The epicenter of Democrats’ wrestle to maintain management of the Senate is in Nevada, the place first-term Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto is making an attempt to attach with a transient inhabitants amid unhappiness with President Joe Biden’s efficiency.
The race for the seat will crystallize after the state’s primaries subsequent week, with former state Legal professional Basic Adam Laxalt pushing to carry off a problem for the Republican nomination from Military veteran Sam Brown and prepare his deal with probably the most susceptible senators.
Nevada might tip the 50-50 Senate in both course. It’s one among 5 races rated as a tossup by the Cook dinner Political Report with Amy Walter. Of the opposite 4 seats, Arizona and Georgia are held by Democrats, and Pennsylvania and Wisconsin by Republicans
“I nonetheless consider she’s essentially the most endangered incumbent Democrat,” mentioned Jessica Taylor, Cook dinner’s Senate editor. “It’s a tough state and a midterm surroundings for Democrats.”
Advertisement
With Democrats the celebration in energy, Cortez Masto should overcome a political surroundings by which Nevada voters are involved about inflation, fuel costs, and immigration. She additionally should introduce herself to the state’s newcomers since turning into the Senate’s first Latina in 2016, with many citizens having moved there since she was final on the poll.
Cortez Masto mentioned in an interview she’s totally conscious that voters are targeted on financial points. She mentioned she is aware of the state higher than Laxalt, who grew up and labored within the Washington, D.C., space. However Laxalt has a useful final identify because the grandson of Paul Laxalt (R), a former Nevada governor and senator.
“I’m not taking something as a right,” Cortez Masto mentioned. “On the peak of the pandemic we had 30% unemployment. So I need to be certain we’re addressing jobs and speaking to everybody all through the state, together with the companies about their wants. I’m a Nevadan by way of and thru, and that’s what that is about.”
(Picture by Ty O’Neil/SOPA Photos/LightRocket through Getty Photos)
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) talking at an abortion rights rally in Reno in Might.
Advertisement
Cortez Masto launched her re-election bid with an advert taking part in up her household’s Mexican background and life-long ties to the state. She additionally held quite a few occasions highlighting the billions she helped safe for Nevada’s water, transit, and highway tasks in Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure package deal (Public Legislation 117-58).
She’s elevating loads of cash as a prime GOP goal and after serving as Democratic Senatorial Marketing campaign Committee chair final cycle. She raised $3.65 million from April 1 by way of Might 25 and had $9 million in money available on the finish of the final month, based on the latest submitting with the Federal Election Fee.
Her fundraising whole of practically $20 million because the starting of 2021 is greater than 3 times Laxalt’s $5.9 million, and her money available is over 4 occasions greater than Laxalt’s $2 million. Brown has raised practically $4 million and had $360,000 in money available.
DSCC Chair Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Cortez Masto mentioned if the US Supreme Court docket overturns Roe v. Wade, it might provoke Democrats in a state that codified the 1973 resolution legalizing abortion.
“There’s going to be a stark distinction between me and my opponent,” Cortez Masto mentioned. “I help a girl’s proper to decide on and my opponent doesn’t. The voters will know the distinction.”
Advertisement
Attending to Know You
Peters mentioned Cortez Masto faces challenges, notably when half of these at present on Nevada’s voter rolls registered since 2016.
“You at all times should reintroduce your self to voters each six years,” Peters mentioned in an interview.
The economic system can be weighing her down in a state that’s voted Democratic up to now 4 presidential elections, mentioned Mike Noble, chief of analysis at Phoenix-based OH Predictive Insights, which conducts polls in Nevada and Arizona races. Two polls launched in early April confirmed different outcomes, with Cortez Masto up 8 proportion factors in a single and Laxalt up 3 factors within the different, however the senator was within the low 40s in each.
“Usually she would in all probability be in just a little bit stronger, extra solidified place, however she’s not, she’s beneath that fifty% threshold,” Noble mentioned. “It’s only a very robust electoral surroundings for Democrats.”
In 2016, Cortez Masto benefited from her shut relationship with former Senate Majority chief Harry Reid (D-Nev.) whose political group was key in turning out Democratic constituencies within the state equivalent to unionized resort employees and Hispanics.
Advertisement
It’s a query whether or not Democrats can obtain the identical stage of voter mobilization “with out Harry Reid conducting the orchestra” following his loss of life final yr, mentioned Jim Denton, a retired political guide in Nevada who represented purchasers in each events for a number of many years.
Photographer: Joe Buglewicz/Bloomberg
Adam Laxalt, Nevada’s former legal professional basic, is a number one candidate within the June 14 GOP main for US Senate.
Betting on Laxalt
Laxalt is backed by former President Donald Trump and teams aligned with Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). The Membership for Development’s tremendous PAC additionally reported spending practically $500,000 on TV advertisements in late Might to bolster Laxalt as Brown gained within the polls.
Brown, a former Military captain who was injured in Afghanistan, has been endorsed by the Nevada Republican Get together. He’s accused Laxalt of being too cozy with the Republican institution.
Advertisement
Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Rick Scott (R-Fla.) mentioned in an interview predicted that he expects Laxalt to win the nomination and that the Republican technique can be to tie Cortez Masto to Biden.
“Cortez Masto has been a part of all of the Biden issues,” Scott mentioned.
To contact the reporters on this story: Nancy Ognanovich in Washington at nognanov@bgov.com; Kenneth P. Doyle in Washington at kdoyle@bgov.com
To contact the editors liable for this story: Bennett Roth at broth@bgov.com; Kyle Trygstad at ktrygstad@bloombergindustry.com
Grass Valley, CA – January 8, 2025 – Nevada County fire agencies have mobilized to assist in combating the Palisades Fire, a fast-moving wildfire in Southern California that has prompted widespread evacuations and significant firefighting efforts.
In a coordinated response, the following Nevada County resources have been deployed to the incident:
Higgins Fire – Brush 23
Ophir Hill Fire – Engine 523
Penn Valley Fire – Brush 44
Nevada County Consolidated Fire – Brush 89
North San Juan Fire – Engine 6168
Grass Valley Fire – OES Engine 4609
These engines and their crews are part of a regional mutual aid system designed to provide critical support during large-scale emergencies. The Palisades Fire has already consumed thousands of acres, challenging firefighters with steep terrain and unpredictable winds. Nevada County’s highly trained personnel are working tirelessly alongside other fire agencies from across the state to protect lives, property, and natural resources.
“We are proud to contribute our skilled crews and equipment to assist in this critical situation,” said Sam Goodspeed, Division Chief of Nevada City Fire Department. “This is what mutual aid is all about—neighbors helping neighbors, even across great distances, when the need arises.”
While Nevada County fire resources are committed to the Palisades Fire, the agencies remain fully staffed to address any local emergencies. Additional personnel and resources have been made ready to ensure the safety of Nevada County residents.
Advertisement
Editor’s note: Real-time updates on the Palisades Fire are posted here.
A 1-inch butterfly that can only be found beside hot springs near the Nevada-Oregon border will soon be awarded federal protections under the Endangered Species Act, the law meant to protect plants and animals at risk of extinction.
The bleached sandhill skipper’s largest population is found at the Baltazor Hot Spring — a spring that’s located next to what is planned to become a geothermal energy plant.
Some environmentalists worry that the 84-acre plant operated by Ormat, which has received all required permits from the Bureau of Land Management, could alter the flow of nearby groundwater. Ormat’s media representative did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
The final environmental assessment for the project does mention the bleached sandhill skipper, with some facilities moved to accommodate the habitat. The BLM ultimately declared that any impacts to the species would be “unlikely and minor,” and Ormat committed to doing assessments of the species every year for the first five years of the project.
Advertisement
“The wetlands these butterflies need to survive will dry up and blow away unless we can protect the water that sustains them,” Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. “Endangered species protections can help ensure this rare butterfly is still here for future generations.”
Only about 1,000 of the butterflies were found in recent annual surveys, according to the nonprofit conservation organization. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declined to list the species in 2012.
With the proposal for protections on Tuesday, the Fish and Wildlife Service began a 60-day public comment period. Within a year, a final rule awarding protections will be issued.
In Southern Nevada, the Mount Charleston blue butterfly is another species that has similar federal protections.
The new proposed protections are paramount for the longstanding fight to protect rural Nevada’s water, according to Donnelly.
Advertisement
“The bleached sandhill skipper needs the same thing to survive that we do: water,” Donnelly said. “With these endangered species protections, we aren’t just protecting charming little butterflies and their wetland habitat. We’re protecting the water that sustains all life in the desert, including our own.”
Contact Alan Halaly at ahalaly@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlanHalaly on X.
(KTNV) — Baby’s Bounty is once again hosting multiple diaper banks statewide for families in need of these supplies for their children.
Families will be able to receive a week’s worth of diapers and wipes for up to three children.
You must provide a photo ID and proof of parental paperwork (birth certificate, Medicaid card, crib card, social security card, foster or adoption paperwork) to utilize these services.
Henderson: 📍Location: Morell Park – 500 Harris St, Henderson 🗓️ Date: Wednesday, Jan. 8 ⏰ Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. 🚙 Drive-thru bank Registration is required and can be found here.
Advertisement
Las Vegas: 📍Location: Baby’s Bounty Center for Families – 4495 W Reno Ave, Las Vegas 🗓️ Date: Wednesday, Jan. 22 ⏰ Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. 🚙 Drive-thru bank Registration is required and can be found here.
📍Location: Las Vegas Indian Center – 2300 W Bonanza Rd, Las Vegas 🗓️ Date: Thursday, Jan. 30 ⏰ Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. 🚚 Mobile bank
North Las Vegas: 📍Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Senior Center – 2420 N MLK Blvd, North Las Vegas 🗓️ Date: Wednesday, Jan. 15 ⏰ Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. 🚙 Drive-thru bank Registration is required and can be found here.
Reno/Sparks: 📍Location: Baby’s Bounty Northern Nevada – 1410 Greg St, #409, Sparks 🗓️ Date: Wednesday, Jan. 29 ⏰ Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. 🚙 Drive-thru bank Registration is required and can be found here.
Mesquite: 📍Location: Salvation Army Mesquite – 742 W Pioneer Blvd, Mesquite 🗓️ Date: Friday, Jan. 31 ⏰ Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. 🚚 Mobile bank
