Nevada-2 Special Election is Underway; Oregon-1 Field Takes Shape

With early voting underway in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District special election, Republicans outpace Democrats to the polls, a good sign for AGC PAC-backed candidate Mark Amodei (R). In Reno’s Washoe County, the most populous county in the district, Republicans account for 52 percent of the voters who have cast ballots early, compared with just 37 percent who have been Democrats. In Carson City, the state’s capital, the disparity is even greater: Republicans are out-voting Democrats 58 percent to 30 percent. In both places, the rate of Republican voting is out-performing party registration rates. A former state legislator and state party chair, Amodei met with members of the Nevada Chapter-AGC last month. To show the construction industry's support of his candidacy, Chapter President Dave Backman presented Amodei with an AGC PAC check. Throughout his state house tenure, Amodei remained a friend of AGC members in Nevada. His prime opposition is Democrat Kate Marshall, the state treasurer. She has chastised Republicans for wanting to end Medicare, while touting her credentials in maintaining fiscal discipline in her office. Governor Brian Sandoval (R) called for the special election following two-term Senator John Ensign's (R) resignation after a sex scandal and the district's three-term Representative Dean Heller (R) appointment to fill the remainder of his term.  The second district has been considered the most Republican of Nevada's three seats, but President Obama won the territory in 2008 by a margin of 89 votes out of more than 335,000 cast.  Heller won in 2010 with 52 percent.  Meanwhile, in Oregon's 1st Congressional District, the ballot is set for the Nov. 8 primary. There are eight Democrats and five Republicans who qualified for the ballot after the August filing deadline. The leading Democrats are state senator Suzanne Bonamici and state labor commissioner Brad Avakian. The presumed Republican frontrunner is 2010 nominee Rob Cornilles, who received 43 percent in his contest against Representative David Wu (D) in November 2010. The seat became available after Wu resigned Aug. 3, following months of accusations of erratic and improper behavior.  The special election will be conducted under the boundaries of the current seat, even though the state has drawn new congressional district lines. AGC PAC will continue to monitor the field for potential support. For more information, please contact Jimmy Christianson at 202-547-5013 or christiansonj@agc.org.