Nevada House races: Who has more cash for the home stretch?

By Michelle Rindels, Associated Press

Monday, Oct. 17, 2016 | 2 a.m.

Candidates for U.S. House seats had to file reports by midnight Saturday disclosing their fundraising and spending in the three months ending Sept. 30. Here's a rundown of the Federal Election Commission filings, which offer a glimpse into which Nevada campaigns are best-stocked for the election's home stretch.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 4

Freshman Republican Rep. Cresent Hardy has a tough road to keep his seat in this Democratic-leaning district that includes North Las Vegas and rural central Nevada. The district is 42 percent Democrat and 32 percent Republican, but it's competitive enough to attract plenty of outside spending.

Hardy reported raising $409,867 and spending $703,044 last quarter, but he's on a stronger footing than his opponent with $469,990 cash on hand.

Democratic state Sen. Ruben Kihuen reported raising $573,415 and spending $673,649 last quarter. He trails his opponent with $137,341 cash on hand, partly because he faced a money-draining, multi-candidate Democratic primary while Hardy had no notable Republican competition.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is helping Hardy with aggressive ads associating Kihuen with "the stench of corruption." The company that employs Kihuen was subpoenaed in an ongoing FBI probe involving a Las Vegas city councilman. Kihuen calls the ads a smear campaign and says he was on leave from that job much of last year.

Pro-Kihuen ads seize on Hardy's statements asserting people with mental illness should have access to guns and denying that education is underfunded in Nevada.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 3

Candidates for the open southern Nevada seat held by Rep. Joe Heck reported similar hauls in the last quarter. The district is 38 percent Democratic and 36 percent Republican by registration, but it has been in GOP hands for the past three cycles.

Democratic political newcomer Jacky Rosen reported raising $587,110 and spending $373,389 last quarter. She has $446,191 cash on hand, which puts her in a better place than her opponent in the final weeks of the campaign.

Republican Danny Tarkanian reported raising $547,829 and spending $438,028 last quarter, which leaves him with $300,319 cash on hand.

Outside groups are on the airwaves with a series of darkly comical TV ads. One slapstick spot makes fun of Rosen for calling the Affordable Care Act "a fabulous first step," saying the law was more like a misstep and showing footage of people tripping.

One jabs at Tarkanian's prior unsuccessful bids for office and a $17 million legal judgment for a real estate deal gone sour. It features a man burying a file cabinet and Tarkanian campaign signs from years past in a shallow desert grave.

Donald Trump also looms large in the race. Tarkanian condemned statements from a newly released, lewd Trump conversation from 2005. But he stands by his endorsement of the Republican nominee, whom he introduced at a June rally.

Rosen said Tarkanian "lost his moral compass."

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2

Incumbent Republican Rep. Mark Amodei has the edge in this northern Nevada district, although he's getting more of a challenge than usual this cycle.

Amodei, who's been in office since 2011, reported raising $140,260 and spending $150,759 last quarter. He has $270,485 cash on hand.

Democratic challenger Chip Evans reported raising $84,722 and spending $64,049 last quarter. He has $55,802 cash on hand.

Evans is running English and Spanish TV ads criticizing Amodei for missing votes in Congress and chairing Donald Trump's Nevada campaign.

Amodei called Trump comments recorded in 2005 "awful' and "regrettable." But he defends his role as Trump's state campaign chairman by saying he wants a leadership change and doesn't want to tear apart the Republican Party. His own campaign message is that "Amodei Delivers" legislation that helps Nevadans, and that Evans doesn't have concrete policy plans.

Republicans have a wide registration advantage in the district — they account for 43 percent of voters, while Democrats make up 32 percent.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1

Incumbent Democratic Rep. Dina Titus is heavily favored to win re-election to this urban Las Vegas district, and her vast money advantage shows donors agree. She reported raising $143,181 and spending $301,550 last quarter, leaving her with $272,704 cash on hand.

Her opponents face long odds to overcome a Democratic registration firewall — 50 percent of the district's voters are registered Democrats, while just 22 percent are registered Republicans.

Republican challenger Mary Perry brought in $14,878 last quarter, mostly in a loan to herself. She spent $13,313 and has just $1,644 cash on hand.

Independent challenger Reuben D'Silva reported raising $12,368 last quarter and spending $14,258. That leaves his campaign $1,890 in debt.