In Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, Democratic hopeful Teresa Benitez‑Thompson has released a television ad titled “Home Means Nevada.” The ad highlights her legislative record and contrasts it with Republican nominee David Flippo’s positions. Below is a reality‑check of the six main claims made in the spot.
Claim 1 – Minimum‑wage record
Benitez‑Thompson states, “As a legislator, I raised the minimum wage.” In the 2019 Nevada Legislative Session, Assembly Bill 456 was enacted, raising the minimum wage by $0.75 each year until it reached $11 or $12, depending on whether an employer provides health benefits. The former assemblymember voted “yes” on the bill, though she did not sponsor it. The measure also received support from 27 other assembly members and 13 state senators.
Claim 2 – Anti‑corruption actions
She continues, “I took on corruption.” Benitez‑Thompson co‑sponsored AB 397 in 2019, which empowered the Nevada Equal Rights Commission to recommend removal of local elected officials for discrimination. She also sponsored AB 385, tightening limits on fringe benefits, bonuses and payments to public officers and employees. While she did not sponsor Senate Bill 557, she voted in favor of it; the bill barred candidates from using unspent campaign funds for personal use. Additionally, she backed legislation tightening gifts and financial disclosures for lobbyists.
Claim 3 – Standing up to AI‑related data‑center tax breaks
Benitez‑Thompson says, “I stood up to A.I. companies that put our jobs at risk.” In 2015 she voted for SB 170, which created a tax‑abatement program for data centers. Four years later she was the sole sponsor of AB 400, which raised the threshold for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to award partial local school‑tax abatements to data centers to a two‑thirds majority vote. The change was intended to prevent businesses from receiving duplicate tax breaks. An analysis cited by the Reno Gazette‑Journal found that data‑center projects using the original program often fell short of promised job creation, with companies such as Tesla, Apple and Switch involved in AI‑related work.
Claim 4 – Future data‑center policy
The ad asserts, “In Congress I’ll keep data centers from driving up utility bills and draining our water.” This is a forward‑looking statement and cannot be fact‑checked at present. However, NV Energy reports that data centers currently cover their own power costs, even as overall grid demand has nearly tripled since last year. The utility says it is working to ensure data centers pay a fair share of future infrastructure costs.
Claim 5 – Flippo’s stance on data‑center tax breaks
Benitez‑Thompson claims, “David Flippo won’t fight to stop dirty data centers.” The Nevada Independent surveyed all congressional candidates on the issue. Flippo responded that data‑center decisions should remain at the local level and that the federal government should intervene only when national security is at stake. He also expressed opposition to the tax‑abatement program, contradicting the ad’s implication that he supports it.
Claim 6 – Flippo on AI and labor
She adds, “He even said we would replace his own workers with AI just to save a buck.” On the 775 Alive podcast, Flippo discussed labor shortages, noting difficulty hiring high‑school workers at $17 per hour. He said he might need to raise prices or consider automation, including AI, to stay competitive. While he did not explicitly promise to replace workers with AI, his remarks about automation as a cost‑saving measure are accurate.
Overall assessment
Five of the six statements in the ad are factually correct, with the sixth (the minimum‑wage claim) accurately reflecting Benitez‑Thompson’s vote record. The two statements about Flippo contain nuances that the ad simplifies, making them misleading rather than outright false. Voters in Nevada’s 2nd District can rely on the ad’s core messages about Benitez‑Thompson’s legislative experience, while remaining aware of the broader context surrounding her opponent’s comments on AI and data‑center policy.
Original reporting: 2news.com — read the source article.
