1996Final results
1996 election for Nevada's 2nd District
U.S. House · Nevada
James Gibbons (R) won with 58.6% of the vote, defeating Thomas "spike" Wilson (D) by 23.3 points.
James GibbonsRepublican · winner
58.6%162,310
Thomas "spike" WilsonDemocrat
35.3%97,742
Daniel HansenIndependent
3.2%8,780
Lois AveryNatural Law
1.7%4,628
Louis R. TomburelloLibertarian
1.3%3,732
277,192 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1996
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Thomas "spike" WilsonJames Gibbons
$608.8K
Raised by the campaign
$754.4K
$606.2K
Spent by the campaign
$724K
$2.5K
Cash on hand
$30.3K
Other candidates' campaigns: Daniel Hansen $28.3K · Lois Avery $1.6K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
James Gibbons (R)Thomas "spike" Wilson (D)
Also on the ballot: Daniel Hansen (Independent), 3.2%; Lois Avery (Natural Law), 1.7%; Louis R. Tomburello (Libertarian), 1.3%