Fun facts on Nevada senators

In light of Sen. John Ensign’s announcement he will not run for re-election, blogger Eric Ostermeier has posted some interesting information about Nevada senators who have left office.

“Of the 19 U.S. senators from the Silver State who have held office since popular vote elections were introduced there in 1908, just four have retired from office, and only one on their own terms or untouched by scandal,”  writes Ostermeier, research associate at the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs.

Who was that senator? Ostermeier’s answer is in this column, although some may dispute his contention that Paul Laxalt does not qualify as having left on his own terms.

Democrats today are circulating this column in a move to combat the conventional wisdom that the departure of politically wounded Ensign will help Republicans hold on to the Nevada seat.

Actually, Ostermeier writes, “Nevada electoral history gives Democrats excellent odds.” 

“U.S. Senate incumbents in Nevada have won 27 out of 34 contests since popular vote elections were introduced in the Silver State in 1908, or a 79.4 percent success rate,” he writes. “However, in open seat races, the political party has held its seat just 20 percent of the time, or 1 out of 5 contests, and never in a general election.”