Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

GOP wins rural District 20 race, knocks out Boulder City’s Goya

As part of gains for Republicans in the state Legislature, Cresent Hardy defeated Boulder City’s Lynn Goya for the state Assembly seat in District 20 on Tuesday.

Hardy, a former Mesquite city councilman, earned 64 percent of the vote against 35 percent for Goya, a Democrat. Democrats lost two seats and their supermajority in the Assembly, while clinging to an 11-10 edge in the Senate, where Republicans snatched three seats.

The race was largely a quiet one. Republicans hold almost a 5,000-voter edge in the mostly rural district.

Hardy distinguished himself from Goya by calling for an end to what he called the “tax-and-spend” policies of the Democratic agenda.

On Wednesday morning, Hardy said he was “grateful for the opportunity” to serve his constituents. He said his victory was the result of a “strong family background and strong set of principles,” such as self-reliance, being neighborly and more independent.

Although Hardy proposed some options for cutting Nevada’s spending, including breaking up the Clark County School District, he acknowledged that his party would still assume minority status in Carson City.

The Nevada Legislature is facing a $3 billion deficit as Republican Brian Sandoval takes the governor’s office in January.

Hardy struck a conciliatory tone a day after Republicans made gains across the U.S. in state legislatures.

“We’ve got to fix some things. Democrats and Republicans alike have challenges,” said Hardy, who owns a construction company. “I think both sides are willing to listen. We’ve got to get back to our principles.”

Goya, who has lived in Boulder City for 14 years, said she called to congratulate Hardy Tuesday night and the tone between them was amicable.

Because of Republicans’ edge in registration, Goya said she felt disadvantaged for much of the race, which garnered little attention in the shadow of bigger campaigns in the state and other controversies in Boulder City.

Much of Goya’s campaign focused on creating jobs in the renewable energy sector, a staple of Boulder City, and she pledged to push for work to be done on the Boulder City Bypass project.

Although she said she encountered bipartisan support while campaigning, Goya admitted: “Clearly, it wasn’t enough.”

Goya, who produces “Outdoor Nevada” for PBS, said she hadn’t decided what to do next. Describing herself as “not really a politician,” she said she wasn’t “just looking for a race to run,” but for “another opportunity to serve the community.”

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