Voter registration figures surge in March with the Democrats in the lead

Democrats led the state’s voter registration efforts in March, according to figures released by the Nevada Secretary of State.

Some 16,320 voters registered as Democrats last month. That’s nearly four times the 4,339 Republicans who registered during that month.

For Republicans, it was a 1.01 percent increase in their overall voter registration rolls. The GOP now has 441,919 Republicans registered.

It was a 3.36 percent increase to the voter registration rolls of Democrats, who now have 501,513 voters registered.

Overall, 22,130 people registered to vote in March in Nevada. That includes nonpartisan and third-party voters and represents a 1.8 percent increase overall for the state.

There are now 1.25 million active registered voters in Nevada, the Secretary of State’s office said.

REID: DON’T COUNT ME OUT YET

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., isn’t done fighting.

As he approaches retirement next year, Reid sent out a fundraising pitch Thursday for his Searchlight Leadership Fund, his leadership political action committee. As befitting the former boxer, Reid’s pitch showed plenty of spirit and boxing metaphors.

“You may not know this about me, but back in the day, I boxed and fought in over 20 fights,” the Senate minority leader said in his emailed letter. “Boxing taught me to not let anything — even black eyes and soreness — stop you. You have to be prepared to take on any fight, and keep fighting.”

He added: “I may be retiring from the Senate next year, but don’t be fooled. I am still taking on the tough fights.”

The other side’s punches include Donald Trump on the campaign trail and Senate Republicans refusing to have nomination hearings to fill a Supreme Court justice vacancy, Reid wrote.

The PAC has donated money to a variety of Democratic candidates this election cycle, including $10,000 for Catherine Cortez Masto, the former Nevada attorney general running for Reid’s Senate seat, and $5,000 for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Reid’s PAC has donated $32,500 to Democratic congressional candidates nationwide this election cycle, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. Donations to Nevada Democratic candidates are: $10,000 for state Sen. Ruben Kihuen, who is running for the 4th Congressional District seat; $10,000 for Jacky Rosen, who is running for 3rd Congressional District seat; and $5,000 for U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., who is running for re-election to the 1st Congressional District.

Reid’s PAC has given $147,500 to Democratic Senate candidates nationwide this election cycle.

“With your support, this will certainly be a win for Democrats and our country,” Reid wrote.

LEE SCORES ENDORSEMENT

Susie Lee, a Democratic candidate for the 4th Congressional District seat, got endorsements from the Clark County Black Caucus and state Assemblyman Harvey Munford.

It’s a boost to the campaign of Lee, who got the endorsement in large part for her nonprofit work focused on helping underprivileged students.

“The opportunity to work with Susie day after day, over the past several years around such pressing issues as equity in education, wraparound services for our neediest students, literacy programs for those struggling to catch up in our inner city schools and in particular Prime 6, has set her apart from her opponents,” Clark County Black Caucus Chair Yvette Williams said in a statement.

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