Races set for June’s primary elections; Sandoval skates with no big-name foe

By Conor Shine

Published Friday, March 14, 2014 | 2 a.m.

Updated Friday, March 14, 2014 | 6:02 p.m.

The field for June’s primary election is set after the close of candidate filing at 5 p.m. today.

More than 100 races will be on this year’s ballot, with candidates vying for office in Clark County, the Legislature, Congress and more.

The campaign season’s headlining race for governor looks to be nearly wrapped up, with no serious contender emerging from the field of 14 candidates who signed up to challenge incumbent Republican Brian Sandoval, who holds a commanding fundraising advantage in his pursuit of a second term.

As a result, much of the attention will shift to the race for lieutenant governor, the outcome of which could influence the 2016 election, when Sandoval is rumored to be a prime challenger for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s seat. A successful run by Sandoval would mean the lieutenant governor would ascend to the state’s top job. Five candidates filed to run for lieutenant governor, including state Sen. Mark Hutchison and former state Sen. Sue Lowden, who will face off in the Republican primary, while Assemblywoman Lucy Flores is the front-runner for the Democratic nomination.

At the federal level, incumbent U.S. Reps. Joe Heck, Dina Titus, Steven Horsford and Mark Amodei all filed for re-election.

In Clark County, Commissioners Chris Giunchigliani, Susan Brager and Mary Beth Scow will all face challenges in their bids for re-election. Scow, a Democrat, will face a primary challenge from Las Vegas Township Constable John Bonaventura, whose office commissioners voted to abolish earlier this year.

In the race for district attorney, incumbent Democrat Steve Wolfson is seeking his first full term after being appointed to the position in 2012 and will face off against Libertarian challenger Raymond Duensing Jr.

The most contested local race is likely to be for county sheriff, which has drawn eight candidates to replace Doug Gillespie, who decided last year not to seek a third term.

A complete list of local candidates can be found through the Clark County Elections Department, while the Secretary of State's Office maintains the listing of candidates for statewide office. The deadline to withdraw a candidacy is March 25.

Voters have until May 20 to register to vote in the June 10 primary. Early voting will run from May 24 to June 6.

The general election will be Nov. 4.