Assembly District 36 challenger Tina Trenner captured the Nye County battle, but lost the overall war to unseat incumbent James Oscarson. Trenner received 1,586 votes to Oscarson’s 1,348 in Nye County.
However, when the votes were tallied in northern Clark and Lincoln counties, Oscarson edged out a slight victory in the Republican primary against the challenger, 1,988 to 1,855 with 99 percent of precincts reporting.
The two-term assemblyman will now face brothel owner and reality television personality Dennis Hof in the November general election. Hof, who is running as a Libertarian, entered the race on a similar platform to Trenner’s: critical of Oscarson’s support of Gov. Brian Sandoval’s $1.5 billion of extended and new taxes during the last Legislative session.
Oscarson defended his vote, saying that is was “necessary” to move the education system forward in Nevada.”
Oscarson spent $129,506 on the primary, while Trenner reported spending only $8,797 on her campaign. However, Trenner was endorsed by the Nye County Republican Central Committee.