United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada, 2008

The 2008 congressional elections in Nevada were held on November 4, 2008, to determine who will represent the state of Nevada in the United States House of Representatives, coinciding with the presidential election. The election coincides with the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011.

Nevada has three seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Its 2007–2008 congressional delegation consisted of two Republicans and one Democrat. It now consists of one Republican and two Democrats. District 3 changed from Republican to Democratic, although CQ Politics had forecasted districts 2 and 3 to be at some risk for the incumbent party.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada, 2008[1]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats	+/–
	Democratic	457,320	50.35%	2	+1
	Republican	383,548	42.23%	1	-1
	Independent American	22,813	2.51%	0	-
	Libertarian	20,432	2.25%	0	-
	Independents	14,922	1.64%	0	-
	Green	9,219	1.02%	0	-
Totals		908,254	100.00%	3	—

District 1

This district covers most of the City of Las Vegas, as well as parts of North Las Vegas and parts of unincorporated Clark County. In the general election, the incumbent Democrat Shelley Berkley defeated Republican Kenneth Wegner, a Gulf War veteran and part-time Bail Enforcement Agent.

Nevada's 1st congressional district election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Shelley Berkley (inc.)	154,860	67.65
	Republican	Kenneth Wegner	64,837	28.32
	Independent American	Caren Alexander	4,697	2.05
	Libertarian	Jim Duensing	4,528	1.98
Total votes			228,922	100.00
	Democratic hold

District 2

This district covers all of Nevada except for parts of Clark County. Reno, along with surrounding Washoe County, casts about 70% of the district's vote. The 2nd District has been represented by Republicans continuously since its creation, and has been represented by Republican Dean Heller of Carson City since 2007. He defeated Democrat Jill Derby of Gardnerville, a former Nevada System of Higher Education Regent and Chair of the Nevada Democratic Party. Heller had previously defeated Derby in the 2006 election, although this time the margin of victory was 10.4%, as opposed to just 5% two years before.

Nevada's 2nd congressional district election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dean Heller (inc.)	170,771	51.82
	Democratic	Jill Derby	136,548	41.44
	Independent American	John Everhart	11,179	3.39
	Libertarian	Sean Patrick Morse	5,740	1.74
	Green	Craig Bergland	5,282	1.60
Total votes			329,520	100.00
	Republican hold

District 3

This district covers the suburbs of Las Vegas, including Henderson, parts of North Las Vegas and Summerlin, and much of unincorporated Clark County. Incumbent Republican Jon Porter of Boulder City (campaign website) was considered to be at risk due to the increasingly Democratic electorate in the 3rd District. Porter lost re-election to the Democratic nominee, Nevada Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus of Las Vegas (campaign website). He was also challenged by Bob Giaquinta of the Green Party (campaign website), Floyd Fitzgibbons of the Independent American Party, Joseph P. Silvestri of the Libertarian Party (campaign website), and independent Jeffrey C. Reeves (campaign website). CQ Politics had forecasted the race as 'No Clear Favorite'.

Porter had represented the district since its creation in 2003, but he faced a tough race: he won by only 48% to 46% in 2006 against a former aide to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and won by 54% in 2004. George W. Bush barely won this district with 50% to 49% for John Kerry in 2004 (CPVI=D+1). Leading Democratic candidates included Fraud Examiner Andrew Martin and Clark County prosecutor Robert Daskas, but Daskas dropped out in late April, citing family concerns. After losing their top candidate, the Democratic Party quickly recruited Titus.^[2]

Nevada's 3rd congressional district election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dina Titus	165,912	47.43
	Republican	Jon Porter (inc.)	147,940	42.29
	Independent	Jeffrey C. Reeves	14,922	4.27
	Libertarian	Joseph P. Silvestri	10,164	2.91
	Independent American	Floyd Fitzgibbons	6,937	1.98
	Green	Bob Giaquinta	3,937	1.13
Total votes			349,812	100.00
	Democratic gain from Republican

References

1. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateNV
2. Top Democratic House challenger drops out Martin Kandy II. Politico.com The Crypt. April 28, 2008.

External links

• Election Center from the Nevada Secretary of State
• U.S. Congress candidates for Nevada at Project Vote Smart
• Nevada U.S. House Races from 2008 Race Tracker
• Campaign contributions for Nevada congressional races from OpenSecrets.org