Nevada
Michael Smolens: Nevada, that other California battleground
Rep. Sara Jacobs has been an unmistakable presence in her San Diego district since long before she began running for re-election this year.
But recently she’s also been showing up in Nevada and a handful of other states.
Mayor Todd Gloria is running hard to win another four-year term at San Diego City Hall. Yet he’s made three brief trips to Nevada as well.
Elected officials and political staff members from San Diego and across California — particularly Democrats — have journeyed to swing states near and far to knock on doors, hand out literature and attend rallies to help their candidates for president, Senate and the House.
Candidates helping campaigns afar is by no means a new phenomenon, especially in deep blue California, which is certain to back Vice President Kamala Harris for president and Rep. Adam Schiff for Senate.
Though a Democratic stronghold, California does have a handful of battleground districts that could determine whether Republicans or Democrats control the House. And those races are not lacking for attention from both political parties.
But states like Nevada could decide whether Harris or former President Donald Trump win the White House and determine who controls the Senate. Both parties have responded accordingly.
High-profile visitors such as Gov. Gavin Newsom can bring volunteers, energize locals and command media attention. Newsom’s frequent out-of-state campaign jaunts to support Joe Biden when the president was still running for re-election triggered repeated questions about whether the California governor was angling to replace the beleaguered incumbent on the ticket.
Newsom steadfastly denied such ambitions back then and has continued to travel beyond his state’s boundaries to campaign for Harris and other Democrats.
Of course, there’s a big difference between a well-known surrogate like Newsom (or Oprah Winfrey and Elon Musk, for that matter) and most others. But the elected officials lending a hand elsewhere tend to face similar political circumstances – either they’re not up for re-election (like Newsom) or expected to easily win their races.
The latter is particularly the case with the well-resourced Jacobs, who is facing a long-shot challenge from Republican El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells in the heavily Democratic 51st Congressional District.
Gloria faces a tougher road against San Diego police Officer Larry Turner, who last month was the beneficiary of a surprise $1 million donation to an independent campaign supporting him from Point Loma attorney Steven Richter. More recently, Richter reportedly kicked in another $450,000.
Two of Gloria’s Nevada trips to support the Democratic ticket were before the dynamics of his race changed — in March and August — when his path to victory seemed more clear. He also went to the Silver State on Sept. 28. Each visit was a day trip.
Political opponents often grouse that elected officials should be staying at home doing their jobs, but, like Gloria’s, these trips tend to be short.
This practice of out-of-towners dropping in to help seemingly has been around forever, but it may feel like it’s more common in recent times. There’s no database that can determine whether it actually is. For one thing, the spread of such activities on social media — often by the visiting politicians themselves — may give the impression it’s happening more than in decades past.
Thad Kousser, political science professor at UC San Diego, said the changed political landscape over the years may encourage more out-of-town campaigning.
The number of battleground states has shrunk as the nation has become more sharply divided along political lines.
“Politicians have always been doing their part in support of the national ticket,” Kousser said. But he noted that “so many states are simply off the playing board, like California has been since about 2000.”
The bottom-line motivation isn’t complicated. Politicians want their cause or the candidate they support to win. Without overlooking their own races, if they’re in a position to go elsewhere to help, many do.
“Savvy politicians know where that will help the most and that’s in battleground states,” Kousser said.
“Politicians want to help allies in their party,” he continued, adding, “and they want to be seen helping them.”
Officials often want to be known as good soldiers for the party. Assisting other candidates by raising money, making an endorsement or just walking precincts often isn’t forgotten.
It’s hard to say how much Gloria brings to the table in Nevada, but, cumulatively, he and other visiting politicians can attract attention and encourage others back home to join them.
After Biden stepped aside and Harris ascended to the top of the Democratic ticket, Gloria’s team stressed the long, close relationship the mayor has with the vice president. That naturally led to speculation about a Harris administration appointment if she’s elected. Gloria’s trips to Nevada may have added more fuel.
The mayor recently sought to throw cold water on that, telling the San Diego Sun that if he’s re-elected, he has the “absolute 100 percent intention of staying here all four years.”
Nevada is a critical state for both parties, with its six electoral votes potentially tipping the election to Trump or Harris. Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen is facing a tough challenge from Republican Sam Brown in a pivotal race.
There’s also a ballot measure to amend the Nevada Constitution to recognize a fundamental right to abortion.
Rep. Jacobs is concerned about “the stakes in this election, which we don’t think could be higher,” said aide Lauren McIlvaine.
Jacobs, one of the youngest members of Congress, is a rising star in the Democratic Party, with a growing national profile and a sought-after fundraiser.
In addition to Nevada, she has made campaign appearances in Michigan, Minnesota and New Hampshire, according to McIlvaine. A trip to Pennsylvania and another one to Michigan are planned.
Jacobs often talks with groups of women voters, young voters and college students, McIlvaine said. In perhaps a sign of the times, the Congress member attended a unique political event with her mother in Minnesota: a pickleball tournament.
“Yes, she played. No, she didn’t win,” McIlvaine said.
What they said
New York Times, final NYT/Sienna College national poll.
“The electorate has rarely seemed so evenly divided.. . . Harris and Trump are locked in a dead heat for the popular vote, 48 percent to 48 percent.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom won’t admit it, but a move by President Donald Trump is especially helpful to drivers in California — and Nevada.
Gasoline prices are pressuring consumers around the country. On Friday, the average U.S. price was $4.55 a gallon. In California, that would be a bargain. The average there was $6.16 a gallon. Nevada’s average was $5.23 a gallon, the result of around 88 percent of the state’s gasoline coming from California.
It might be getting worse — regardless of what happens in Iran.
In recent months, two major California refineries have shut down. That represented a 17 percent reduction in California’s refining capacity. Their closures weren’t caused by the Iran war, but by Gov. Newsom and California’s relentless attacks on fossil fuels.
To make up for the fuel it won’t extract or refine in-state, California depends on imports from foreign countries.
“We are importing 30 percent of our crude oil from the Middle East,” Mike Ariza, a former control board supervisor at the Valero Benicia Refinery, said in an interview. He has been warning the public about California’s potential fuel shortage. “There are not very many ships left on the way that have fuel,” he said last month.
Last week, KCRA-TV in Sacramento reported that “about 2 million barrels of oil are in the process of being unloaded in Long Beach off of the last California-bound tanker that got through the Strait of Hormuz.”
At a California legislative hearing Tuesday, Siva Gunda, the vice chairman of the California Energy Commission, said the state has enough gasoline to accommodate demand for the next six weeks. That’s not a very long time, especially given that it takes weeks or months for oil to travel from the Middle East to California. And that process won’t begin until the Strait of Hormuz reopens.
There is a region, however, with abundant oil available for sale and safe passage — the southeastern United States. Unfortunately, the Jones Act, an antiquated 1920 law, mandates that only U.S.-flagged ships may move cargo between U.S. ports. But only 55 of the more than 7,000 oil tankers worldwide comply with this requirement.
This is where Mr. Trump rode to the rescue. Late last month, the White House announced Mr. Trump would suspend the Jones Act for another 90 days. In March, he originally waived it for 60 days. This will make it easier for California and Nevada to obtain domestic product.
If only Mr. Trump could also suspend the destructive energy policies imposed by Gov. Newsom and California Democrats.
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — An adoptable pet is in the spotlight for “Furever Home Friday,” with Amy from the Nevada SPCA featured in a segment highlighting an animal available for adoption today.
The Nevada SPCA encouraged viewers looking to add a pet to their family to consider adopting.
Alex LaRosa hit for a .262 batting average in 50 plate appearances for the Bishop Gorman baseball team through its 32 games played entering Thursday.
But with a chance for the Gaels to punch their ticket to the Class 5A state tournament, LaRosa came up with the biggest swing of his season.
LaRosa hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning and broke a tie game, which proved to be the deciding run in Gorman’s 8-4 win over Centennial on Thursday night at Durango High in a 5A Southern Region winners bracket final.
The Gaels (28-6) have qualified for the 5A state tournament, which begins May 14 at Las Vegas High. The Gaels also advance to Saturday’s 5A Southern Region title game at 10 a.m. Saturday at Durango.
“My teammates, they just push me to be better in everything to do,” LaRosa said. “I know if I get on, they’re going to to get the job done and score me. My job, hitting in the bottom of the lineup is making sure I get on base anyway I can. I just put a good swing on the ball and it got out.”
Centennial falls to the losers bracket final and will play either Arbor View or Palo Verde at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Durango to determine Gorman’s opponent for Saturday and the South’s second spot in the state tournament. Arbor View and Palo Verde play in an earlier elimination at 4 p.m. Friday at Durango to determine Centennial’s opponent.
”It feels good, we fell short the last couple of years (of reaching the state tournament),” LaRosa said. “It just feels good to finall be in it and hopefully we keep going and win it.”
LaRosa’s blast was much needed after a disastrous bottom of the fifth inning for Gorman. The Gaels led 4-0, but Centennial (25-10) cut into the deficit when Jaxon Burr singled which scored Chase Hurley, who led the inning off with a triple.
Then Jake Turner hit a fly ball to left-center field, and as Gorman center fielder DeMari Hall and Logan Grubbs dived for the ball, they collided and the ball went all the way to the wall for a two-run, inside-the-park home run.
Four batters later, Gorman catcher Austin Argenta threw to first base to pick off runner Trevor Henson, but Argenta’s throw was wild and sailed into left field, scoring Kane Barber from second, tying the game.
“I had just given a speech right before we went out to hit that we were good, we weren’t losing this game,” LaRosa said. “We’re still in this game and the dugout went crazy. We just exploded after that.”
LaRosa, who finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, followed up with his home run in the top of the sixth, which hit the top of the left field fence. That caused a brief discussion between the three umpires before they confirmed it was a home run.
“I was just looking for a fastball to drive into the gap so my teammates could drive me in, but I got lucky, back spun it and it got out of here,” LaRosa said. “At first, I thought it was gone and then I looked up and the ball bounced back in the field.
“Then the (umpire) told me it was a home run and I kind of blacked out. It was a surreal feeling.”
Grubbs added an RBI single in the top of the seventh for Gorman. Chase Wilk was 2-for-4 with a home run in the second, a run scored during a three-run Gorman fourth inning and an RBI on a ground out in the seventh.
Justin Rodrigues had a two-run double in the fourth capped off the fourth inning for Gorman, which put the Gaels ahead 4-0. Rodriguez went 2-for-4 and recorded the final three outs on the mound for the Gaels.
Hurley and Burr each had two hits and a run scored for Centennial.
“It feels good, just returning to a national powerhouse that we were,” LaRosa said. “It’s the standard to be in the state tournament every year and compete for that state championship. So it feels good to bring the culture back to Gorman.”
Other 5A baseball results
No. 2S Arbor View 11, No. 2M Faith Lutheran 3: At Durango, Devin Martin’s two-run home run capped off an eight-run fourth inning for Arbor View, which helped the Aggies (30-7) roll past Faith Lutheran (16-15) in a 5A Southern Region elimination game.
In the fourth inning against Faith Lutheran, the Aggies scored twice on bases loaded walk, a wild pitch, a two-run single from Rhett Bryce and an RBI single by Angelo Ugarte before Martin hit his home run.
Martin finished with three RBIs and Ugarte added two RBIs. Rookie Shepard and Kingston Kela each recorded an RBI for Faith Lutheran.
No. 3M Palo Verde 7, No. 2D Desert Oasis 5: At Durango, Stone Amsden’s grand slam highlighted a seven-run seventh inning to give Palo Verde the lead, and the Panthers (26-8) held on to beat Desert Oasis (26-8-1) in an elimination game.
Desert Oasis, the Desert League’s No. 2 seed, led 4-0 entering the seventh. Owen Anderson and Matthew Simmler each had an RBI single, and Kyle Johnson scored in a wild pitch before Amsden’s homer put the Panthers, the Mountain League’s No. 3 seed ahead.
Amsden finished 2-for-4 for Palo Verde. The Panthers had just six hits.
Lincoln Guillermo was 2-for-4 with a home run for Desert Oasis, and Brody Griffith was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Landon O’Dell had an RBI single for the Diamondbacks and Aidan Smith added an RBI and a run scored.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
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