League of Conservation Voters boosts election spending in Nevada

The League of Conservation Voters is launching a voter canvass in Nevada this week that will increase the group’s spending in the state to almost $1.4 million this election cycle.

The environmental group’s canvass will be in support of Catherine Cortez Masto, the Democratic candidate in Nevada’s U.S. Senate race. It targets 152,000 identified likely voters in Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas.

Cortez Masto, a former Nevada attorney general, faces U.S. Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., in the open contest for the seat of retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

The canvass is an independent expenditure, meaning it isn’t coordinated with the campaigns of candidates. It’s the league’s largest independent expenditure for a field canvass campaign in Nevada.

“Nevada’s families need to be represented by someone who will help Nevada become a solar energy leader and fight to protect our clean air and water — and that person is Catherine Cortez Masto,” said Nevada Conservation League Executive Director Andy Maggi in a statement.

League National Campaigns Director Clay Schroers said the group is building a robust campaign to get its message out to Nevada voters. The group stresses awareness about environmental issues such as climate change and clean energy, water and air.

Heck’s campaign pointed to his environmental record, which includes proposed legislation to increase renewable energy development on public lands, and getting legislation passed in 2014 to clean up an abandoned manganese mine and mill site in Henderson.

“As the father of three, of course Dr. Heck cares about the future of our natural environment, which is why he co-sponsored legislation supporting renewable energy development in Nevada,” Heck spokesman Brian Baluta said in a statement, calling the league “DC-based partisan special interest.”

The league in April did an initial $260,000 field canvassing effort in Nevada supporting Cortez Masto. The league and the LCV Victory Fund also have been involved in digital advertising and direct mail efforts in Nevada and other early voting states backing Hillary Clinton for president.

The league, the LCV Victory Fund, and its state affiliates spent more than $30 million on federal and state races nationwide in 2014, setting a record.

Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904. Find @BenBotkin1 on Twitter.