Although the district appears rural, its politics are dominated by Reno and Carson City.

As of 2017, over 460,000 people reside in Washoe County alone, totaling about two-thirds of the district's population.

With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+8, it is the only Republican-leaning congressional district in Nevada.

Until 2013, it was the third-largest congressional district by land area that did not cover an entire state.

[3] On April 27, Governor Brian Sandoval announced he would appoint Dean Heller, the 2nd district's third-term congressman, to fill out Ensign's term in the Senate.