53°F
weather icon Clear

Democrats, Republicans battle for upper hand in Southern Nevada’s congressional districts

As Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton race toward the presidential finish line, their parties are battling to determine whether two of Southern Nevada’s congressional districts turn from red to blue.

The outcome on Election Day will demonstrate the reach of the Democratic machine in Nevada and will test whether having Donald Trump as the GOP presidential nominee will help its two candidates in the 3rd and 4th Congressional Districts, dampen their support or neither.

The races’ competitiveness was underscored Saturday when House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican, and Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat, visited Southern Nevada.

Ryan, the 2012 vice presidential nominee who ran with Mitt Romney, rallied at a North Las Vegas community center with U.S. Rep. Cresent Hardy, R-Nev., who is running for re-election in the 4th Congressional District against state Sen. Ruben Kihuen, the Democratic candidate.

Ryan also visited the campaign headquarters of Republican Danny Tarkanian, who is running for the open 3rd Congressional District seat against Democratic candidate Jacky Rosen.

Ryan is working to keep the House in GOP hands with as wide a margin as possible, regardless of what voters think of the presidential candidate atop the ticket. He’s helping Republican candidates with an eye on tight races and talking to voters about his “Better Way” policy agenda, which addresses bread-and-butter issues such as poverty and health care.

“The common themes I see are very, very enthusiastic supporters,” Ryan said. “The grass roots are clearly coming alive.”

In speeches in Southern Nevada, Ryan praised Hardy and Tarkanian and appealed to GOP voters by calling to repeal the Affordable Care Act, reduce federal government red tape and strengthen national security.

“We need to get people to the polls,” he said. “We need to win this election.”

Ryan’s Southern Nevada visits are part of a crammed October and November itinerary featuring trips to more than 20 states and more than 70 campaign events for GOP House and Senate candidates.

Ryan has endorsed Trump, who visited Las Vegas on Sunday, but didn’t mention him at either Southern Nevada stop. Ryan did, however, take aim at the Clintons, declaring them plagued by “scandal after scandal after scandal” dating back to the 1990s.

Ryan’s visit followed Friday’s announcement that the FBI was reviewing new emails possibly relevant to Hillary Clinton’s use of a private server while secretary of state. The emails came to light in a letter from FBI Director James Comey.

Ryan told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “It’s too soon to say” how, or if, the news will affect down-ballot congressional races, because “no one knows what’s behind this.”

“For those of us who lived through the ’90s, it’s deja vu all over again,” he said.

By the numbers

Statewide early voting figures released Friday by the secretary of state’s office show registered Democratic voters out participating registered Republican voters, by 45.18 percent to 35.44 percent.

That’s about 28,395 more Democratic voters than Republican voters. Another 56,541 voters who have cast ballots are unaffiliated with a party or belong to third parties.

Democrats are pushing hard to encourage early voting. In recent local visits, former President Bill Clinton, President Barack Obama and celebrities such as singer Katy Perry joined the party’s get-out-the-vote pitch.

Biden campaigned Saturday in Las Vegas and Reno for Hillary Clinton and down-ballot candidates.

“We expect to see historic voter turnout across Nevada in this election,” said Stewart Boss, a spokesman for the Nevada State Democratic Party. “Our coordinated campaign, including an amazing staff of field organizers and an army of dedicated volunteers, is firing on all cylinders and mobilizing Nevadans to vote early for Democrats up and down the ticket. Right now Democrats are keeping pace with 2012 levels, but we still have a long way to go until November 8th.

“Just like it was in 2012, we expect next week to be tighter,” Boss added. “We know we’re going to see day-to-day fluctuations over the early vote period, so we can’t let our foot off the gas.”

Marlon Marshall, director of state campaigns and political engagement for Clinton’s campaign, said the mobilization aims to aid both Clinton and down-ballot races.

“We are making sure we’re helping Democrats up and down the ticket,” Marshall said Thursday in a call with reporters.

4th Congressional District

In the 4th Congressional District, Hardy unseated Democrat Steven Horsford in 2014. Horsford won in 2012 with Obama carrying the district.

Kihuen’s campaign notes the Kihuen doesn’t need a blue wave to beat Hardy and believes Hardy is a weak incumbent in a Democratic-leaning district.

But a senior adviser on Hardy’s campaign countered by pointing to polls showing the race is still tight and Republican voters’ increased use of absentee ballots and voting on Election Day.

Hardy’s campaign had knocked on 191,107 doors by Friday. Eighty volunteers were signed up to knock on doors Saturday, which will put the campaign above 200,000 door knocks.

“I think Democrats thought they had this race in the bag since Day One,” said Ross Hemminger, Hardy’s campaign manager. “This is going to be a race to the finish.”

Hardy spent Tuesday in Pahrump, visiting the about-to-open Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic, seniors and business leaders.

Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenBotkin1 on Twitter.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Looking for some family fun for Easter? Hop over to Simkins Park

Anyone looking for a fun, family-friendly festivity to enjoy this holiday can hop on over to Simkins Park to join the Mills family as they celebrate Easter Sunday with worship music, free food and an enormous 14,000-egg hunt that is sure to bring a smile to hundreds of faces.

Campground fees to increase at Death Valley National Park

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — Visitors to Death Valley National Park can expect a slight increase in entrance fees for various campgrounds beginning on May 1.

Clerk staffer Cori Freidhof appointed interim leader

Nye County Clerk Mark Kampf’s time in office officially comes to a close on March 31 and deputy clerk Cori Freidhof has now been selected to assume that vacated seat. Freidhof will take over the office as of Monday, April 1 and fulfill the unexpired term ending Jan. 1, 2027.

Gaming can have impact on us

When does gaming cross the line from recreational relaxation to problematic behavior? How do video games and gambling relate? What resources are available for those who find themselves struggling to control their relationship with video games and gambling?

County eyeing impact fee increases

The cost to develop in Pahrump could go up, with a public hearing on a proposal to raise local impact fees set for next month.

Here’s who filed as political candidates in Nye County

Locals have filed their political candidacy as of March 15 and this year two major offices in Nye County will be up for grabs in the general election. Nye County residents have to first narrow down their preferred party candidate on June 11 in the primary and then vote in November to support their preferred candidates.

Second Source donation for Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Nye County Sleep in Heavenly Peace is now better off thanks to a second donation from The Source dispensary’s Round Up program.

Beatty riled by sheriff’s substation closure

Lone staffer will be relocated to Pahrump to help with workload there; be onsite in Beatty just once a month.

Sales tax question headed to the ballot

Road conditions in the Pahrump Valley are a sore point for many drivers as well as a source of frustration for the crews dedicated to maintaining them but with only so many road dollars to go around, it can be hard to keep pace with the demand.