirmed and Flippo as having declined.
A photograph from the forum shows Benitez-Thompson answering questions beside an empty seat bearing a placard identifying Flippo and noting his decision not to participate.
The event was free and open to the public. Moderators presented questions to candidates, and audience members could submit written questions.
.@Teresa4Nevada just finished taking audience questions at the candidate forum hosted by @KUNRPublicRadio @lwvnv Sierra Nevada Forums & the Nevada Appeal.
Northern Nevada deserves a representative who shows up. #NV02 https://t.co/CIPYDqqO11
— mindy pressman (@pressmindy) October 8, 2026
Flippo was not absent from the campaign trail Wednesday. He posted photographs from a Douglas County Republican Women’s meeting, thanking attendees for what he described as a packed house.
Thursday Debate Falls Apart After Last-Minute Negotiations
A second opportunity for voters to hear directly from both major-party nominees was scheduled for Thursday, October 8, at the Douglas County Community & Senior Center.
Unlike Wednesday’s forum, Flippo had reportedly agreed to participate in Thursday’s debate before negotiations over his appearance broke down.
The Record-Courier reported Wednesday that last-minute negotiations had failed, leaving Flippo off the program.
New: The advertisement for this week’s #NV02 debate was updated to remove Flippo.
Organizer Adam Trumble tells me the campaign was invited, but “did not confirm its attendance. We regret any confusion surrounding Thursday’s forum.”
He says both candidates remain invited. https://t.co/kjUmf3uCnX
— Mini Racker (@MiniRacker) October 6, 2026
Washoe County Democrats subsequently characterized his absence as a last-minute cancellation and announced that Benitez-Thompson would still appear to answer questions.
The specific terms under dispute have not been publicly established.
The developments mean Northern Nevada voters will have gone two consecutive evenings without seeing the major-party congressional nominees participate together in a candidate forum or debate.
Amodei Previously Questioned Flippo’s Approach to Debates
The debate issue is not new to Flippo’s campaign.
In August, retiring Republican Rep. Mark Amodei criticized Flippo’s approach to public candidate appearances during an interview with Nevada Newsmakers.
According to the Record-Courier, host Sam Shad said Flippo had declined an interview request and an invitation to debate Benitez-Thompson on the program, although campaign representatives offered to appear on his behalf.
Amodei, who has declined to endorse Flippo, questioned the practice of having campaign professionals speak in place of the candidate.
Now, with two more candidate events proceeding without Flippo, questions about his willingness to debate have resurfaced.
Thursday’s cancellation is particularly notable because the debate was scheduled in Douglas County, a deeply Republican part of the district. Some voters and political commentators have questioned why the Republican nominee would not participate in a debate in territory where his party enjoys a substantial electoral advantage.
The breakdown in negotiations has left voters without a clear explanation of what prevented his participation or another opportunity to compare the two major-party nominees on the same stage.
Amodei’s earlier criticism speaks directly to that concern.
“The job isn’t going to allow you to only serve under circumstances which you control,” he said.
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.
