Who’s the choice in Southern Nevada’s swing district?

By Amber Phillips

Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014 | 2 a.m.

Voters in suburban Las Vegas may not realize it, but they make up one of most competitive congressional districts in the country. And this fall, they will decide if they want to keep their Republican representative in Congress or elect someone else.

Rep. Joe Heck, vying for his third term, faces Democrat Erin Bilbray and three third-party candidates in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District. Here’s what you need to know about the race.

Why is the district so competitive?

Voter registration is just about even among Democrats and Republicans. State officials redrew the district in 2011, and even before then, it bounced between Republican and Democratic representation in Congress.

The district is a notable exception to the national trend, where congressional districts are becoming less and less competitive every time states redraw their Congressional district boundaries.

Since coming to office in 2011, Heck has had to run a fierce campaign every two years as Democrats try their best to unseat him.

What’s been the biggest news of the race?

Heck has had to defend his positions on immigration, and Bilbray has had trouble with her campaign.

Even though Heck has called for immigration reform and drafted a bill to provide a path to citizenship for some young immigrants, Democrats are trying to tie him to House Republican leaders who won’t bring up reform bills for a vote.

As for Bilbray, she started her campaign in July 2013 with endorsements from Nevada and Washington political leaders, and Vice President Joe Biden came to Las Vegas to support her. But her campaign sputtered, and party leaders now consider her a long shot to beat Heck. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who runs Nevada’s Democratic machine, said in August: “It hasn’t been a great campaign.” National nonpartisan political analysts changed the district’s rating from competitive to leaning Republican.

Bilbray’s team says she is focused on local support and not concerned with Washington pundits.

Who else is running?

The third-party candidates are Independent David Goossen of Boulder City, Libertarian Randy Kimmick of Henderson and Steven St. John of Henderson running under “other.” None has collected the support or money needed to seriously challenge Heck.

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  Courtesy Photo

  Erin Bilbray

  Age: 45

  Party: Democrat

  Background: Bilbray is a political adviser who has helped recruit and guide Democrats running for office in Nevada. She focuses on supporting women in politics, and she and her husband run a nonprofit pediatric clinic in Las Vegas. Bilbray is the daughter of Democratic Rep. James Bilbray, who served in Congress from 1986 to 1994.

  Her positions: Bilbray is a pro-choice Democrat who supports equal pay laws and student loan reform. She says Heck hasn’t done enough to support Southern Nevada’s struggling economy. She also supports immigration reform, privacy rights and promotes veterans benefits.

  She says: “This race is a bigger issue than just about me. It’s about making sure that we’re electing moderate voices in these swing districts.”

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  Steve Marcus

  Rep. Joe Heck

  Age: 52

  Party: Republican

  Background: Heck is a military doctor and one-star general in the U.S. Army Reserve. He sits on the powerful Armed Services and Intelligence committees, where he’s focused on national security, education and the economy. He beat Democratic Rep. Dina Titus by 1 percentage point for the seat in 2010. (Titus now represents District 1 in Las Vegas.)

  His positions: Heck is a political moderate. He supports immigration reform and wants to rewrite the 2010 Affordable Care Act, saying it does nothing to improve patient care, and has had three bills signed into law related to veterans, cleaning up an abandoned mine in Henderson and renewable power from the Hoover Dam. He also promotes international tourism in Las Vegas.

  He says: “The biggest issue really is to be able to help people back home when they need it. We have to take care of our constituents, and I think we’ve done that.”