Greg Kidd v. Congressman Mark Amodei on partisanship

Republican Congressman Mark Amodei is a longtime Nevada statesman currently running for his seventh term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Amodei's opponent is a wealthy entrepreneur who amassed his fortune through finance, angel investing, banking, and cryptocurrency. He is running as an Independent against the incumbent, which, like Greg Kidd's career, is innovative for Nevada politics.

The Cook Political Report classifies Northern Nevada's congressional district, CD2, as R+7, indicating that it leans heavily right.

Congressman Amodei is statistically in a safe position not to lose, but Kidd has injected millions of dollars into the race. Kidd's digital and TV ads are everywhere and effective by all objective measures.

2 News Nevada Voters Guide

WATCH: Nevada Newsmakers: Congressman Mark Amodei vs. Greg Kidd (10/16/2024)

Instead of featuring a TV commercial for our Reality Check segment, we first examined one of Congressman Mark Amodei's radio ads. He calls it "Minute with Mark," and it airs on news talk radio in our region.

We focused on this radio ad because it contains more substance than his TV ads. In the ad, Amodei argues that independent Greg Kidd is a Democrat.

"Nonpartisan, really? A candidate that contributes to the California Democratic party" said Amodei in the radio ad.

Mostly True:

Greg Kidd's Federal Elections Commission (FEC) filing shows Kidd did contribute $1,000 to the California Democratic party.

However, Kidd has donated to Republicans and Democrats, including Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sam Brown.

"He says gridlock is only the MAGA Republican's fault. The border is my fault," said Amodei in the radio ad.

In this case, what Amodei says that Kidd is asserting about him is Partially True:

Kidd has made it a cornerstone of his campaign to point out that Amodei and other Republicans have voted against the CHIPS Act and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), supported by Nevada Republican Governor Joe Lombardo and former Republican Governor Brian Sandoval.

Congressman Amodei also played a role in killing the May 2024 bipartisan border bill, which was written by Oklahoma Republican Senator James Lankford and pushed by Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. It wasn't heard, ostensibly because Donald Trump convinced a large contingent of Republicans, including Amodei, to obstruct it from ever coming up for a vote.

"He has spent over a million dollars on California Bay area consultants to generate nonpartisan ads," claimed Amodei in the radio ad.

True:

The FEC filing shows Kidd spent over a million trackable dollars on Bay Area consulting firm Uplift.

However, Greg Kidd hired a Nevada consultant this election cycle who previously worked on Congressman Amodei's last re-election campaign.

"He has a picture standing next to Kamala's VP candidate. I'm still looking for his JD Vance picture," said Amodei in the radio ad.

True:

Kidd's Campaign confirmed that he did have a picture taken with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz last month.

This pic was taken at a Harris-Walz fundraiser in Las Vegas in September, but it was taken down, and this picture surfaced on X account Jungle Inc Crypto News

"There's no shame in being a Democrat; I was one until 1988. But it is curious trying to fool with this nonpartisan thing," said Amodei in the radio ad.

FALSE:

Kidd has never been a registered Democrat. Ironically, Congressman Mark Amodei is the only former registered Democrat running in this race.

However, Kidd is recommended by the Nevada Democrats, endorsed by incumbent Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen, and works with prominent California Democrat firms: Uplift, Left Hook, and Pat Reilly.

GREG KIDD ATTACK AD ON MARK AMODEI ON PARTISANSHIP 

(Narrator) "Fighting, finger-pointing; career politicians say it's impossible. Listen to Congressman Amodei respond to Greg Kidd's pledge, "but that ain't the way it works," said Amodei in a Nevada Newsmakers interview.

Partially True:

Kidd pledges to overcome partisan gridlock in Washington D.C.

Kidd has harped on MAGA Republicans' votes against the CHIPS and Inflation Reduction Act.

Also, the May 2024 bipartisan border bill, written by Oklahoma Republican Senator James Langford, but ostensibly scuffed by Donald Trump, according to widespread reporting. Amodei voted to obstruct the bipartisan bill from ever being heard.

Furthermore, Amodei is the chair of the Subcommittee for Homeland Security, which funds border patrol. Kidd argues that in this powerful position, Amodei could have done more for the border.

"But, that's what's wrong with Washington. I'm different; I'm not from either political party," said Greg Kidd in his TV ad.

True:

Greg Kidd is not registered with a party, so voters will have to vote for an NPP candidate, which stands for No Political Party. This experience will be new for many voters in Nevada, even though the majority of voters in Nevada are affiliated.

"I'll take the best ideas from both sides. To grow Nevada jobs and protect our freedoms," said Kidd in his TV ad.

Assertion:

This is where Greg Kidd asserts he stands as a candidate.

(Paid actor) "Get a lot more done that way." (Second paid actor) "I like that idea." I'm Greg Kidd, and I approve of this message."

Assertion:

If Greg Kidd manages to unseat six-term congressman Mark Amodei, he will be very low in the pecking order of the 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

However, Kidd has experience crafting and seeing through policy in Washington, D.C. During the George W. Bush administration after the 9/11 attacks, Kidd worked in the Federal Reserve and helped pass critical legislation to speed up and secure our banking system from terrorists.

The crux of the two candidates' arguments is that Amodei is sufficiently powerful, so why swap him out with someone on the back bench?

Kidd argues that because Congressman Amodei is in such a powerful position, why hasn't he done more?

According to the Center for Effective Lawmaking, Amodei ranks in the bottom 1/3 of Republican members of Congress.