Financial reports suggest fierce primary battles await Nevada congressional candidates

By Megan Messerly

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016 | 2 a.m.

End of the year financial reports filed with the Federal Election Commission this week shed some light on where congressional candidates are positioning themselves ahead of the June primary and, looking further, to the general election in November.

Political observers say the numbers foretell a heated Democratic primary in Nevada’s 4th Congressional District as well as a Republican face-off in the state's 3rd Congressional District. The numbers also show which candidates are pouring their own money into the campaigns and to what end.

It’s still early in the race, and candidates have spent only about 25 to 30 percent of the dollars they've raised, said Fred Lokken, political science professor at Truckee Meadows Community College. The concern for candidates, he added, is that they will spend their way through contributions quickly ahead of the primary, leaving them with depleted resources for the general election.

“It’s going to be an expensive race in Nevada,” Lokken said. “You’re still going to see a lot of money influencing the process, influencing candidates.”

Here’s a look at where that money has gone so far in each of the congressional races in Nevada:

4th Congressional District

A heated race is shaping up among Democrats vying for Republican Rep. Cresent Hardy’s seat.

Philanthropist Susie Lee and state Sen. Ruben Kihuen significantly outpaced their two Democratic opponents in both cash on hand and contributions they received last quarter. Lee reported raising $160,000 in net contributions, bringing her total amount of cash in the bank to $647,000. That includes $150,000 in personal loans Lee has made to her campaign.

“I’m proud of the support I have received from so many Nevadans,” Lee said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Kihuen raised $152,000 and has $373,000 on hand. Kihuen said in a statement that he was “humbled” by the support, adding, “I am more confidant than ever that we will have the resources to win the primary and defeat Congressman Hardy in November."

Coming in at third, former Assembly Speaker John Oceguera raised $53,000 last quarter, bringing him to $204,000 in cash on hand. His total includes $100,000 in loans he has made to his campaign. Former Assemblywoman Lucy Flores came in last in fundraising numbers, at $51,000 last quarter with $84,000 on hand.

The concern among Democrats is that a significant amount of money will be pumped into the four-way primary, leaving the eventual candidate — and potential donors — exhausted come June.

“That’s always the issue. That’s where (Senate Minority Leader Harry) Reid worked so hard to not have this problem,” UNLV political science professor David Damore said. “These kind of races are going to struggle with a Senate race or a presidential race to fundraise.”

At the same time, Hardy pulled in $175,000 last quarter, giving him more cash on hand than any of the Democratic candidates at $660,000.

“I think what makes me feel good is they have several months of a primary left and a couple of candidates that are going to be fighting it out,” said Rory McShane, a consultant on Hardy’s campaign.

Still, political observers say, they would have expected Hardy to wage a more aggressive fundraising effort than his numbers suggest he did. The 4th Congressional District includes North Las Vegas and the rural, central part of the state.

“He’s the underdog in that race,” Damore said. “That district looks so good for Democrats on paper.”

Democrats are counting on a win in the district after Hardy’s 2014 victory, which was considered an upset in the heavily Democratic district.

3rd Congressional District

Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson has raised the most among Republican candidates hoping to replace Rep. Joe Heck, who is leaving the 3rd District seat for a run at the Senate.

Roberson brought in $234,000 in the last quarter and has $573,000 in the bank. He is followed closely by Danny Tarkanian, who raised $139,000 and has $432,000 on hand. Tarkanian is the son of the late UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian.

Those numbers could leave the two facing off in a Republican primary. Tarkanian’s strength is his name recognition — he is the son of late UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, and this will be his fifth attempt at winning an election for state or federal office — while Robertson is well known to people in politics, Damore said. (Roberson is backed by Gov. Brian Sandoval, Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison and Sen. Dean Heller.)

“(Tarkanian) usually gets a fair amount of money from out of state, and it’s always been maxed out,” Damore said. “The question is can he expand that donor base in the way that Roberson’s been able to do that.”

Andy Matthews, former president of the conservative think tank Nevada Policy Research Institute, raised $23,000 last quarter and has $94,000 on hand. Dr. Annette Teijeiro, who ran for Congress in 2014, raised $8,000 last quarter with $105,000 in the bank. Teijeiro also has loaned $101,000 to her campaign.

Assemblywoman Michele Fiore has filed a statement of candidacy for office, though she has not committed to a full-fledged congressional bid. She brought in $55,000 in contributions last quarter but spent most of it, leaving $5,000 in cash on hand.

Democrats are hoping to take the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Henderson and Summerlin, from Republicans. Democrats and Republicans split the district evenly in terms of voter registration, and a significant number of nonpartisan voters make it a swing district.

Democrat Jacky Rosen, president of Congregation Ner Tamid in Henderson, announced her run for the seat last week, with the backing of the Democratic Party. She has yet to file her first campaign finance report.

Henderson attorney Jesse Sbaih, a political newcomer, raised $41,000 last quarter and has $494,000 in cash on hand. He has loaned his campaign $400,000 so far.

“You have two candidates who aren’t known at all. So anything is possible,” Damore said. “The thing is, they’ll struggle to get the talent to run his campaign. All of that will go to her.”

1st and 2nd Congressional Districts

Reps. Dina Titus and Mark Amodei are both projected by political observers to easily coast to victory in their re-election bids. Titus has $251,000 in the bank and raised $80,000 in the last quarter. Amodei has $304,000 on hand and raised slightly less, $45,000, last quarter.

“Those races are done deals,” Lokken said.

Republican Mary Perry has filed to challenge Titus, but only raised $2,300 last quarter and has $1,000 on hand. She has also personally loaned her campaign $3,700. Liberal talk radio host Chip Evans announced in early January that he would challenge Amodei, and has yet to file his first campaign finance documents.

Senate

Because Senate candidates file their campaign finance reports on paper to the Secretary of the Senate, those records were not immediately available for inspection on the FEC website on Monday. The campaigns of Democratic former Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto and Republican Rep. Joe Heck, who are running for the seat, did not immediately respond to inquiries about campaign finances.

The Senate race is expected to be heated, particularly because the victor will be replacing Reid.