Primary results: Lombardo, Sisolak, Cortez Masto, Laxalt win party approval

By Jessica Hill

Published Tuesday, June 14, 2022 | 2 a.m.

Updated Tuesday, June 14, 2022 | 12:22 a.m.

 

Gov. Steve Sisolak, with about 40% of state votes tallied, took 89.9% of the vote against former Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins in the Democratic gubernatorial primary to advance to the November election, where he is expected to face a stiff Republican challenge from Joe Lombardo, who received 39% of the vote statewide . In Clark County, Sisolak picked up 79.6% of votes and Lombardo got 47.9%.

“Thank you, Nevada. You put your trust in me in our fight for a second term and I humbly accept your nomination. We aren’t finished delivering for Nevada yet. We’ve made significant progress since 2019 - but we have more work to do to keep Nevada moving forward,” Sisolak wrote in a Twitter post.

The Republican primary, where Joe Lombardo is the projected favorite, still hasn’t been called.

Sisolak in 2018 won by 4 percentage points against Adam Laxalt to give Democrats their first statehouse trifecta, as they also control both chambers of the Nevada Legislature.

Maintaining that control starts with Sisolak fighting off a Republican contender, as The Cook Political Report — a nonpartisan political newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns — labels his race as a toss-up.

The Associated Press also called the U.S. Senate race in the Democratic primary for incumbent Catherine Cortez Masto, who in 2016 was the first Latina elected to the Senate and successor of the late Sen. Harry Reid.

Cortez Masto received 92% in Clark County in about 71,000 ballots against challengers Stephanie Kasheta, Corey Reid and Allen Rheinhart.

Cortez Masto now gears up for a competitive general election race — likely against Donald Trump-backed Republican Adam Laxalt, the former Nevada attorney general — in a campaign of national interest.

With the U.S. Senate split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, the race could determine the majority.

Political pundits consider Cortez Masto one of the most vulnerable Democrats running for reelection this year.

Laxalt won the Republican nomination Tuesday for a pivotal Nevada Senate seat, fending off a challenge from a political newcomer and setting up a fierce November contest for incumbent Cortez Masto's seat in a race that could swing power in the U.S. Senate. Laxalt received 55% of Republican votes in Clark County.

Laxalt is a former Nevada attorney general who had the backing of former President Donald Trump and the GOP establishment. But challenger Sam Brown harnessed support with the party’s grassroots and forced Laxalt to spend heavily and bring in Trump-world figures for 11th-hour barnstorming to lock up the primary. During his campaign, notably Republicans — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump Jr. — joined him on the campaign trail.

He now sets his sights on a November race against Cortez Masto in what’s expected to be one of the Republican Party’s best chances to flip a seat in the 50-50 Senate this fall.

Democrats Dina Titus and Susie Lee have been declared winners by the Associated Press in their primary congressional district races, as the Nevada incumbents in enjoyed convincing primary wins against little-known competitors. 

Titus, the longest-tenured member of the delegation who has been in Congress since 2008, convincingly won her primary race against Bernie Sanders-endorsed Amy Vilela in the 1st Congressional District with an overwhelming 84.3% of the vote.

“This is the most crucial election of our lifetimes. From voting rights and reproductive freedom to economic recovery and workers’ rights, there is too much at stake to sit on the sidelines,” Titus said in a statement. “When our state was on the ropes, I came out swinging and secured $6.7 billion in American Rescue Plan funding to get Nevada’s economy back on track during the pandemic. As corporate profit margins skyrocket while costs increase for everyday Southern Nevadans, I am committed to fighting for those who need it the most—not for those who have the most.”

The district covers parts of Henderson and Paradise in central Las Vegas.

Rep. Susie Lee, going for her third term in the 3rd Congressional District, took 90.1% of the vote against Democratic challenger Randell Hynes. The district covers the southernmost tip of Nevada, Spring Valley and up to the western side of North Las Vegas.

“I am honored that southern Nevadans have placed their trust in me once more to continue to fight for our families, defend our democracy, and protect fundamental rights,” Lee said in a statement. “As our state endured challenges of the pandemic, I stood up to get our struggling families the direct relief they needed, keep the doors of our small businesses open, save tens of thousands of jobs, and keep economy and our families afloat.”

In the 4th Congressional District, which covers North Las Vegas and the middle part of the state, including Pahrump and Tonopah, Democratic incumbent Steven Horsford was unopposed in the primary.

Titus should receive the stiffest challenge in the general election challenge, where she’ll face Mark Robertson, who was declared the winner in the GOP primary.

The Cook Political Report is calling the showdown with Robertson — a certified financial planner and as an assistant professor at UNLV — a “Toss Up.”

Titus usually isn’t challenged by a Republican opponent, but new congressional district maps approved late last year by Nevada lawmakers have peeled off some of the Democratic voters in Titus’s 1st Congressional District — which she easily won reelection in 2020 by 28.4 percentage points — and put them in more competitive 3rd and 4th districts.

The redrawing of the maps, which is done every 10 years on results from the U.S. Census, was approved on party lines by a Democratic majority in the Nevada Senate and Assembly, and signed into law by Gov. Sisolak.

The changes make Lee and Horsford favorites in November, but puts Titus in danger.

“I got totally (screwed) by the Legislature on my district,” Titus said during a Nevada AFL-CIO town hall in January. “I’m sorry to say it like that, but I don’t know any other way to say it.”

Robertson took 30.2% of the vote. His closest challengers were David Brog, who received 16.1% and Carolina Andrea Serrano with 15%.

Republican April Becker will challenge Lee in November, winning 67.5% of the vote.

Republicans also selected former state lawmaker Jim Marchant, who has been repeating the false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen as their nominee to oversee future elections in the state.

Democrat Elizabeth Krause and Republican Mark Amodei won their primaries in the 2nd district, which comprises northern Nevada.

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Voting sites have closed throughout Nevada in the primary election, but residents who were in line at polling location before 7 p.m. can still cast a ballot.

The initial wave of results from early voting and mail ballots will be released by the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office once the final vote is recorded. And it’s anyone’s guess when that will happen, although the wait likely won’t drag into the wee hours of Wednesday morning like it did in the primary election of 2020.

Until then, we’ll continue hitting refresh on our newsroom computers awaiting the results.

As a reminder, the Secretary of State posted on Twitter earlier this evening that “the initially reported numbers are NOT final and will change.” That’s because mail ballots posted marked today are still being received and verified, the office wrote in the post.

The Republican primary for U.S. Senate between former state Attorney General Adam Laxalt and U.S. Army veteran Sam Brown is receiving much interest nationally, as the winner will face incumbent Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., in what is expected to be a highly contested general election that could determine the Senate majority.

The final results will posted no later than June 24.

Earlier today, we had reporters at various voting sites in Clark County. They talked to many voters. Here’s a recap:

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As Clark County Sheriff and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Joe Lombardo strolled up to Veterans Memorial Leisure Center in Summerlin to cast his vote in today's GOP primary, several constituents recognized him right away.

Lombardo offered high-fives and selfies with voters as he waited in line shortly after polls opened about 9 a.m.

"Today's a great day," Lombardo said after casting his ballot. "The most enlightening thing about today, for me, is to pull up and see all those people in line expressing their need to express who they want to represent them in the state of Nevada."

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M.J. Ivy, who is vying for one of the state's nonpartisan Board of Regents seats, was outside the Summerlin precinct shaking hands and trying to convince any last-minute voters he's the man for the job.

"We just need people to vote," he said.

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Las Vegan Petra Doerr, 54, said she considers herself a regular Republican voter. After hearing of since-debunked claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election by former President Donald Trump, Doerr said she shredded her mail-in ballot that was sent to her house and voted in-person instead.

"I can only take as many steps as I can take," said Doerr, who was at theVeterans Memorial Leisure Center voting site. "And that's why I showed up on Election Day and did not vote by mail. I don't feel it's trustworthy."

Election security experts have repeatedly said Trump's claims of widespread voter fraud in 2020 were demonstrably false.

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There was a steady stream of people voting this morning at the Desert Breeze Community Center in Summerlin, with a line stretching out the doors.

Those waiting surely couldn’t miss a group of supporters of Republican Joey Paulos, a candidate running for state Senate.

Members of the Palo Verde High School cheerleading team were there in matching blue shirts to support Paulos. They are friends with the daughter of Paulos’ campaign manager and were at the voting site since 6:30 a.m.

Paulos “really cares about education, which is important to us,” said one of the cheerleaders, Kate Sunstrum, 15.

Paulos is in favor of breaking up the 300,000-student Clark County School District because “it’s just too big,” according to his campaign site.

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Hieu Le, who is running for a seat on the Board of Regents, stood alone holding a campaign sign in the parking of the Desert Breeze Community Center. 

It’s the third of eight stops the 25-year-old Vietnamese-American will make today.

“I’ve been inspiring younger folks to come out and just say, ‘Hey, I wanna run. I wanna make a change in my community,’” Le said.

Le, a 2020 graduate of UNLV, is vying to become Nevada's youngest regent.

He said “anyone who is Asian-American, anyone who is Hispanic or anyone who is Black in the community and Vegas” should “step up (and) run” for political positions.

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The midday voting line at the Galleria at Sunset mall in Henderson formed a long but steadily moving U shape that started at the pretzel stand, headed to the main doors and curved past the arcade and back again.

Heidi Kolberg said she was voting for candidates who support freedom from pandemic restrictions like mask and vaccine mandates. She also said schools need more security. Her sister is a teacher and is scared at work, she said.

Kolberg had her Republican sample ballot mostly filled out for reference, with Sam Brown as her pick for U.S. Senate. But a few minutes away from filling in the official ballot bubble for governor, she was still pondering her choices.

Wiz Rouzard declined to reveal who he was voting for, but he described himself as a liberty voter who has issues with both major political parties.

He also decried Nevada’s COVID response. From business shutdowns to vaccine requirements, the response led to the most intrusive rules “mankind has dealt with since slavery,” Rouzard said.

“I’m freedom down to the core,” he said. “The party rhetoric has to go.” 

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A would-be voter at Bob Miller Middle School in Henderson collapsed this afternoon while waiting outside in line, other voters told the sun. The man, who appeared to be in his 50s, also vomited.

He received medical attention from paramedics, who transported him for further care, the voters said.

The line stretched about 25 residents deep at about 4:30 p.m. There is limited shade around the school, and temperatures were approaching 100 degrees. 

There’s about a 45-minute wait to cast a ballot as the line seems to be lengthening at the end of the work day. Polls close at 7 p.m. 

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Those who cast their votes at Desert Oasis High School on Tuesday believe these races could be closer than anticipated. 

“I don’t know if there’s one clear winner,” said Diane Murray, a registered independent who did not disclose who she voted for. “I don’t think the incumbents are safe.” 

One thing Murray was adamant on is that whoever wins these races will have a lot of work to do in Nevada regarding inflation, gas prices and how to improve the economy. 

“I watch TV, and people are filling up their cars for $150 where it used to be $35, $40,” she said. “They’re trying to put food on the table, they’re trying to put gas in their cars. I think that’s going to make a huge difference.” 

Drew Johnson, one of the candidates for the Clark County Commission, arrived at Desert Oasis in hopes of speaking with Republican voters one last time before they went to the booth. 

“I’m feeling positive,” Johnson said. “We’ve knocked the most doors, we’ve raised the most money, met the most voters, and people seem enthusiastic of what we’re offering them, which is less government, more personal responsibility, and a Republican voice on the Clark County commission.” 

Johnson said his campaign has been centered that he’ll be a voice for everyone in his district, even for those who didn’t vote for him. 

“I’m just thankful for everybody who’s voting, whether they’re voting for me or not,” he said.

Preview

The countdown to the primary election is over — today is the day. We’ll eventually learn if what has long been projected about crucial Republican races in Nevada comes to fruition.

We’ll find out if Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, the polling favorite, wins the GOP gubernatorial primary in advancing to face Democratic incumbent Gov. Steve Sisolak in November’s midterm election.

We’ll also learn if former Attorney General Adam Laxalt can get through the GOP primary for U.S. Senate to go toe-to-toe with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. That race would be one of the most watched nationally, as analysts have pegged that Senate seat as the most vulnerable for Democrats to keep. One of the midterm election trends is the party of the sitting president loses ground in Congress in midterm elections, which political analysts have predicted could happen here.

Lombardo and Laxalt each have an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, whose support of contenders nationally appears to follow a strategy of backing the candidate ahead in polling and leading in fundraising.

“If Trump is picking likely winners who have fundraising advantages and, therefore, are better able to tout those endorsements, while their opponents who do not have as much cash to play with and cannot advertise their non-Trump endorsements as aggressively, then this would give the impression that the Trump endorsements carry more weight if his endorsed candidates win,” David Damore, chair of the department of political science at UNLV, wrote last month in an email to the Sun.

If you haven’t voted already with a mail-in ballot or at an early voting center, today’s your chance. Heading to the polls? Here are some things to know:

— Clark County voters can vote at any of the 125 voting centers around the county. You can go to any of the polling locations in Clark County, regardless of where you live and what your precinct is. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you’re still in line by 7 p.m., don’t leave. Your vote will still count.

— When you go to vote in person, bring your mail ballot with you to surrender it at the voting site. If you don’t have it, no worries. You will have to sign an affirmation that you are not voting twice in the same election.

— It’s expected to be hot out, so be prepared. Bring water, a hat and perhaps a lawn chair in case you have to wait in line. Be courteous to the election workers at the voting sites, as well as to the other voters around you.

— Not registered to vote? That’s OK. Nevada has same-day registration. Bring a state ID with you. If your ID card does not have your current residential address, you will need to present valid proof of residence.

— You can track your mail ballot by logging in to “registered voter services” on Clark County’s election website. If you’re voting at a polling place, Clark County uses Dominion voting machines, which are certified at state and federal levels and provide a paper receipt of your selections.

“We use a touch-screen voting machine with a voter-verified paper audit trail attached to the side. And we have high-speed mail ballot readers that we use to tabulate our mail ballots,” said Joe Gloria, Clark County’s registrar of voters. “It is a very secure system, certified at the federal level by the U.S. (Election Assistance Commission). And then the secretary of state also certifies them.”

— With voters allowed to mail a ballot in today, don’t expect results by the end of the day once the polls close. Public Information Officer Jennifer Russell with the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office said it will not have official results until after the counties canvass their votes, by June 24 at the latest.

Counties have four days after the primary to count the mail ballots, then there is a period for signature cure, and then the office counts the provisional ballots.

Media outlets, however, may declare a presumptive winner prior to those official results. Take 2020, for instance, when the Associated Press declared President Joe Biden the presumptive winner four days after the election.

Associated Press analysts study the incoming vote county by county, looking at the vote by ballots cast in person. The analysts look to determine whether or not the trailing candidates can catch the leader, according to the website ballotpedia. When the answer is no, the analysts call the race. In some races, however, there can be a wide margin, and analysts can declare the winner as soon as polls close.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Las Vegas Sun reporters Casey Harrison and Grace De Rocha contributed to this report.