Ryan Erwin, executive director of the Republican Party of Nevada, said instead of recruiting Republicans for every race, the party targeted races they hoped to win by maximizing resources. Minor party candidates may have an impact in some of the close legislative races this year, said Assemblyman Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, who himself is facing a minor party candidate. Senate Democratic Leader Dina Titus, whose party hopes to win two Senate seats to seize the Republican majority in the Senate, was pleased that one of her targeted seats ended up with two minor party challengers. The happiest faces belonged to the various judges who will be elected without having to run. District Judge James Mahan and Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Douglas Smith were both beaming.
Political drama is found in last-minute surprises.
Some Democrats had fantasized that U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan would change his mind and file again. He didn't, leaving Republican Ensign and Democrat Ed Bernstein as the leading candidates to replace him. Stephanie Smith filed against County Commissioner Kincaid, a fellow Democrat, about 4 p.m. She came in alone, unaccompanied by any Culinary Union members, who are expected to be among her strongest supporters. No one showed up to challenge them, and they credited their strong ratings in the Review-Journal's judicial survey.