The race to fill Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District just got a lot more interesting. Reno attorney and former professional boxer Joey Gilbert posted on social media Monday that he spent the day in Washington, D.C., seriously weighing a run for the seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Mark Amodei.
“YO NEVADA!! Spending the day in Washington, D.C. taking a serious look at a few opportunities that the Governor and senior party officials have encouraged me to consider,” Gilbert wrote.
“Nevada has given me everything, and any decision I make has to be about doing what’s best for the people of our state while providing maximum impact.”
Joey Gilbert poses with daughter during Washington DC visit March 2026
He said he had “productive meetings” and promised to share more “later this week.”
That is not a candidate filing, but it is not nothing, either.
Who Is Joey Gilbert?
If you follow Nevada politics, you know the name. Gilbert ran for governor in 2022, finishing second in the Republican primary behind Joe Lombardo.
He is a trial attorney based in Reno, a U.S. Air Force Reserve veteran who served from 2001 to 2007, and a former professional boxer. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno and a law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law.
He is loud, energetic, and his supporters love his style.
The Race So Far
Amodei announced on February 6, 2026, that he would not seek re-election, opening up one of Nevada’s safest Republican seats. CD-2 has been held by Republicans since 2016, and it is not expected to flip. The real fight will happen in the June 9 primary.
Former state Sen. James Settelmeyer has already filed for the seat. Settelmeyer served in the Nevada Legislature for 16 years and currently works in the Lombardo administration as director of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
He entered the race as an instant front-runner after both Sam Brown, who serves as Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial Services, and Nevada Controller Andy Matthews declined to run.
On the Democratic side, former Assembly Majority Leader Teresa Benitez-Thompson, who currently serves as chief of staff to Attorney General Aaron Ford, has said she will run.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
CD-2 covers a huge swath of northern and rural Nevada. It includes Reno, Carson City, and most of the state’s wide-open spaces. The people who live there care about federal land policy, water rights, and keeping Washington’s hands out of their daily lives.
The person who wins this seat will have a real say in those issues. They will vote on federal spending, land use regulations, and the size and reach of the federal government. For conservatives who believe government should stay small and local communities should govern themselves, picking the right candidate matters a lot.
Gilbert has name recognition and energy. Settelmeyer has legislative experience and some establishment backing.
But Republicans will need to decide who gives them the best shot at holding the seat and doing real work in Washington.
What Happens Next
The filing deadline is March 13, 2026. Gilbert has not filed yet.
His post suggests he is still weighing his options, and he mentioned that Governor Lombardo and senior party officials have encouraged him to consider “a few opportunities,” which leaves open the question of whether CD-2 is the only thing on the table.
Watch for his announcement later this week. If he files for CD-2, this primary just became a real race.
Conservatives who want a fighter in Washington should pay attention. Whoever wins this primary will almost certainly head to Congress in January 2027.
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.
