Nevada court upholds election ruling

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- The Nevada Supreme Court says state Republican and Democratic party leaders can choose their candidate to run for the state's open U.S. House seat.

In a decision issued late Tuesday, justices upheld a lower court ruling and sided with the state Republican Party over Democrats and Secretary of State Ross Miller, who said the Sept. 13 special election should be an open contest.

The ruling is seen as a boon to Mark Amodei, a former state senator who was among 15 Republican contenders still vying for the seat. Republicans feared an unbridled ballot would splinter the Republican vote and allow Democrats to claim the seat for the first time since its creation in 1982.

Amodei has been endorsed by the state GOP central committee. Democrats have embraced state Treasurer Kate Marshall.