Key races draw voters

Nevada voters head to the polls today, many expecting to decide who will face Democratic U.S. Sen. Harry Reid in the general election and whether the current governor or another GOP candidate will advance.

Some will go away disappointed.

Nevada has a closed primary system, which means voters can cast a ballot for candidates only of their own party in a partisan race.

"There are a lot of voters who have not got that straight and were very upset in early voting," said Larry Lomax, Clark County's registrar of voters.

It is these two races that have most captured the attention of the media and the public and that in turn are drawing more Republicans than Democrats to the polls this election. Beyond these two contests, there are competitive partisan races for Congress, the state Legislature and the Clark County Commission, among other posts.

Nonpartisan and third-party voters can cast ballots for sheriff, Board of Regents, School Board and judicial contests.

Already about 160,000 people statewide have cast ballots through early voting, by mail or by absentee voting. About as many are expected to vote today.

In Clark County, which is where about 65 percent of active voters are registered, Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller expects overall turnout among Republicans to be about 35 percent to 40 percent. Among Democrats he expects turnout to be about 20 percent.

Miller expects total statewide turnout to be 20 percent to 25 percent.

Accounting for the higher energy among Republicans are the competitive race for Reid's seat among Republicans Sharron Angle, Danny Tarkanian, Sue Lowden and other candidates, as well as a gubernatorial primary with the possibility that former federal Judge Brian Sandoval could take down incumbent Gov. Jim Gibbons, with polls showing former North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon a distant third.

Eight Republican candidates are vying for the chance to challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley in the fall.

On the Democratic side, the race for the nomination to challenge incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki is the most competitive primary for a statewide office.

Democrats in state Senate District 7 in Las Vegas will vote in a competitive primary between Assemblywoman Kathy McClain and Assemblyman Mark Manendo. Each wants to run for the seat being vacated by termed-out Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas.

Republicans in state Senate District 9 also have a competitive race, with newcomer Elizabeth Halseth seeking to oust incumbent Sen. Dennis Nolan. Democrats, who hope to pick up that seat in the fall, will choose among Benny Yerushalmi, Steven Saxe and Sharona Dagani.

Democrats in Clark County Commission District G are competing for the seat being vacated by Commission Chairman Rory Reid, who is running as a Democrat for governor.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.