Election results by precinct were not yet available by our print deadline this week. Specific results from all precincts in Clark County will be certifed by the Board of Commissioners this week. Thus, results from the Moapa Valley precincts are expected to be published in next week’s PROGRESS.
By VERNON ROBISON
Moapa Valley Progress
Voters across the country turned out to the polls to cast their ballots on Tuesday, November 6. They gathered in great numbers to participate in a 2018 midterm election that would bring significant changes to the political landscape both in the state of Nevada and across the nation.
The voter turnout nationwide was strong for a mid-term election. An estimated 113 million people, more than 48 percent of the voting-eligible population, cast ballots during the 2018 election cycle. That was up significantly compared to recent midterm election statistics including 36.4 percent in 2014 and 41 percent in 2010.
The balance of power shifted in the U.S. House of Representatives where Democrats gained a net 33 seats, ten more than needed to gain the majority and take control of the House from the Republicans.
But the Republicans retained control of the U.S. Senate keeping a 51-seat majority with three races still too close to call at the time of publication.
In the battleground state of Nevada, the turnout was also comparatively high. Statewide voter turnout was at 62.46 percent, much higher than the 2014 midterm turnout of 45.5 percent. The Clark County voter turnout was 59.82 percent; up from the 41.4 percent seen in 2014.
Nevada was inundated by a huge “Blue Wave” as Democratic candidates decisively won up and down the ballot.
In the Nevada race for U.S. Senate, Jacky Rosen (D) soundly defeated Republican incumbent Dean Heller claiming 50.42 percent of the vote vs. Heller’s 45.38 percent. Rosen won in only two counties.
Among the other 15 rural counties of the state, Heller outstripped Rosen by more than 50,000 votes. But Rosen roared back in the urban areas of the state, winning both Clark and Washoe counties by a margin of nearly 100,000 votes; more than enough to decided the election.
The race for Congressional District 4 brought together two formal rivals. Democrat Steven Horsford who held the seat between 2012-2014 against Mesquite Republican Cresent Hardy who won it from Horsford in 2014. Hardy then lost the seat in 2016 to current Rep. Ruben Kihuen. Kihuen is not seeking reelection this year. Hardy fell to Horsford this time, only able to garner 43.7 percent of the vote against Horsford’s urban-weighted 51.9 percent.
In other Congressional races, Dina Titus (D) easily won re-election in District 1 with 66.16 percent of the vote, Rep. Mark Amodei (R) was reelected in rural District 2 with 58.23 percent of the vote, and Susie Lee (D) pulled off a solid win in District 3 against Danny Tarkanian (R) with 51.89 percent.
The ‘Blue Wave’ extended deeply into the races for statewide offices.
Democrat County Commissioner Steve Sisolak defeated Republican Adam Laxalt in the race for Nevada Governor. Sisolak took 49.4 percent of the vote, again by carrying only the two most populous counties in the state. Laxalt got 45.3 percent, winning out in all of the rural counties. Bunkerville rancher, Ryan Bundy was able to garner only 1.43 percent of the vote.
Kate Marshall beat Michael Roberson in the race for Lieutenant Governor with 50.3 percent of the vote.
Zach Conine (D) won the State Treasurer’s race against Bob Beers (R) with 47.6 percent of the vote.
Aaron Ford (D) triumphed over Wes Duncan (R) for Attorney General with 47.25 percent of the vote.
The only state office retained by a Republican was that of the Secretary of State where incumbent Barbara Cegavske (R) narrowly won with 48.8 percent, against Nelson Araujo (D) who took 48.25 percent
The Republicans also lost significant ground in both houses of the State Legislature. Democrats netted two new seats in the state Assembly to take a 29-13 seat lead in the lower chamber. In the state Senate, Democrats took two new seats. This left the Democrats only one seat short of the two-thirds supermajority needed to pass a tax increase in Nevada.
In the bizarre race for Assembly District 36, the late Dennis Hof (R) won the election posthumously with 63 percent of the vote. Democratic opponent Lesia Romanov received 36.93 percent. Hof, who died on October 16 at one of his legal brothels in Nye County, received the most votes in all three counties of District 36, including the communities of Logandale and Moapa.
In the coming weeks, County Commissioners from these three counties will go through the process of appointing a representative to fill Hof’s vacancy for the district. Because Hof’s name won the election, the appointee must be a Republican.
State Senator Joe Hardy (R) had no problem winning reelection in District 12, which includes Overton. Hardy took 61.6 percent of the vote in the win.
In the Nevada Supreme Court races, female candidates had a strong showing. Elissa Cadish won in Seat C with 45.3 percent of the vote over Jerry Tao at 32.4 percent. Incumbent Lidia Stiglich kept Seat G with 46.6 percent of the vote, beating Judge Mathew Harter of Logandale, who received 30.7 percent.
Democrats swept all of the Clark County officer races as well. Briana Johnson (D) was elected as County Assessor with 56.8 percent of the vote. Lynn Marie Goya (D) won the County Clerk seat with 57.2 percent. The election for County Recorder went to Debbie Conway (D) with 57.3 percent. Laura Fitzpatrick (D) held on to the County Treasurer position with 57.7 percent of the vote. And Robert Telles (D) won the election for Public Administrator with 53.3 percent.
In State Question #1, 61.2 percent of the voters favored the Marsy’s Law Crime Victims Rights Amendment.
Question #2, exempting certain feminine hygiene products from sales tax, also passed with 56.4 percent of the vote.
Question #3 to deregulate Nevada’s energy markets was defeated with 67 percent casting ‘No’ votes.
Question #4 which exempted certain medical equipment from sales tax was passed with 67.3 percent of the vote.
Question #5, providing automatic voter registration at the DMV, was passed with 59.5 percent.
Question #6 requiring an increase to renewable energy portfolio requirements in the state was passed with 59.2 percent of the vote.
