Nevada U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto speaks to local business leaders during the Vegas Chamber Eggs & Issues event at the Sahara Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022.
Tuesday, April 19, 2022 | 1:26 p.m.
Political handicappers are calling this year’s U.S. Senate race in Nevada a neck-and-neck horse race, but in the race to fill campaign coffers, incumbent Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto is widening her lead.
Federal Election Commission campaign finance reports show Cortez Masto raised nearly three times more cash than the leading Republican rival, former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt, in the first three months of 2022.
Cortez Masto’s campaign raised more than $4,336,591 in the first quarter and has $11,082,821 cash on hand, according to FEC reports that were released this week. Her campaign says it’s a record for Nevada at this point in the cycle. Donors include professors, electric engineers, renewable energy company executives, and the JStreetPAC, which is an American “pro-Israel” political action committee.
About 8,450 individuals donated to her campaign during the first quarter, and the average donation was $49, her campaign said in a statement.
“While Senator Cortez Masto continues to fight for the people of Nevada, our campaign is making sure she has the resources to win,” Tyler Langdon, finance director for Cortez Masto for Senate, said in a statement.
Laxalt’s campaign reported raising $1,577,846 in the first quarter and having $2,238,736 cash on hand. His donors include Vegas Golden Knights owner William Foley II; Ike Epstein, chief operating officer for the Ultimate Fighting Championship; and Paul Enos, CEO of the Nevada Trucking Association.
“Our campaign’s momentum has continued to grow with every quarter,” said John Burke, communications director for Laxalt’s campaign. “We’ve consistently ranked near the top in terms of fundraising among all U.S. Senate challengers in the country. Leading in the polls for both the general election and the GOP primary, Adam Laxalt is building a grassroots movement in Nevada that will flip the Senate this November.”
U.S. Army veteran Sam Brown, who is contending with Laxalt for the Republican nomination for Senate, reported raising $1,144,707 and having $679,806 on hand. The majority of his donors are individuals, including 1,661 Nevadans — many are listed as retired or self-employed — and the average donation he received was $61.
“Sam Brown’s fundraising has already powered a statewide cable and broadcast television buy with two ads: Duty and People’s Agenda,” his campaign said in a statement. “The campaign’s internal tracking is showing a shifting primary dynamic as a result of more Nevada voters being introduced to Sam Brown for the first time.”
U.S. House
Democratic Rep. Susie Lee of Las Vegas, representing Nevada’s 3rd District, reported raising $571,544 in the first quarter and having $2,127,613 on hand. Donors to Lee include Chris Holdren, an executive with Caesars Entertainment, and Steve Comer, a director at Southwest Gas.
Democratic Rep. Dina Titus of Las Vegas, representing Nevada’s 1st District, raised $343,608 and has $1,120,610 on hand. Titus’ primary opponent, Amy Vilela, reported raising $111,667 in the first quarter and has $46,510 on hand.
Rep. Steven Horsford, of Las Vegas, representing Nevada’s 4th District, raised $505,927 and has $1,943,324 on hand. One of his potential Republican opponents, Annie Black, raised $327,264 and has $292,549 on hand. Another Republican opponent, Sam Peters, raised $134,549 and has $203,532 on hand.
Republican Rep. Mark Amodei, of Carson City, representing Nevada’s 2nd District raised $152,060 in the first quarter and has $481,670 on hand. His opponent Danny Tarkanian raised $92,342 and has $86,444 on hand.
Governor
Democratic incumbent Gov. Steve Sisolak’s campaign reported raising $1,555,291 in the first quarter and having $9,551,121 on hand. Donors include the American Beverage Association, Circus Circus, Longhorn Casino, Flamingo, Harrahs, Walmart Inc., Native American tribes in Nevada, construction companies like Ark Construction Inc., and realty firms. The fundraising arms of Ross Miller and Cedric Crear also donated.
Those vying for the Republican nomination for governor include Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, who raised $825,469 and has $2,955,256 on hand. His donors include construction companies, Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant, Omelet House on West Charleston Boulevard, Circus Circus, Las Vegas Recycling Inc., and Las Vegas Neurology Center.
North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee, who raised $652,778 in the first quarter, but most of that is a loan from his wife, Marilyn Lee. He reported having $169,432 cash on hand. His donors include the Committee to Elect Scott Black, who is a city councilman in North Las Vegas, construction companies.
Former U.S. Sen. Dean Heller raised $155,064 in the first quarter and has $241,152 cash on hand, with donations from casino mogul Stephen Wynn, the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, the Road and Highway Builders LLC and many from people in Northern Nevada.
Venture capitalist Guy Nohra reported raising $528,172 and having $700,906 cash on hand. He gave himself a $500,000 loan on March 29.
Surgeon Fred Simon reported raising $1,303,476 and having $1,248,801 cash on hand, the majority of which comes from a donation from himself.
