Heller, Titus cruise to wins

Republican incumbent Dean Heller sailed through his primary election in Congressional District 2 and will face retired military officer Nancy Price, a Democrat, and Independent American Party member Russell Best in November's general election.

For much of the evening the Democratic race was too close to call. At one point three votes separated Price and her competitor, Ken McKenna, an attorney and member of the Nevada Board of Education . Price, however, pulled away and ultimately beat McKenna by 349 votes . Both received 45 percent of the vote.

Heller secured 84 percent of the vote against his lone opponent, Patrick Colletti, a pediatrician. Colletti received 16 percent of the vote.

Dina Titus surfed through the primary Tuesday evening, but in just five months she'll face an undoubtedly stiffer challenge from former state Sen. Joe Heck, a popular Republican backed by former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

National Republican Congressional Committee representatives acknowledged recently that they believe Titus is a vulnerable target and handpicked Heck, who had initially announced his intention to run for governor, to challenge Titus .

Titus skated by opponent John Beard, a 55-year-old businessman, garnering 80 percent of the votes Tuesday and securing her opportunity to defend her Congressional District 3 seat.

Heck, a local physician who believes his education and experience will help provide the needed expertise on health care, enjoyed an equally stress-free primary night, defeating Steven Nohrden with 69 percent of the vote. Nohrden secured 17 percent of the vote; Ed Bridges collected 11 percent and Brad Leutwyler received 3 percent.

Titus said Tuesday she will spend the next few months continuing to work in Washington, D.C., on issues important to Nevadans. She has been active in helping residents with medical care as well as holding onto their homes at a time the state ranks as one of the nation's highest in foreclosures.

After voters study the two candidates and issues, including health care reform, which Heck wants to repeal, Titus is confident she will hold onto her seat.

"People will know they have a clear choice," she said.

The two will face Joseph Silvestri of the Libertarian Party and Scott David Narter of the Independent American Party in November's general election.

Republican Kenneth Wegner came out ahead in a crowded primary race that included eight candidates vying to unseat Rep. Shelley Berkley, who has held the Congressional District 1 seat since 1998. Wegner collected 27 percent of the votes; Michele Fiore was a close second with 22 percent and Craig Lake landed in third place with 20 percent of the votes.

Wegner is not an unfamiliar opponent for Berkley; he unsuccessfully challenged the Democrat in 2006 and 2008.

Political observers predicted the Republican primary would be up in the air, saying GOP candidates were not well known and hadn't distinguished themselves by taking different positions on issues.

Wegner, along with Libertarian Ed Klapproth and Independent American Jonathan Hansen, will try to overthrow Berkley. Berkley represents a district in which registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a ratio of 2-to-1.

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at
apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.