Can the GOP protect Hardy’s seat?

WASHINGTON — Senior Republicans and business leaders in Las Vegas are helping Rep. Cresent Hardy build a firewall as he prepares to defend his newly won seat in Congress.

The freshman Republican from Mesquite raised $292,250 during the first three months of the year, according to newly released records from the Federal Election Commission. Counting carryover money from late last year, Hardy counted $306,549 in his bank account.

Hardy, 57, received a boost from an array of top Republicans, a sign that the party is invested in keeping the 4th Congressional District — a surprise pickup in November’s elections — in GOP hands.

“This was a big takeaway for them, and they want to keep it that way,” said Mark Peplowski, political science professor at the College of Southern Nevada, adding that Hardy’s haul “is a strong number for his first quarter in office.” “

Peplowski said early donations by party leaders serve to “prime the pump. It shows people, ‘We are going to put lots of money in this race and we want everybody else to do likewise.’”

Among Republican donors: Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada ($10,000); House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio ($17,000); House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California ($14,000); House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana ($9,500); and presidential candidate Jeb Bush ($5,400).

Las Vegas business donors included Maurice Gallagher, chairman of Allegiant Travel Co., and M Resort President Anthony Marnell III. Each gave $5,400, the maximum for individual donations.

Hardy also collected $165,400 from political action committees, about 56 percent of his total fundraising. His PAC contributors included Caesars Entertainment Corp. ($5,000); Barrick Gold Corp. ($7,500), and Koch Industries ($5,000)

Although he carried over money from his first congressional race, Hardy also carried over debt. He reported owing $42,500 to his campaign consultants at Red Rock Strategies in Las Vegas, and $35,000 Hardy loaned his campaign in the fall from personal funds.

Democratic state Sen. Ruben Kihuen has said he plans to run for the seat in the district that includes North Las Vegas and the northern segment of Clark County, part of Lyon County and all of Esmeralda, Lincoln, Mineral, Nye and White Pine counties.

Kihuen’s announcement came on March 28, three days before the close of the fundraising period. He told the FEC he had yet to raise money but had $6,654 left over from an abbreviated House candidacy in 2012.

Elsewhere, Republican Rep. Joe Heck raised $315,412 in the 3rd Congressional District, according to his first-quarter FEC report, and reported $920,000 cash on hand — a substantial sum that Peplowski said should serve as a warning to Democrats looking to enter the race.

“I don’t see a top-drawer Democrat stepping out against him, not if he’s got a million in the bank right now,” Peplowski said. “That means he can raise another million before the campaign year starts next year. So he’d have $2 million in the bank against any challenger coming in with nothing.”

The 3rd Congressional District includes Henderson, Boulder City, and unincorporated areas of Southern Nevada south to Laughlin and west to the California border.

Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., who represents the solidly Democratic 1st Congressional District of urban Las Vegas and neighborhoods around the Strip, raised $88,000. Titus, who was weighing a run for U.S. Senate to succeed retiring Sen. Harry Reid, had $149,400 in the bank.

Republican Rep. Mark Amodei raised $51,300 in the 2nd Congressional District that includes the Washoe County and counties in Northern Nevada. He reported $198,800 cash in the bank in the conservative district that has never elected a Democrat.

Contact Review-Journal Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@reviewjournal.com or 202-783-1760. Find him on Twitter: @STetreaultDC