Democrats continue leading Republicans in Nevada voter registration

CARSON CITY - Nevada Democratic politicians should be wearing broad grins, at least until Election Day.

In September, for the fifth month in a row, more than twice as many people registered as Democrats in Nevada than as Republicans.

Democrats last month registered 30,377 voters, compared with 14,532 Republicans, and 15,240 nonpartisans, according to figures released by the secretary of state's office.

Of about 1.2 million active registered voters in Nevada, 41.58 percent, or 493,606, are Democrats. Republicans now have 422,045 voters, 35.6 percent, and nonpartisans, 202,181 voters, 17.02 percent.

While presumptive Republican state Senate leader Michael Roberson, R-Henderson, still talked Monday of Mitt Romney winning the presidency and Republicans taking control of the state Senate, he conceded the registration battle is not going his party's way.

"We are prepared to win the races despite their registration advantage," he said. "Not everyone votes lockstep with their party. I can promise a renewed voter registration effort after the election. It won't happen overnight. We need a sustained registration effort."

The state Republican Party has splintered into factions supporting Romney and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas. Because of the divide, the national Republican Party has created Team Nevada to work for Romney and other Republicans.

With the September figures in, there are now 71,561 more Democrats than Republicans in Nevada. The Democrats' advantage is more than the 60,118 vote lead they enjoyed at the time of the 2010 general election , but still less than the 100,723 registration lead they held when Barack Obama was elected president in 2008.

The lead isn't going to change much before the Nov. 6 election. If you want to vote in that election, you must register in person at county registrar's offices by Oct. 16. Those who choose to register online or by mail can do so by this Saturday. For more information about registering online, visit: www.registertovotenv.gov. All counties in the state now allow online registration.

Sen. Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas, said the Democratic registration surge will help his party's candidates.

"The numbers are an advantage for our candidates," said Denis, the likely Democratic leader in the state Senate in 2013. "Folks are identifying with the Democratic Party and our ideas, like education funding. We said all along it was going to happen. People are tired of what they see going on in D.C. and don't want it happening in Carson City."

Still, Roberson contends the Republicans will win all five of the key state Senate races - districts 5, 6, 9, 15 and 18 - and he will become majority leader. But in each of those seats, Democrats have outstripped Republicans by about 1,000 voters since May.

In Clark County, the District 5 race pits Democrat Joyce Woodhouse against Republican Steve Kirk, and the Democrats are the lead party by 2,755 voters. In District 6, where Democrat Benny Yerushalmi faces Republican Mark Hutchison, Democrats lead by 3,727 voters.

District 9 pits Republican Mari Nakashima St. Martin against Democrat Justin Jones, and the Democrats lead by 3,571.

Then in District 18, where Republican Scott Hammond faces Democrat Kelli Ross, the Republican lead has dropped to 1,022 voters.

In Washoe County's District 15, Republican Greg Brower's registration lead over Democrat Sheila Leslie is 1,125 .

Contact reporter Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.