Las Vegas Sun

April 18, 2024

Currently: 59° — Complete forecast

Topic:

2nd Congressional District race

Republican incumbent Dean Heller faces longshot Democratic challenger Jill Derby in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District race. Although Derby lost to Heller by 5 percentage points in 2006, Democrats think she has a good chance this year and are targeting her campaign in the "red-to-blue" national fundraising program.

Photo by Tiffany Brown / Las Vegas Sun

Republican incumbent Dean Heller faces longshot Democratic challenger Jill Derby in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District race. Although Derby lost to Heller by 5 percentage points in 2006, Democrats think she has a good chance this year and are targeting her campaign in the "red-to-blue" national fundraising program.

DISTRICT 2 MAPS - Metropolitan area | Outlying area

The Nov. 4 Nevada 2nd Congressional District race between incumbent Republican Dean Heller and Democrat Jill Derby is being watched by political observers around the country as an indicator of whether Democrats will be able to win districts long considered to be in Republican hands.

Derby, who lost in 2006 to Heller by 5 percentage points, is considered a longshot. But Democrats think they have a chance — the fundraising committee for House Democrats has added Derby to its "red-to-blue" program of top-tier races in GOP districts. Derby had no opposition in the Aug. 12 primary election.

Heller, 48, easily won the Aug. 12 Republican primary, beating James Smack, 41, a pawn shop manager, 1,560 to 206, or 88.34 percent to 11.66 percent.

The Nov. 4 general election ballot will also include these 2nd District candidates from third parties: Libertarian Sean Patrick Morse; Independent American Party candidate John Everhart and Green Party candidate Craig Bergland.

(Below are recent Sun stories, blogs and Face to Face videos about the candidates and the races.)

Archive highlights

GOP abuzz after Heller stirs nest

Fri, Jul 18, 2008

By Lisa Mascaro

Nevada Republican Rep. Dean Heller’s comments to a newspaper nudged him into national headlines recently, sending him careening from impolitic freshman to party oracle in a matter of days.

All stories

Strengthened conservative credentials are on Heller’s side

Mon, Oct 13, 2008

By Lisa Mascaro, David McGrath Schwartz

Dean Heller, when he was secretary of state, forged a reputation for being above the partisan fray and a bit of a populist.

Derby could benefit from Democratic voter surge

Mon, Oct 13, 2008

By David McGrath Schwartz

At the Best of the West Rib Cook-Off in Sparks, a massive gathering of carnivores and country music fans in late August, Jill Derby, clad in a red vest, skirt ...

Heller only Nevada legislator to vote against $700 billion bailout

Fri, Oct 3, 2008

By Lisa Mascaro

WASHINGTON - Republican Rep. Dean Heller voted against the $700 billion bailout package today in the House, the only member of the Nevada delegation to vote no.

Heller ad doesn’t paint factual picture of Derby

Sat, Sep 20, 2008

By David McGrath Schwartz

Republican Rep. Dean Heller is attacking Democrat Jill Derby in new TV ads, suggesting his opponent in the race for the 2nd Congressional District is a “career politician” and a ...

GOP stays behind as Dems turn out the lights -- literally

Fri, Aug 1, 2008

By Lisa Mascaro

A mini-revolution erupted on the House floor today when Democrats shut off the lights and adjourned for the August recess -- and Republicans refused to go home.

Heller: Conservation, more drilling key to gas price crunch

Tue, Jul 22, 2008

By Lisa Mascaro

In trying to lessen the pain of $4-a-gallon gas, Rep. Dean Heller has developed a strategy similar to his attitude toward gold mining in his mostly northern Nevada district.

To the left or right? Gas prices swaying tottering voters

Tue, Jul 22, 2008

By Lisa Mascaro

Polls show an inverse relationship has formed this summer between Americans’ pain at the pump and their objection to drilling, and Republicans are hammering the message that gas prices are ...

GOP abuzz after Heller stirs nest

Fri, Jul 18, 2008

By Lisa Mascaro

Nevada Republican Rep. Dean Heller’s comments to a newspaper nudged him into national headlines recently, sending him careening from impolitic freshman to party oracle in a matter of days.

Jill Derby is excited ...

Wed, Jul 9, 2008

By Jon Ralston

Jill Derby is excited. The Democratic congressional contender, making her second run against Rep. Dean Heller, has been exuberant since last week.

Count on these Nevadans to defend gun owners’ rights

Sun, Jul 6, 2008

By Lisa Mascaro

Rep. Dean Heller once explained that as proud as he was to have bagged the giant elk whose head is displayed at his home in Carson City, his greatest hunting ...

A Nevada primer for Campaign ’08 races and beyond

Sun, May 18, 2008

By Jon Ralston

Now that the contenders and pretenders have filed, now that the season’s slate is filled and the races officially have begun, the overarching question for Campaign ’08 is this: Will ...

Frustration, anger among Republicans growing

Sun, May 18, 2008

By J. Patrick Coolican

House Republicans unveiled a new slogan last week, “Change You Deserve,” which, besides sounding vaguely malevolent, shared a slogan with an anti-depressant medication.

McCain, Heller may help each other

Sun, Feb 24, 2008

By Lisa Mascaro

Republican Rep. Dean Heller of Nevada and Arizona Sen. John McCain, the presumed Republican presidential nominee, align with different wings of their party — which is why you can expect ...

Even in stars’ presence, politics grabs the spotlight

Sun, Feb 17, 2008

By Lisa Mascaro

Case in point was the showdown over Democrats’ first major snub of a White House war policy since taking power in 2006.

Videos

Face to Face: Race Rematch
Face to Face: Race Rematch
More Democrats are registering to vote in rural Nevada. Will the trend hurt U.S. Rep. ...
Face to Face
Face to Face
Jon talks to Congressman Dean Heller about his conservative stance. Originally aired Wednesday, November 28, ...

Most Popular