Politics in Carson

With Nevada's state government finally confronting the painful fiscal realities that have ravaged the private sector, voters on Tuesday did the best thing possible: They imposed political balance on Carson City, just in time for the crucial 2011 Legislature.

Democrats went into Election Day holding a 12-9 majority in the Senate and a commanding two-thirds margin in the Assembly, at 28-14. The party threw everything it had -- including smears and lies -- into key swing races to preserve its stranglehold on the lower chamber and build a veto-proof, 14-7 majority in the upper chamber. Such numbers would have allowed Democrats to run roughshod over the GOP minority and Republican Gov.-elect Brian Sandoval, imposing tax increases, gerrymandered redistricting and union protections unchecked.

But voters in a handful of competitive legislative districts made sure the Silver State won't get steamrolled by the far-left Democratic base next year.

They flipped two Democratic Assembly seats to the GOP, with Mark Sherwood ousting incumbent Ellen Spiegel in Henderson's District 21, and longtime Carson City Supervisor Pete Livermore claiming the District 40 seat vacated by the retiring Bonnie Parnell. In the race for Las Vegas' Assembly District 13, the GOP's Scott Hammond overcame well-funded union political director Louis DeSalvio despite a Democratic voter registration advantage.

In the Senate, the GOP gained one seat when Michael Roberson toppled first-term Democrat Joyce Woodhouse in Henderson's District 5, and protected two others with Democratic voter-registration advantages.

With Democrats unable to pass tax increases or override vetoes by themselves, and Mr. Sandoval providing a roadblock to one-party rule, Republicans will have a powerful voice in the Legislature when it comes to reducing the size of government, reforming public education, balancing the budget and redrawing congressional and legislative districts.

That voice will lose its power, however, if the Republican minorities are fractured by hard feelings and differing philosophies. In the Senate, longtime Republican leader Bill Raggio of Reno, a dealmaker who supported tax increases in 2003 and 2009, angered his peers by endorsing Democrat Harry Reid for U.S. Senate over party nominee Sharron Angle. Meanwhile, the election of Mr. Roberson and Elizabeth Halseth moved Sen. Raggio's caucus slightly to the right.

Mr. Sandoval, is now their party standard-bearer. He must use his pulpit to push for tax restraint, a business-friendly regulatory environment, school choice, public employee retirement reform and redistricting that balances populations and creates more competitive campaigns.

The economically destructive mistakes of the 2009 session must not be repeated. The tough decisions lawmakers have avoided for three long years cannot be punted to 2013 and beyond. Republicans have an opportunity to provide leadership in 2011 -- they must seize it.