 Amodei served as Chair of the Nevada Republican Party from 2010 until 2011, when he stepped down in order to pursue the nomination for a special election for Congress; he was the Republican candidate for the election held on September 13, 2011, to replace Dean Heller, who had been appointed to the United States Senate.He became the dean of Nevada's congressional delegation once Heller left the Senate in 2019, although Dina Titus served one term in the House before he was first elected.Amodei was born in Carson City, Nevada, the son of Joy LaRhe (née Longero) and Donald Mark Amodei.