Horsford raised $330,000 in past quarter for House bid

Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, is showing fundraising prowess in his bid for Nevada's new congressional seat.

His campaign raised more than $330,000 in the past quarter ending Dec. 31 and has more than $300,000 cash on hand, according to the campaign.

Horsford is considered the favorite to win the 4th Congressional District because Democrats outnumber Republicans, holding a voter registration advantage of at least 11 percent.

As the top Democrat in the state Senate and a national Democratic Party committeeman, Horsford enjoys strong support from party leaders as well as donors.

In comparison, state Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, raised more than $100,000 in the past quarter and has most of that still on hand, according to her campaign. Although Cegavske was heavily out raised by Horsford this past fundraising quarter, her advisers note she's been in the race for less time than Horsford. She announced her bid in mid-November, a month after Horsford in mid-October.

Next week, Las Vegas businessman Danny Tarkanian plans to launch his Republican campaign for the new House seat in Southern Nevada. He's done well in the past in raising money for three previous failed bids at public office, including for the U.S. Senate in 2010, thanks to his high name recognition. He's a former University of Nevada, Las Vegas basketball star and the son of former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian and Las Vegas City Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian, a Democrat.

Two other Republicans also are in the House race: wealthy Las Vegas businesssman Dan Schwartz and Ken Wegner, who has run and lost three congressional races in Southern Nevada.