Data show outside groups spent $4 million more on Nevada races

By BEN BOTKIN LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

9 years ago

Catherine Cortez Masto appears at the Board of Regents meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, in Las Vegas. The regents approved a contract for Cortez Masto that will make her the executive vice chancellor. (David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

U.S. Rep. Cresent Hardy, R-Nev., listens to participants during a roundtable event at Xtreme Manufacturing in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. It was his first appearance after a heart episode sent him to the hospital on Sunday. David Becker/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @davidjaybecker

Jacky Rosen, Democratic candidate for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, second from left, hosts a roundtable discussion on women’s issues with, from left, U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., and Lois Frankel, D-Fla., at Rosen’s campaign office in Henderson on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. (Bill Hughes/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Outside political groups reported last week putting another $4 million into Nevada’s U.S. Senate and congressional races, according to Federal Election Commission data available Friday.

The majority of the spending went into the competitive Senate race between U.S. Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., and Democratic candidate Catherine Cortez Masto, a former Nevada attorney general. Here’s a look at the recent expenditures:

• The NRSC, or National Republican Senatorial Committee, put $594,164 into media production and placement opposing Cortez Masto.

• Planned Parenthood Votes, a super PAC, spent $63,873.71 on canvassing, database services, phone calls and volunteer recruitment efforts supporting Cortez Masto. The organization also put another $335,847 into efforts opposing Heck, including canvassing, database services, digital ads, phone calls, and recruiting volunteers.

• The DSCC, or Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, reported $515,170 into media opposing Heck.

• Freedom Partners Action Fund, a super PAC that’s part of the Koch brothers’ network of political organizations, reported $602,153 on television ads opposing Cortez Masto. Americans For Prosperity, a political nonprofit group also affiliated with the Koch brothers, reported $37,646.33 on opposition efforts against Cortez Masto that include canvassing, mailers, phone banks and worker salaries.

• Immigrant Voters Win PAC reported $53,539.72 on efforts to support Cortez Masto, including canvassing and literature.

• The 4th Congressional District race between incumbent U.S. Rep. Cresent Hardy, R-Nev., and Democratic challenger Ruben Kihuen, a state senator, had $544,472 in outside spending reported last week. The bulk of that, $535,257.56, was from the NRCC, or National Republican Congressional Committee. The NRCC spent $522,537 on media opposing Kihuen, and $12,720 on survey research. Separately, Immigrant Voters Win PAC reported $9,214.77 on efforts to support Kihuen by canvassing.

• The 3rd Congressional District race between Republican Danny Tarkanian and Democratic candidate Jacky Rosen is attracting spending in smaller amounts.

The DCCC, or Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, spent $322,780.82 on a media buy opposing Tarkanian. Separately, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund put $844 into graphic art design and door hangers supporting Tarkanian. The group also reported spending $844 on door hangers and graphic art design opposing Rosen.

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