Democrats celebrate election wins in low-key races

By Erin Dostal

Tuesday, June 8, 2010 | 11:37 p.m.

Sipping Miller Lite and Chardonnay, about 200 people attended a Democratic watch party Tuesday night during an evening dominated by more competitive Republican races.

The event, at the Culinary Training Academy, 710 W. Lake Mead Blvd., was hosted by Rep. Shelley Berkley, state Sen. Steven Horsford and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid.

“I’m proud to be your Democratic nominee for Nevada,” said Reid, who will face GOP nominee Brian Sandoval in November. “I appreciate all you did to make me your nominee.”

Confidence was the theme of the evening.

“In November, we’re going to have another victory party,” Reid said. “You’re all invited.”

Reid tied Sandoval to Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons, who on Tuesday became the first incumbent governor to lose a primary in state history.

“Brian Sandoval is just Jim Gibbons in a more expensive suit,” he said. The crowd cheered.

Reid said he thought education and job creation would be hot issues in the coming months, saying that, as governor, he would fight to improve Nevada’s schools.

“We will never have a strong economy until we have strong schools,” he said. “Brian wants to continue to cut [education].”

Reid had nothing to say about the Republican Senate primary, where Sharron Angle will battle Reid's father, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

“I can control what I can control,” he said, adding that his father’s campaign won’t affect his.

Rep. Dina Titus, who will face Republican Joe Heck in November, attended the event before going to her own party later in the evening. She said although this year has a lot of anti-incumbent sentiment, she’s not worried about her campaign.

“I’ve been in Congress for two years, so I don’t think I fall into that category,” she said.

This year “we’re going to work on bread-and-butter issues,” she said, including high unemployment.

Berkley said she thought this year’s election had galvanized public interest.

“I have no doubt that Harry Reid will return to the Senate,” she said, adding that she thought having a Nevadan as majority leader was valuable to the state.