GOP challenger withdraws from east valley Assembly race

CARSON CITY — Melody Howard, the Republican nominee for Nevada Assembly District 14, has informally withdrawn from the race because she no longer lives in the east Las Vegas Valley district.

Howard’s candidacy was a long shot against incumbent Democratic Assemblywoman Maggie Carlton. The district favors Democrats by a 3-to-1 ratio.

Howard notified the Review-Journal in an email that she has bowed out. She said she informed the secretary of state’s office of her withdrawal via email.

But her name will still appear on the ballot. The last day to officially withdraw from a race was July 22, according to Wayne Thorley, elections deputy with the secretary of state’s office.

“The candidate who receives the most votes will be declared the winner, even if the candidate has informally withdrawn,” Thorley said in an email. There is no official mechanism to officially withdraw from a race at this point.

Howard could not be reached for further comment Monday.

Carlton on Monday said she didn’t know Howard had dropped out of the race, though she suspected the candidate had moved.

“We noticed that the house was empty,” Carlton said.

It’s unknown whether notices will be posted at polling locations alerting voters to Howard’s residency change. Joe Gloria, Clark County registrar of voters, said his office would abide by any directive issued from the secretary of state’s office.

Carlton said Howard’s departure won’t drastically change her campaign strategy.

“I’ve been out walking in different areas,” she said, adding she has a “walking schedule” planned out through the start of early voting in October.

But now she might use a few days to canvass for other Democratic candidates.

“A couple of Saturdays I may go help someone else,” Carlton said.

Her campaign also has done one mailer, and will likely do two more as planned, she said.

Carlton has been a familiar face in the Legislature since 1998, when she was elected to the Nevada Senate. She served 12 years in the upper chamber until she was prevented from seeking re-election by term limits.

In 2010 she ran for and was elected to the Assembly, where she is seeking a fourth term. In the 2015 session she served on the Ways and Means Committee, as well as the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee and Natural Resources, Agriculture and Mining Committee.

Campaign finance reports show Howard raised $100 in contributions this year.

She beat her Republican opponent, Quay Simons, in the June primary by 50 votes. Simons raised $3,940 for his campaign.

Carlton reported $49,000 raised this year through June 9, the end of the last reporting period.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3821. Follow @SandraChereb on Twitter.