Nevada 2026 House Races: Incumbents Lead in Fundraising, Challengers Self-Fund

Nevada’s congressional races are increasingly defined by a financial dynamic: incumbent lawmakers facing well-funded challengers who are largely self-financing their campaigns. New campaign finance filings covering the final quarter of 2025 reveal a trend of escalating spending, particularly in the state’s battleground districts, as candidates prepare for the 2026 midterm elections.

According to data reviewed by UNLV political science professor David Damore, the incumbents are responding to strong challengers, district demographics, and the memory of past close contests by bolstering their own fundraising efforts. While Democrats generally maintain a fundraising advantage, several Republican challengers are proving capable of mounting significant financial challenges.

NV-01: Titus Faces Strong Challenge from Buck

In Nevada’s 1st Congressional District, Republican state Senator Carrie Buck has emerged as a formidable opponent to incumbent Democrat Dina Titus. Buck significantly outraised Titus in the last quarter of 2025, exceeding her by slightly more than $50,000. This marks the only instance in the state where a challenger surpassed the incumbent in fundraising without relying heavily on self-funding. Buck’s campaign has been fueled by 7,852 donors, contributing an average of $59 each, and was built over just five months.

Titus, however, is not without resources. She benefits from support from major Democratic donors, including Fred Eychaner and Philip Munger, and potential presidential candidate Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. Despite being outpaced by Buck in the most recent quarter, Titus began 2026 with a substantial war chest of $841,000 – the largest amount she’s held at this point in any election cycle.

NV-02: Amodei’s Financial Strength in a Safe Seat

Republican Representative Mark Amodei, representing Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, boasts the largest campaign fund he has ever accumulated, totaling $555,000. His donors include executives from Lithium Americas, a company developing a key mine within his district – Tim Crowley and Jonathan Evans. Like Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Amodei opposed the government shutdown in the fall and received contributions from the U.S. Travel Association.

Amodei’s district is considered the safest in the state, and while he has attracted challengers, they have largely struggled to raise significant funds. Damore notes that Amodei’s position on the Appropriations Committee and his majority party status position him well to leverage fundraising opportunities. He suggests it will be interesting to see if Amodei increases his financial support for more vulnerable incumbents if directed by GOP House leadership.

The most significant threat to Amodei comes from venture capitalist Greg Kidd, who re-entered the race during the final quarter of 2025. Kidd previously challenged Amodei as an independent, forcing the incumbent to invest in advertising for the first time in years. Kidd’s current campaign is almost entirely self-funded, with a $375,000 loan to his campaign.

NV-03: Lee Defends Competitive District with Substantial Funds

The most competitive district in Nevada, the 3rd, is represented by Democrat Susie Lee. Lee has amassed a significant financial advantage, starting 2026 with $2.35 million – the most she’s ever had at this stage in an election cycle. She raised over $800,000 in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Damore attributes Lee’s strong fundraising to her proactive approach and anticipation of a challenging race, potentially against a self-funding opponent. Her donors include real estate investor Douglas Durst, Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley, former Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, filmmaker Tim Disney, Fox News executive Jason Klarman, and OpenAI lobbyist Anna Makanju, as well as Eychaner, Munger, and Pritzker.

The Republican field challenging Lee is fragmented but well-funded. Former Republican Senate candidate Jeff Gunter has loaned his campaign $750,000, while video game composer Marty O’Donnell has previously loaned his campaign $3 million and received a $1,000 donation from Stronger Nevada PAC, a group affiliated with Governor Joe Lombardo.

NV-04: Horsford’s Silicon Valley Fundraising

Democrat Steven Horsford, representing Nevada’s 4th Congressional District, has raised a relatively strong amount, though less cash on hand than Lee. Damore suggests his past leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus has expanded his donor network. Horsford spent significantly on lodging and travel, including a stay in a San Francisco hotel, and has been actively fundraising in Silicon Valley.

His recent donors include venture capitalist Ron Conway, Synopsys Inc. Executive Aart J. De Geus, Meta’s Donald Fowler, and philanthropist Kathy Kwan. He also received a $2,000 contribution from the campaign committee for Senator Mark Kelly. Eychaner, Munger, and Disney also contributed to his campaign.

The Republican challenge to Horsford is limited to two candidates: small-business owners David Flippo and Cody Whipple. Flippo outraised Whipple in the last quarter, but half of his funding came from a personal loan. Whipple’s donors include Michael J. Gaughan III, owner of South Point.

As Nevada’s congressional races take shape, the financial landscape suggests a competitive election cycle, with incumbents leveraging their established fundraising networks while facing challengers willing to invest heavily in their campaigns. The outcome of these races will likely hinge on the ability of candidates to effectively deploy their resources and connect with voters in key districts.