NV-4: Battle of The Defeated

Nevada’s 4th Congressional District was created in 2011, after the 2010 census awarded the state a new district in reapportionment because of massive population growth.  Since that time, the electorate has yet to re-elect an incumbent Congressman.  The original Representative was former state Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford (D-Las Vegas).  He would lose to then-state Assemblyman Cresent Hardy (R-Mesquite) in the 2014 Republican wave election.  Mr. Hardy followed suit and lost to challenger Ruben Kihuen (D-Las Vegas) in 2016.  Now with Kihuen retiring over sexual harassment claims, the two defeated members are attempting political comebacks. 
 
Late last week, Mr. Hardy announced his candidacy.  Yesterday, Mr. Horsford declared that he, too, will be a congressional candidate in 2018.  The former Congressman still faces serious Democratic primary opposition in the person of state Sen. Pat Spearman, who says she will not yield to Horsford.  Assuming he wins the party nod, the general election will feature a re-match of the 2014 campaign, but now between former Reps. Hardy and Horsford.  This pairing would guarantee that one of the two returns to Washington.

--Jim Ellis