Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Derby expected to announce her candidacy Wednesday for Heller’s congressional seat (UPDATED)

Jill Derby, chairwoman of the Nevada Democratic Party and one-time congressional candidate, is set to make a "major announcement about her political future" at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Reno.

That announcement? The spokesman listed on the press release wouldn’t elaborate, but if Derby's previous statements are any indication, she will likely announce another congressional campaign.

Derby, heartened by the massive turnout in Nevada's presidential caucus, told the Associated Press last month that she was "in some conversations" regarding a challenge to Republican Rep. Dean Heller in November.

And then, just a few days ago, she told my colleague Lisa Mascaro that she was “looking at it pretty hard.”

Derby, a Democrat, ran against Heller for the open seat in Nevada's 2nd District in 2006 when incumbent Jim Gibbons ran for governor. She lost by about 5 percentage points, running the closest race against a Republican since the district was created in 1980.

———

6:05: Derby just called us back, and said she’d have nothing to say until tomorrow.

According to the most recent registration numbers from the secretary of state's office, the numbers in the district still tilt overwhelming to Republicans -- by about 43,000 voters.

Still, a new registration report -- reflecting the effect of the Democratic caucuses and the surge of new voters for the party -- is expected soon.

Perhaps Derby got a sneak preview.

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