Mark Amodei


Mark Eugene Amodei is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Nevada's 2nd congressional district since 2011. Currently the only Republican in Nevada's congressional delegation, he previously served in the Nevada Assembly from 1997 to 1999 and in the Nevada Senate, representing the Capital District, from 1999 to 2011.
Amodei served as Chair of the Nevada Republican Party from 2010 until 2011, when he stepped down in order to pursue the nomination for a special election for Congress; he was the Republican candidate for the election held on September 13, 2011, to replace Dean Heller, who had been appointed to the United States Senate. He became the dean of Nevada's congressional delegation once Heller left the Senate in 2019, although Dina Titus served one term in the House before he was first elected.

Early life, education and military service

Amodei was born in Carson City, Nevada, the son of Joy LaRhe and Donald Mark Amodei. His father was of half Italian and half Irish descent, and one of his maternal great-grandfathers was Italian. Amodei graduated from Carson High School in 1976, where he was student class president. He graduated from the University of Nevada in 1980, and received his law degree from the University of the Pacific's McGeorge Law School in 1983.
When Amodei entered the U.S. Army, he had not yet passed the bar exam. So, he was assigned to an artillery unit. Upon 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. Upon receiving an honorable discharge, he returned home to become an attorney with the law firms Allison MacKenzie in Carson City and Kummer Kaempfer Bonner Renshaw and Ferrario in Reno, Nevada. He served as a lawyer with Allison, MacKenzie, et al. from 1987 to 2004 and with Kummer, et al. from 2004 to 2007.
As a lawyer, Congressman Amodei has been a sole practitioner from 2009 to the present. Prior to that, he served as the President of the Nevada Mining Association from 2007 to 2008.

Nevada Legislature

Elections

In 1996, he was elected to the Nevada Assembly, representing Carson City, the state capital. In 1998, he ran for the Nevada Senate in the Capital District. He defeated incumbent Democratic State Senator Ernie Adler 52%–48%. In 2002, he won reelection to a second term with 84% of the vote. In 2006, he won reelection to a third term with 78% of the vote.

Tenure

He was named the Outstanding Freshman Legislator in 1997.
He was selected to serve as the President pro tempore of the Nevada Senate.
;2003 tax increase
Amodei was the co-author, with Democratic Senator Terry Care, of a plan in 2003 to increase taxes in Nevada by $1 billion. The plan was offered as an alternative to governor Kenny Guinn's tax plan, which called for over $1 billion in revenue increases. The final plan raised taxes by $873 million.
;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.
;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.
;Medical liability reform
In 2003, Amodei voted against a tort reform bill that would have changed Nevada's medical liability law. He was the only Republican Senator to vote against the bill.

Committee assignments

He has served on the Legislative Commission, Vice Chair of the Governor's Task Force on Access to Public Health Care, Education Commission of the States, Public Lands committee, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Legislative Oversight committee, Chairman of the Education Technology committee, and was a member of the Nevada Supreme Court's committee on Court Funding.

2010 U.S. Senate election

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

Elections

2011

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, following Ensign's resignation 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, as well as U.S. Navy veteran Kirk Lippold, who received 46 votes.
Amodei defeated Democratic nominee Kate Marshall 58%–36%. He won every county in the district, including Washoe County and Mineral County both with 52% of the vote.

2012

Amodei, who had represented Nevada's 2nd congressional district since being elected in a special election in September 2011, ran for reelection against Democrat Samuel Koepnick, an information technology employee for the State of Nevada. Amodei had been endorsed by the National Rifle Association.
Amodei defeated Koepnick 58%–36%. He won every county in the district, including Washoe County with 52% of the vote.

2014

Amodei ran for reelection to his second full term in 2014. Amodei ran against Democrat Kristen Spees. Amodei cruised to reelection in a landslide margin of 38 points, 65.8% to 27.9%.

2016

Amodei ran for reelection to a third full term in 2016. Amodei ran against Democrat Chip Evans. Amodei easily won reelection by 21 points, 58.3% to 36.9%.

2018

Amodei ran for reelection to a fourth full term in 2018 against Democrat Clint Koble. He easily won reelection by 16.4 points, 58.2% to 41.8%.

Tenure

Mark Amodei was sworn in on September 15, 2011.
Amodei voted against the bill to end the United States federal government shutdown of 2013. Regarding the vote, Amodei stated: "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."
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.
Amodei announced his support for a House impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump on September 27, 2019. National news media began to refer to Amodei as the first Republican member of the House of Representatives to support impeachment. A spokesman then further clarified his position by stating Amodei supports an inquiry but not impeachment.

Legislation

On July 25, 2014, Amodei introduced the Northern Nevada Land Conservation and Economic Development Act, a bill that would require the Bureau of Land Management to convey certain federal lands in Nevada to other government entities. The bill is a package of numerous other bills related to land conveyance in Nevada, which make up the bulk of Amodei's legislation.
In total, Amodei has sponsored 45 bills, including:

112th Congress (2011–2012)

114th Congress:
;House Committee on Appropriations
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
;House Natural Resources Committee
;House Committee on Veterans Affairs

Personal life

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.