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Mark Amodei

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Mark Amodei
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nevada's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 13, 2011
Preceded byDean Heller
Chair of the Nevada Republican Party
In office
May 15, 2010 – June 17, 2011
Preceded byChris Comfort
Succeeded byAmy Tarkanian
Member of the Nevada Senate
from the 17th district
In office
February 1, 1999 – February 7, 2011
Preceded byErnie Adler
Succeeded byJames Settelmeyer
Member of the Nevada Assembly
from the 40th district
In office
January 20, 1997 – February 1, 1999
Preceded byThomas Fettic
Succeeded byBonnie Parnell
Personal details
Born
Mark Eugene Amodei

(1958-06-12) June 12, 1958 (age 66)
Carson City, Nevada, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
  • Sondra Amodei
    ​
    (divorced)​
  • Michelle Amodei
    ​
    (divorced)​
Children2
Education
WebsiteHouse website
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1983–1987
RankCaptain
Awards
Mark Amodei's voice
Amodei speaks on H.R.1107, the Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act
Recorded January 16, 2018

Mark Eugene Amodei (/ˈæmədeɪ/ AM-ə-day; born June 12, 1958)[citation needed] is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Nevada's 2nd congressional district since 2011. The only Republican in Nevada's congressional delegation since 2019, Amodei served in the Nevada Assembly from 1997 to 1999 and in the Nevada Senate, representing the Capital District, from 1999 to 2011.

Amodei is generally considered a moderate Republican, being a member of the Republican Governance Group, the first House Republican to support the impeachment inquiry during the first impeachment of Donald Trump (but voting against impeachment), and supporting programs such as DACA throughout his tenure.[1][2][3][4]

Amodei chaired the Nevada Republican Party from 2010 until 2011, when he stepped down to run in the September 13, 2011, special election to succeed Dean Heller (who had been appointed to the U.S. Senate) as the U.S. representative for the state's 2nd congressional district. In 2019, Amodei became the dean of Nevada's congressional delegation and its sole Republican member after Heller lost his bid for reelection to the Senate.

Early life, education and military service

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Amodei was born in Carson City, Nevada, the son of Joy LaRhe (née Longero) and Donald Mark Amodei. His father was of half Italian and half Irish descent, and one of his maternal great-grandfathers was Italian.[5] Amodei graduated from Carson High School in 1976, where he was student class president. He graduated from the University of Nevada in 1980 with a B.A. in political science,[6] and received his J.D. degree from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in 1983.[7]

When Amodei entered the U.S. Army, he had not yet passed the bar exam, so he was assigned to an artillery unit. He attended The JAG School at the University of Virginia and entered U.S. Army JAG Corps after passing the bar. He became an Army JAG Corps officer prosecuting criminal matters, an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Assistant Post Judge Advocate. He was awarded the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. He served with the United States Army Judge Advocate General Corps from 1983 to 1987.[8] He returned home to become an attorney with the law firms Allison MacKenzie in Carson City and Kummer Kaempfer Bonner Renshaw and Ferrario (now Kaempfer Crowell) in Reno. He served as a lawyer with Allison, MacKenzie from 1987 to 2004 and with Kummer from 2004 to 2007.

As a lawyer, Amodei has been a sole practitioner since 2009. He served as president of the Nevada Mining Association from 2007 to 2008.

Nevada legislature

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Elections

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In 1996, Amodei was elected to the Nevada Assembly, representing Carson City. In 1998, he ran for the Nevada Senate in the Capital District.[9] He defeated incumbent Democratic State Senator Ernie Adler, 52%–48%.[10] In 2002, he was reelected to a second term with 84% of the vote.[11] In 2006, he was reelected to a third term with 78% of the vote.[12]

Tenure

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Amodei was named the Outstanding Freshman Legislator in 1997.[13] He was selected to serve as president pro tempore of the Nevada Senate from 2003 to 2008.[8]

2003 tax increase

In 2003 Amodei and Terry Care co-authored a plan to increase taxes in Nevada by $1 billion. The plan was offered as an alternative to Governor Kenny Guinn's plan, which called for over $1 billion in revenue increases.[14] The final plan raised taxes by $873 million.[15]

Collective bargaining

In 2009, Amodei supported a proposal to expand collective bargaining rights for state workers, who he believed were unfairly treated during the budget process.[16]

Gas tax

In 2009, Amodei sponsored a bill that would have allowed for a gas tax increase in Washoe County; the plan gained public approval in an advisory vote.[17]

Medical liability reform

In 2003, Amodei voted against a tort reform bill that would have changed Nevada's medical liability law.[18] He was the only Republican senator to vote against the bill.

Committee assignments

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Amodei has served on the Legislative Commission, the Education Commission of the States, the Public Lands Committee, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Legislative Oversight Committee, as vice chair of the Governor's Task Force on Access to Public Health Care, as chair of the Education Technology Committee, and as a member of the Nevada Supreme Court's committee on court funding.

2010 U.S. Senate election

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Main article: 2010 United States Senate election in Nevada

Amodei ran for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate against Democrat Harry Reid, the Majority Leader. He dropped out before election day, as State Assemblywoman Sharron Angle won the primary and lost the general election to Reid.

U.S. House of Representatives

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Elections

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2011

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Main article: 2011 Nevada's 2nd congressional district special election
Amodei being sworn-in by then-Speaker of the House John Boehner.

On September 13, 2011, Nevada's 2nd congressional district elected Amodei to replace U.S. Representative Dean Heller. Heller had been appointed to fill John Ensign's seat in the U.S. Senate after Ensign resigned from the position. Amodei announced his bid for the congressional seat in May 2011. The next month, he won the Republican nomination by taking 221 out of 323 ballots. In the primary, he defeated State Senator Greg Brower, who received 56 votes, and U.S. Navy veteran Kirk Lippold, who received 46 votes.[19]

Amodei defeated Democratic nominee Kate Marshall 58%–36%. He won every county in the district.[20]

2012

[edit]
See also: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 2
Amodei during the 112th Congress

Amodei ran for a full term against Democrat Samuel Koepnick, an information technology employee for the State of Nevada. He was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF).[21] He did so in a district that had been made slightly more compact than its predecessor in redistricting. It lost almost all of its southern portion to the new 4th district. Even so, it was still the eighth-largest district in the country that did not cover an entire state. Amodei defeated Koepnick 58%–36%.[22][23]

2014

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See also: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 2

Amodei ran for reelection to his second full term. He defeated Democrat Kristen Spees, 65.8% to 27.9%.[24]

2016

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See also: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 2

Amodei ran for reelection to a third full term. He defeated Democrat Chip Evans, 58.3% to 36.9%.[25]

2018

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See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 2

Amodei ran for reelection to a fourth full term. He defeated Democrat Clint Koble, 58.2% to 41.8%.[26]

2020

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See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 2

Amodei ran for reelection to a fifth full term. He defeated Democrat Patricia Ackerman, 56.5% to 40.7%.[27]

2022

[edit]
See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada § District 2
2022 GOP primary results by county:
  Amodei
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%

Amodei ran for reelection to a sixth full term. He won the Republican primary with 54.9% of the vote and went on to defeat Democrat Elizabeth Krause, 59.7% to 37.8%.[27]

The Congressional Leadership Fund, the super PAC endorsed by Kevin McCarthy, spent over $200,000 supporting Mark Amodei in the primary.[28]

Tenure

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Amodei was sworn in on September 15, 2011.[29]

Amodei voted against the bill to end the United States federal government shutdown of 2013. Of the vote, he said, "During two campaigns, I told Nevadans I would give my full attention to such issues as reining in runaway federal spending, debt, and the harmful aspects of the Affordable Care Act. Unlike many in this town, I will not test your memories and hope you have forgotten. I will continue to pursue these necessary goals. Nothing in this legislation changes the real threats to our country's economy."[30]

Amodei received a 0% rating from Planned Parenthood's 2014 Congressional Scorecard for supporting a nationwide abortion ban after 20 weeks and banning abortion access in the District of Columbia and through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[31]

Amodei announced his support for a House impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump on September 27, 2019.[32] National news media began to refer to Amodei as the first House Republican to support impeachment. A spokesman then further clarified his position by stating Amodei supported an inquiry but not impeachment.[33]

Immigration

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Amodei voted for the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, which authorized DHS to nearly double the available H-2B visas for the remainder of FY 2020.[34][35]

Amodei voted for the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 1158), which effectively prohibits ICE from cooperating with Health and Human Services to detain or remove illegal alien sponsors of unaccompanied alien children (UACs).[36]

Amodei supports Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).[37]

In 2021, Amodei was one of 30 Republicans to vote to give legal status to illegal immigrant agricultural workers.

Israel

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Amodei voted to provide Israel with financial support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[38][39]

LGBT rights

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In 2021, Amodei was among the House Republicans to sponsor the Fairness for All Act, the Republican alternative to the Equality Act.[40] The bill's stated goal is to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, and simultaneously protect the free exercise of religion.

Legislation

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On July 25, 2014, Amodei introduced the Northern Nevada Land Conservation and Economic Development Act (H.R. 5205; 113th Congress), a bill that would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to convey certain federal lands in Nevada to other government entities.[41] The bill is a package of numerous other bills related to land conveyance in Nevada, which make up the bulk of Amodei's legislation.[42]

Committee assignments

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114th Congress:

House Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
  • Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch

In the 112th and 113th Congress, Amodei served on the House Judiciary Committee, the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Veterans Affairs:

House Judiciary Committee
  • Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet
  • Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security
House Natural Resources Committee
  • Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
House Committee on Veterans Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
  • Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs

Caucus memberships

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2020 presidential election

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Amodei did not join the majority of Republican members of Congress who signed an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election. Amodei voted to certify both Arizona's and Pennsylvania's results in the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count.

Electoral history

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1998 Nevada Senate election in the Capital District[49]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mark E. Amodei 12,348 53%
Democratic Ernie Adler (Incumbent) 10,896 47%
Majority 1,452 6%
Turnout 23,244
Republican gain from Democratic Swing
2002 Nevada Senate election in the Capital District[50]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mark E. Amodei 25,368 82%
Democratic David Schumann 4,962 16%
Republican hold Swing
2006 Nevada Senate election in the Capital District[51]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mark E. Amodei 27,039 78%
Democratic Ike Yochum 7,761 22%
Republican hold Swing
2011 Nevada 2nd Congressional District (Special Election)[52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark E. Amodei 74,976 58
Democratic Kate Marshall 46,669 36
Independent Helmuth Lehmann 5,354 4
Independent American Timothy Fasano 2,415 2
Total votes 129,414
Republican hold
2012 Nevada 2nd Congressional District[53]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark E. Amodei (Incumbent) 162,213 57.63
Democratic Samuel Koepnick 103,019 36.25
Independent American Michael L. Haines 11,166 3.97
Independent American Russell Best 6,051 2.15
Total votes 281,449 100.0
Republican hold
2014 Nevada 2nd Congressional District[54]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark E. Amodei (Incumbent) 122,402 65.73
Democratic Kristen Spees 52,016 27.93
Independent American Janine Hansen 11,792 6.33
Total votes 186,210 100.0
Republican hold
2016 Nevada 2nd Congressional District[55]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark E. Amodei (Incumbent) 182,676 58.30
Democratic H.D. "Chip" Evans 115,722 36.93
Independent American John H. Everhart 8,693 2.77
No party affiliation Drew Knight 6,245 1.99
Total votes 313,336 100.0
Republican hold
2018 Nevada 2nd Congressional District[56]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark E. Amodei (Incumbent) 167,435 58.23
Democratic Clint Koble 120,102 41.77
Total votes 287,537 100.00
Republican hold
2020 Nevada 2nd Congressional District[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark E. Amodei (incumbent) 216,078 56.5
Democratic Patricia Ackerman 155,780 40.7
Independent American Janine Hansen 10,815 2.8
Total votes 382,673 100.0
Republican hold
2022 Nevada 2nd Congressional District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Amodei (incumbent) 185,467 59.7
Democratic Elizabeth Mercedes Krause 117,371 37.8
Independent American Russell Best 4,194 1.3
Libertarian Darryl Baber 3,466 1.1
Total votes 310,678 100.0
Republican hold

Personal life

[edit]

Amodei has two daughters: Erin, a nursing student at Truckee Meadows Community College, and Ryanne, a physician trainer on the DaVinci Robotic Surgical Instrument and former engineer in the U.S. Navy.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Warburton, Moira (October 4, 2023). "Moderate US Republicans call for change to rule that eased McCarthy's ouster". Reuters.
  2. ^ Scott, Dylan (May 1, 2017). "Trump's health care bid puts moderate Republicans in an impossible situation". Vox. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  3. ^ DeHaven, James. "RGJ 2022 primary voter guide: Can Tarkanian unseat Amodei in congressional quest?". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  4. ^ Axelrod, Tal (September 27, 2019). "First House Republican backs impeachment inquiry". The Hill. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  5. ^ "RootsWeb.com Home Page". freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  6. ^ "Amodei Brings Sizable State-Level Experience". Roll Call. September 14, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  7. ^ "Mark Amodei". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Kelly, Erin. "Amodei uses humor to help make mark in Congress". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  9. ^ "Congressman Mark Amodei 2016 : Biography". amodei.house.gov. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  10. ^ "Our Campaigns – NV State Senate – Capital District Race – Nov 03, 1998". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  11. ^ "Our Campaigns – NV State Senate – Capital District Race – Nov 05, 2002". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  12. ^ "Our Campaigns – NV State Senate- Capital District Race – Nov 07, 2006". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  13. ^ "Mark Amodei". Amodei4nevada.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  14. ^ Vogel, Ed (March 13, 2003). "ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL: Room, service tax key to new plan". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  15. ^ Whaley, Sean; Ed Vogel (June 23, 2003). "SPECIAL SESSION: Senate OKs tax package". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  16. ^ Riley, Brendan (June 5, 2009). "Bargaining rights bill vetoed by Gibbons". Associated Press. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
  17. ^ Ryan, Cy (September 9, 2009). "State Sen. Amodei enters race against Harry Reid". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on September 16, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  18. ^ "Doctors get boost in Senate". Las Vegas Sun. April 23, 2003. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  19. ^ Dornan, Geoff (June 18, 2011). "Mark Amodei wins GOP nomination for Heller's seat". Lahontan Valley News. Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  20. ^ "Our Campaigns – NV – District 02 – Special Election Race – Sep 13, 2011". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  21. ^ "NRA Political Victory Fund". Archived from the original on October 10, 2012.
  22. ^ "Our Campaigns – NV – District 02 Race – Nov 06, 2012". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  23. ^ "2012 Nevada House Results". Politico. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022.
  24. ^ "Nevada Election Results". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  25. ^ "Nevada Election Results 2016". The New York Times. August 1, 2017. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  26. ^ "Nevada Election Results". The New York Times. November 6, 2018. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  27. ^ a b c "Silver State 2020 Election Results - U.S. Congress". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  28. ^ Assets, Digital (June 14, 2022). "CLF Statement on Mark Amodei's Victory in the NV-02 Primary Election". Congressional Leadership Fund. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  29. ^ "Mark Amodei sworn in to fill House seat". Las Vegas Sun. September 15, 2011. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  30. ^ "Nevada's Mark Amodei issues statement his no vote to the US House". www.rgj.com. 2013.
  31. ^ "2014 Congressional Score Card". Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Archived from the original on June 14, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  32. ^ "Amodei on Trump impeachment inquiry: 'Let's put it through the process and see what happens'". thenevadaindependent.com. September 27, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  33. ^ "Amodei denies he was first House Republican to back impeachment inquiry". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  34. ^ "Consolidated Appropriations". www.congress.gov.
  35. ^ "Roll Call 689 Roll Call 689, Bill Number: H. R. 1865, 116th Congress, 1st Session". December 17, 2019.
  36. ^ "H.R. 1158: DHS Cyber Hunt and Incident Response Teams Act … -- House Vote #690 -- Dec 17, 2019".
  37. ^ "2017-12-05-DACA_Letter_1" (PDF). news.wttw.com.
  38. ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  39. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ "Fairness for All Act (H.R. 1440)".
  41. ^ "CBO – H.R. 5205". Congressional Budget Office. August 21, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  42. ^ Kelly, Erin (September 15, 2014). "U.S. House passes Northern Nevada lands package". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  43. ^ "Members". Congressional Western Caucus. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  44. ^ "90 Current Climate Solutions Caucus Members". Citizen´s Climate Lobby. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  45. ^ "Members". U.S. – Japan Caucus. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  46. ^ A 501tax-exempt, The Center for Responsive Politics; NW, charitable organization 1300 L. St; Washington, Suite 200; info, DC 20005 telelphone857-0044. "Republican Governance Group PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates". OpenSecrets. Retrieved March 28, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  47. ^ "Problem Solvers Caucus Announces Membership and Executive Council for the 118th Congress". March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  48. ^ "Featured Members". Problem Solvers Caucus. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  49. ^ "Nevada Secretary of State". Sos.state.nv.us. June 17, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  50. ^ http://sos.state.nv.us/SOSelectionPages/results/2002General/ElectionSummary.aspx[permanent dead link‍]
  51. ^ "NVSOS.GOV — Elections Results: 2006 Statewide General�Election Coverage and Reports". Sos.state.nv.us. September 8, 2006. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  52. ^ "News from The Associated Press". hosted.ap.org. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  53. ^ "Nevada General Election 2012 – U.S. Congress". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  54. ^ "Nevada General Election 2014 – U.S. Congress". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  55. ^ "Nevada General Election 2016 – U.S. Congress". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  56. ^ "Nevada General Election 2018 – U.S. Congress". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
[edit]
Nevada Senate
Preceded by
Ernie Adler
 Member of the Nevada Senate
from the 17th district
1999–2010 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by
Chris Comfort
 Chair of the Nevada Republican Party
2010–2011 		Succeeded by
Amy Tarkanian
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Nevada's 2nd congressional district
2011–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
112th 		Succeeded by
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