Government affairs

After the Primary Election, a Look at the Fall Campaign

After months of campaigning, the field of candidates was narrowed in the June 8 primary election.  From the contest that decided who will face U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to who will represent us in Carson City, Nevadans chose the party nominees that will battle it out in the months ahead leading to the November 2 general election.

First, let’s take a look at the federal races.  Likely, one of the most watched races in the country will be Senator Reid’s re-election bid against former state assemblywoman Sharron Angle.  Angle won a high-profile primary against several well-funded candidates and will now face an even higher funded candidate in the general election.  In her primary election victory, Angle greatly benefited from national conservative political organizations.  Nevadans can expect a great deal of outside influences in this race, which will easily break all records for the most expensive political race in Nevada history.  This race is currently viewed a toss-up by most national and local political pundits. 

The other federal race that is considered one to watch both locally and nationally will be the contest between Congresswoman Dina Titus (D) and her challenger, former state senator Joe Heck (R). With the battle for control of Congress at stake, both national parties will be targeting races that are considered competitive. The Titus seat is considered one of the most competitive in the country and will certainly attract money and attention from outside of the state. Nevada’s other two members of Congress, Shelley Berkley (D) and Dean Heller (R), are both considered strong favorites for re-election.

With Governor Jim Gibbons (R) losing the primary election to former federal judge Brian Sandoval (R), Nevada will have a new Governor next January.  So, either Sandoval or Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid (D) will be the next to occupy the Governor’s Mansion. Recent polls show Sandoval with a commanding lead, but Reid currently has a large fundraising advantage.  Nevada’s five other Constitutional officers will face re-election. Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki (R) will face Reno City Councilwoman Jessica Sferrazza (D).  Two of our constitutional officers are heavily favored: Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto (D) over Travis Barrick (R) and Secretary of State Ross Miller (D) over Robert Lauer (R).  State Treasurer Kate Marshall (D) could face a spirited contest over former State Controller Steve Martin (R), and State Controller Kim Wallin (D) is being challenged by accountant Barry Herr (R).

State legislative races round up the focus of the fall campaign.  In the Nevada Legislature, 11 senate seats and 42 state assembly seats are before the voters.  Of those 53 races, more than 40 are considered not to be competitive, so the balance of those will get organizational and financial attention as well as the media focus.  There does not appear any chance for control of either house of Legislature to change partisan hands, so the Democrats will be fighting to maintain or achieve the two-thirds supermajority, while the Republicans will work to prevent that from happening.  Democrats currently hold a two-thirds majority in the Assembly (28-14), the margin needed to pass tax increases and override vetoes. In the Senate, Democrats have 12-9 majority, which is two seats shy of the supermajority threshold. 

In several state senate races, the primary decided the likely successor to several term-limited senators. Because of overwhelming registration advantages and underfunded oppositions, Ben Kieckhefer (R) will likely succeed State Senator Randolph Townsend (R), and Assemblyman Mark Manendo (D) will most assuredly replace State Senator Terry Care (D).   Assemblyman Mo Denis (D) has no opposition and will be elected to replace State Senator Maggie Carlton (D). Assemblyman Ruben Kihuen (D) is prohibitive favorite to succeed State Senator Bob Coffin (D), as is Assemblyman James Settlemeyer (R) to replace State Senator Mark Amodei (R). In all of these races, the party controlling the seat does not change hands.

As for the senate races to watch in fall, there are a half-dozen that could determine the final make-up of the upper house.  Four of these seats are in Clark County, with two of them involving incumbents.  State Senator Barbara Cegavske (R) is being challenged by Tammy Peterson (D), and State Senator Joyce Woodhouse (D) is facing Michael Roberson (R).  State Senator Warren Hardy’s seat is open due to his resignation, and Assemblyman Joe Hardy (R) will face Aaron Ford (D) to fill the seat.  State Senator Dennis Nolan (R) lost to Elizabeth Halseth (R) in the primary.  Halseth will now face Benny Yerushalmi (D) in the general. Two of the senate races considered somewhat competitive in Northern Nevada are open seats being vacated by term-limited senators.  In the race to replace Senator Bernice Martin Matthews (D), Assemblywoman Shelia Leslie (D) is being challenged Sparks City Councilman Phil Salerno (R).  State Assemblyman Don Gustavson (R) is running against Allison Edwards (D) to replace State Senator Maurice Washington (R). 

Like the state senate, there are a half-dozen races that are currently considered to have the potential of changing hands and all but one of those is in Southern Nevada. Three of these races are in the Henderson area: Assemblywoman April Mastroluca (D) facing Dan Hill (R); Assemblywoman Melissa Woodbury (R) challenged by Monica Bean (D) and Assemblywoman Ellen Spiegel (D) against Mark Sherwood (R). Assemblyman Lynn Stewart (R) will be running against Kevinn Donovan (D) in an evenly-registered district. The only open seat in Clark County that appears to be competitive will pit Scott Hammond (R) against Louis Desalvio (D) to replace Assemblyman Chad Christenson (R), who was unsuccessful in his U.S. Senate bid.  Finally, the contest to replace to Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell (D) of Carson City will be between Pete Livermore (R) and Robin Williamson (D).

By Michael Dayton
McDonald Carano Wilson