LAS VEGAS — U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, Nevada’s lone Republican in Congress, announced Friday that he’s retiring at the end of his term in a development that appeared to catch state politicos by surprise.

“I came to Congress to solve problems and to make sure our State and Nation have strong voice in the federal policy and oversight processes,” the 67-year-old Amodei wrote in a statement. “I look forward to finishing my term. “

He added: “After 15 years of service, I believe it is the right time for Nevada and myself to pass the torch.”

Amodei didn’t expand on his decision and could not be reached for additional comment Friday.

A short candidate filing period for the 2026 elections opens up in early March, giving any prospective Republicans, who may have held off jumping in because of the incumbent, under a month to mount a campaign.

Amodei had thanked President Donald Trump in November after Trump issued a “Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election” for the congressman.

The White House did not immediately comment on Amodei’s retirement.

The Hill noted Friday that he became the 30th House Republican not seeking reelection.

Amodei’s short, two-paragraph statement went live Friday morning, about the time Gov. Joe Lombardo was hosting a bill signing ceremony in Las Vegas.

While he didn’t take questions, the Republican governor said he didn’t know about Amodei’s retirement until that moment.

Later in the day, Lombardo released a statement praising the congressman, calling him an unwavering advocate for northern Nevada.

“Throughout his tenure in the Nevada State Legislature and Washington, he worked tirelessly to represent Nevadans’ interests and advocate for our state,” Lombardo said. “I want to thank Congressman Amodei for his years of service to Nevada and for his faithful partnership with my office. On behalf of all Nevadans, I wish him and his family the very best in his well-earned retirement.”

Nevada Democrats Reps. Dina Titus and Susie Lee, and U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen had echoed the sentiment in social media posts.

Michael McDonald, the longtime chair of the Nevada Republican Party and adviser to President Trump, said that he, too, was caught by surprise.

“He’s provided great leadership for us and represented (Congressional District 2) extraordinarily,” McDonald told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

He said he’d been fielding phone calls all morning, including from the White House, of officials who did not know about Amodei’s decision beforehand.

McDonald theorized that it was just something the congressman wanted to do, and he did so at his own time.

“Mark does things his way, and that’s how he did it,” he said about Amodei, whom he described as a longtime friend.

McDonald said his replacement would have big shoes to fill.

“Republicans are confident this deep-red seat will remain Republican, just as it always has been,” said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Christian Ramirez, in a statement. “Nevadans value common sense, accountability, and strong conservative leadership and that’s exactly what Republicans will continue to deliver.”

Amodei won his 2024 race by 19 percentage points.

The runner up in the four-way race was Greg Kidd, who ran as an independent that year and intends to again run for the seat this year as a Democrat.

“I want to thank Mark Amodei for his 15 years of service to the people of Northern Nevada,” he said in a statement. “He served his Nevada home with a commitment to the principles he held close.”

Added Kidd: “I intend to earn the votes of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans with an agenda that always puts Nevada first.”

Amodei has represented Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District in Congress since 2011. He is a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, the House Appropriations Committee and is chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee.

Before his time in the House, Amodei served in the Nevada Assembly from 1996 to 1998 and in the Nevada State Senate, representing the Capital District, from 1998 to 2010, according to a biography on his congressional website.

He served as Chairman of the Nevada Republican Party until May 2011.

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(Review-Journal digital content producer Tony Garcia contributed to this story.)

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