Heller moves to undercard in state primary
LAS VEGAS — Dean Heller, the most vulnerable Republican senator seeking re-election this year, has an easy primary battle on Tuesday thanks to President Trump, leaving a contentious Democratic battle for governor as Nevada’s most closely watched primary race.
Heller, the only GOP senator seeking re-election in a state won by Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, faces four lesserknown candidates in the primary after the president persuaded Republican Danny Tarkanian to drop out. Tarkanian is seeking a U.S. House seat, instead.
Heller is likely to face Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen, who is expected to sail through a six-way primary for her party’s nomination Tuesday.
The toughest choice for Democrats will be a close battle between Clark County Commission colleagues Steve Sisolak and Christina Giunchigliani — each hoping to be Nevada’s first Democratic governor in two decades.
Both candidates have pledged to stand up to Trump and the National Rifle Association.
Sisolak is chair of the powerful governing body for Clark County, which includes the Las Vegas Strip and about two-thirds of the state’s residents. The 64-year-old became a prominent figure in the wake of the October mass shooting outside a hotel-casino on the Strip and he’s been outraising his opponents in the primary.
But Giunchigliani paints Sisolak as being too moderate and has knocked him for receiving an “A-” minus rating from the NRA in 2012.
Giunchigliani, who goes by “Chris G,” is a 63-year-old former state legislator and teacher. She’s earned backing from women’s group Emily’s List and on Sunday picked up an endorsement from Hillary Clinton. The 2016 Democratic candidate for president recorded a robocall for Giunchigliani and referred to her as “an extraordinary progressive leader.”
Sisolak, who has held more moderate positions in the past, says he’s best-positioned to take on Republican state Attorney General Adam Laxalt in November. Laxalt is expected to win the GOP primary for the governor’s race.
Laxalt, hoping to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval, is a former lieutenant in the U.S. Navy who has served as the state’s chief prosecutor since 2015. He’s the grandson of former U.S. Sen. and Nevada Gov. Paul Laxalt and son of former U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico. Laxalt supported Trump in 2016.