As she rattles the chain-link fences in Sun Valley to test for approaching dogs, Teresa Benitez-Thompson is focused on a much larger barrier: the political history of Northern Nevada. On a warm Tuesday in April, the candidate is knocking on doors, engaging in the granular, often exhausting work of a grassroots campaign. For Benitez-Thompson, the Teresa Benitez-Thompson Nevada Congress race is the latest chapter in a journey that began decades ago on a different kind of stage.
More than twenty years ago, a 24-year-old Benitez-Thompson stood on the Miss America stage in a shimmering halter neck dress and declared her ultimate career goal: to serve as a senator for the state of Nevada. That day, she placed fourth in the competition. Today, she is vying for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, attempting to break a long-standing partisan stronghold in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District.
The district, which encompasses Reno and various rural areas, has never been won by a Democrat. However, with the seat open for the first time in 15 years and a shifting national political landscape, nine Democrats are competing to make history. Benitez-Thompson enters the primary as a well-known figure, bolstered by a decade of service in the Nevada Legislature and a recent tenure as chief of staff to Attorney General Aaron Ford.
From Pageants to Policy
Benitez-Thompson’s path to politics was paved by necessity and a drive for education. Born in Ventura, California, she moved to Nevada at age four. She recalls a childhood in the Kings Row suburb of Reno, where she and her sisters navigated a family life shaped by her father’s struggles with substance abuse. “It became highly clear to my mom when we were very young that we were going to have to exit and leave the state to keep us safe,” she said.
To fund her undergraduate studies, Benitez-Thompson turned to the pageant circuit. She won Miss Sparks and eventually the title of Miss Nevada on her fifth attempt. “I funded my way through undergraduate school by losing pageants,” she explained, noting that the scholarships she earned allowed her to pay for her classes semester by semester.
Even during her time with Miss America, there were signals of the legislator she would become. While other contestants spoke of personal keepsakes, Benitez-Thompson identified her laptop as her most essential item. Her talent selection—a monologue based on the court testimony of Dennis Shepard regarding the 1998 murder of his son, Matthew Shepard—showed an early inclination toward serious, social justice-oriented themes.
Teresa Benitez-Thompson participating in Junior Achievement and winning Miss Nevada. (Benitez-Thompson campaign/Courtesy)
After earning a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, she spent years working on the front lines of social welfare, assisting with special needs adoptions and caring for terminally ill Nevadans across the western part of the state. She maintains that this experience remains central to her political identity. “Walking is important,” she said of her canvassing efforts. “You’ve got to see how people are living.”
A Record in the State Legislature
Benitez-Thompson’s transition to elected office in 2011 was met with both skepticism and scrutiny. Early in her career, she faced suggestions to change her name to avoid the perceived political disadvantage of being a Latina candidate. She ignored the advice and successfully won a seat in the Assembly.
During her tenure, she earned a reputation among colleagues for an intense work ethic and deep policy knowledge. Former Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson described her as “Bill-Raggioesque,” a high compliment regarding her ability to master complex policy details. She eventually rose to the position of Assembly Majority Leader, the second-highest ranking role in the chamber.
Her legislative focus has remained consistent with her social work roots, specifically regarding education and healthcare. She was a key figure in passing legislation that allowed voters to approve tax increases to fund school improvements outside of Clark County, including the 2016 ballot question, WC-1, which helped fund schools like Desert Skies Middle School in Sun Valley. She also led efforts to codify contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act, ensuring insurers covered 12 months of contraception without a copay.
Beyond policy, Benitez-Thompson was instrumental in reforming the internal culture of the Legislature, working on rules regarding sexual harassment and ensuring that elected officials are held financially accountable for misconduct settlements.
Assm. Teresa Benitez-Thompson (D-Reno) gives her daughter Sandy a tour of her desk during the opening session of the Nevada Legislature in Carson City on Feb. 2, 2015. (Lance Iverson/The Associated Press)
Navigating the CD2 Primary
The current race for Congress presents a different set of challenges. Benitez-Thompson faces a crowded Democratic primary, including wealthy investor Greg Kidd, who received 36 percent of the vote as an independent in 2024. While many of her opponents run on “anti-establishment” platforms, Benitez-Thompson leans on her established political record.
Her campaign platform seeks to balance progressive advocacy with the pragmatism required in Northern Nevada. She has expressed support for expanding healthcare access through a public option and has voiced concerns over federal overreach, particularly regarding the U.S. Forest Service and its impact on rural communities. Regarding international affairs, she has advocated for increased resources for civilian infrastructure in Gaza, noting the United Nations’ classification of the situation as a genocide.
On domestic economic issues, she has signaled support for labor rights, earning endorsements from groups like the Teamsters. She has also addressed local concerns, such as the moratorium on data centers in Reno, arguing that the era of “sweetheart deals” on tax abatements must come to an end.
Congressional candidate Teresa Benitez-Thompson (D) in a car with a pastry in hand and speaking to a resident in Sun Valley on April 28, 2026. (Nick Stewart/The Nevada Independent)
As the primary approaches, Benitez-Thompson remains focused on the possibility of a Democratic victory in a district long held by the opposition. “There’s a path with an open seat to flip this district blue,” she said. “It might be 30 votes or 300 votes, but there’s a way for a Democrat to get there.”
The next major milestone for the candidates will be the upcoming primary election, which will determine who carries the Democratic mantle into the general election for Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District.
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