Democrats topple Republicans in Carson City

By Brian Eckhouse

Published Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 | 10:29 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 | 12:05 a.m.

State Democrats fulfilled both of their goals: securing a veto-proof majority in the Assembly and gaining control of the state Senate.

The Democrats needed one additional spot in the 42-seat to get the weapon they’ve so sought against Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons: the ability to withstand a veto. And they got it, thanks to a win eked out by Democrat Ellen Spiegel.

Spiegel won the Henderson seat being vacated by Bob Beers, who lost the Republican nomination to conservative Jon Ozark. Spiegel barely bested Ozark, by just 371 votes.

The Democrats held onto the District 29 seat, which Republicans had pined for. Republican Sean Fellows, who campaigned extensively for months, initially appeared a good bet to steal this seat from the Democrats, but April Mastroluca easily beat him, 54 percent to 46 percent.

But the Republicans, despite losing a net seat to the Democrats, did get positive surprise.

The daughter of retiring County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, Melissa Woodbury, upset Democrat Allison Herr, 51.8 percent to 48.2 percent. Woodbury’s victory is especially impressive, as the Democrats hold a registration lead in this district by more than 10 percent.