2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada

Last updated

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada
Flag of Nevada.svg
  2008 November 2, 2010 (2010-11-02) 2012  

All 3 Nevada seats to the United States House of Representatives
 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election12
Seats won21
Seat changeIncrease2.svg1Decrease2.svg1
Popular vote357,369317,835
Percentage50.85%45.22%
SwingIncrease2.svg 8.62%Decrease2.svg 5.13%

2010 U.S. House elections in Nevada.svg
2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada results map by county.svg

The 2010 House elections in Nevada occurred on November 2, 2010, to elect the members of the State of Nevada's delegation to the United States House of Representatives. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; the elected served in the 112th Congress from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013. Nevada has three seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census.

Contents

These elections were held concurrently with other Nevada elections, including the U.S. Senate, gubernatorial, and various other state and local elections.

Overview

Statewide

PartyCandidatesVotes [1] Seats
No.%No.+/–%
Republican 3357,36950.852Steady2.svg66.67
Democratic 3317,83545.221Steady2.svg33.33
Independent American 314,9672.130Steady2.svg0.0
Independent 16,4730.920Steady2.svg0.0
Libertarian 26,1440.870Steady2.svg0.0
Total12702,788100.03Steady2.svg100.0
Popular vote
Republican
50.85%
Democratic
45.22%
Independent American
2.13%
Libertarian
0.87%
Other
0.92%
House seats
Republican
66.67%
Democratic
33.33%

By district

Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada by district: [2]

District Republican Democratic OthersTotalResult
Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
District 1 58,99535.28%103,24661.75%4,9652.97%167,206100.0%Democratic Hold
District 2 169,45863.30%87,42132.66%10,8294.04%267,708100.0%Republican Hold
District 3 128,91648.13%127,16847.47%11,7904.40%267,874100.0%Republican Gain
Total357,36950.85%317,83545.22%27,5843.93%702,788100.0%

District 1

2010 Nevada's 1st congressional district election
Flag of Nevada.svg
  2008
2012  
  Shelley Berkley, official portrait, 111th Congress (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Shelley Berkley Kenneth Wegner
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote103,24658,995
Percentage61.7%35.3%

U.S. Representative before election

Shelley Berkley
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Shelley Berkley
Democratic

Nevada's 1st congressional district.gif

This district covered most of the City of Las Vegas, as well as parts of North Las Vegas and parts of unincorporated Clark County. Incumbent Democrat Shelley Berkley, who had represented the district since 1999, ran for re-election. She was re–elected with 67.6% of the vote in 2008 and the district had a PVI of D+10. [3]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Fiore had originally filed to challenge of incumbent state senator Dennis Nolan in the Republican primary, however on the March 12 filing deadline, she switched to run for congress with the open support of the national party. [4]

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • David Cunningham, small business owner [5]
  • Michele Fiore, Health Care Company CEO
  • Chuck Flume, businessman
  • Craig Lake, small business owner [6]
  • Michael Monroe, handyman and candidate for this seat in 2006
  • Scott Neistadt
  • Joseph Tatner, writer and career coach [7]

Results

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Kenneth Wegner 7,214 26.7
Republican Michele Fiore5,92222.0
Republican Craig Lake5,27719.6
Republican Chuck Flume4,31816.0
Republican David Cunningham2,0517.6
Republican Joseph Tatner1,2934.8
Republican Michael Monroe4561.7
Republican Scott Neistadt4401.6
Total votes26,971 100.0

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Edward Klapproth

Independent American primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Jonathon Hansen

General election

Campaign

Berkley faced Republican candidate Kenneth Wegner, her opponent from 2006 and 2008, but Berkley did not face much of a challenge from Wegner. Both the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Las Vegas Sun endorsed Berkley in her bid for re-election, with the Sun praising her as a "tireless and diligent worker for her constituents," "a champion of seniors and veterans," and "an advocate for education."

Endorsements

Shelley Berkley (D)

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [10] Safe DNovember 1, 2010
Rothenberg [11] Safe DNovember 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball [12] Safe DNovember 1, 2010
RCP [13] Safe DNovember 1, 2010
CQ Politics [14] Safe DOctober 28, 2010
New York Times [15] Safe DNovember 1, 2010
FiveThirtyEight [15] Safe DNovember 1, 2010

Results

Nevada's 1st congressional district election, 2010 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Shelley Berkley (incumbent) 103,246 61.7
Republican Kenneth Wegner58,99535.3
Independent American Jonathon Hansen2,8471.7
Libertarian Edward Klapproth2,1181.3
Majority44,25126.5
Total votes167,206 100.00
Democratic hold

District 2

2006 Nevada's 2nd congressional district election
Flag of Nevada.svg
  2008
  Dean Heller, official portrait, 112th Congress (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Dean Heller Nancy Price
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote169,45887,421
Percentage63.3%32.7%

2010 NV-02 election results.svg
County results
Heller:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. Representative before election

Dean Heller
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Dean Heller
Republican

This district covered all of Nevada except for parts of Clark County. Reno, along with surrounding Washoe County, casts about 70% of the district's vote. The 2nd District had been represented by Republicans continuously since its creation. Incumbent Republican Dean Heller, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for re-election. He was re–elected with 51.8% of the vote in 2008 and the district had a PVI of R+5. [3]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Patrick Colletti, pediatrician [16]

Results

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dean Heller (incumbent) 72,728 83.7
Republican Patrick Colletti14,16216.3
Total votes86,890 100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Declined

Results

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Nancy Price 18,609 45.4
Democratic Ken McKenna18,25944.5
Democratic Denis Dehne4,15610.1
Total votes26,245 100.0

Independent American primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Russell Best

General election

Campaign

Though Heller faced a close election in 2006 and a somewhat competitive election in 2008, his two-time Democratic opponent Jill Derby declined to run for a third time. Criticizing Price's "glowing" citations of Bernie Sanders, an openly socialist United States Senator and praising Congressman Heller's "core principles," the Las Vegas Review-Journal endorsed Heller in his bid for a third term. [8]

Endorsements

Dean Heller (R)

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [10] Safe RNovember 1, 2010
Rothenberg [11] Safe RNovember 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball [12] Safe RNovember 1, 2010
RCP [13] Safe RNovember 1, 2010
CQ Politics [14] Safe ROctober 28, 2010
New York Times [15] Safe RNovember 1, 2010
FiveThirtyEight [15] Safe RNovember 1, 2010

Results

On election day, Heller won by a large margin, as expected.

Nevada's 2nd congressional district election, 2010 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dean Heller (incumbent) 169,458 63.3
Democratic Nancy Price87,42132.7
Independent American Russell Best10,8294.0
Majority82,03730.6
Total votes267,708 100.0
Republican hold

District 3

2010 Nevada's 3rd congressional district election
Flag of Nevada.svg
  2008
2012  
  Joe Heck (cropped).jpg Dina Titus official photo 2009 (cropped).jpg
Nominee Joe Heck Dina Titus
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote128,916127,168
Percentage48.1%47.5%

U.S. Representative before election

Dina Titus
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Joe Heck
Republican

NV03 109.gif

This district covered the suburbs of Las Vegas, including Henderson, parts of North Las Vegas and Summerlin, and much of unincorporated Clark County. Incumbent Democratic Dina Titus, who had represented the district since 2009, ran for re-election. She was elected with 47.4% of the vote in 2008 and the district had a PVI of D+2. [3]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Dina Titus, incumbent U.S. Representative and nominee for Governor in 2006
Eliminated in primary
  • John Beard, retired small–businessman

Results

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Dina Titus (incumbent) 32,119 80.4
Democratic John Beard7,84619.6
Total votes39,965 100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Withdrawn
  • John Guedry, former City National Bank executive [17]
  • Rob Lauer, real estate investor
Declined
  • Brian Scroggins, businessman and former Clark County Republican Party chair

Results

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Joe Heck 36,898 68.8
Republican Steve Nohrden8,85316.5
Republican Ed Bridges6,06611.3
Republican Brad Leutwyler1,8123.4
Total votes53,629 100.0

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Joseph Silvestri, teacher, realtor, nominee for this seat in 2004, 2006 and 2008

Independent American primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Scott Narter

General election

Campaign

Throughout the campaign, the two candidates argued over the effectiveness of the 2009 Stimulus, how the health care reform bill would affect small businesses, and whether Democratic control of the government has helped or hurt the country. [18]

The Las Vegas Review-Journal strongly criticized Congresswoman Titus for being "a Keynesian to the core" and for believing "government simply isn't spending enough to ensure our prosperity" and praised Republican challenger Heck for bringing "to the office the kind of perspective the House badly needs," endorsing Heck over Titus. [8] The Sun, on the other hand, endorsed Titus, citing her "active and visible" profile and her work to "marshal federal support" to "homeowners hit hard by the economic crisis" as reasons for their endorsement. [9]

Endorsements

Dina Titus (D)

Newspapers

Joe Heck (R)

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [a]
Margin of
error
Dina
Titus (D)
Joe
Heck (R)
Barry
Michaels (I)
OtherUndecided
Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal) [19] October 25–27, 2010400 (LV)±5.0%43%53%1%3%
OnMessage Inc. (R) [20] October 21–24, 2010?±4.9%42%49%3%6%
The Hill/ANGA [21] September 25–27, 2010403 (LV)±4.9%44%47%6%
Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal) [22] September 7–9, 2010400 (LV)±5.0%47%43%1%9%
Ayres, McHenry & Associates (American Action Forum) [23] August 23–24, 2010400 (V)±4.9%45%48%7%
Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal) [24] August 9–11, 2010400 (LV)±5.0%43%42%3%12%
Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal) [25] July 12–14, 2010400 (LV)±5.0%42%40%5%13%
Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal) [26] April 5–7, 2010300 (LV)±6.0%44%49%7%
Wilson Research Strategies [27] March 24–25, 2010?±4.9%35%40%7%18%
Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal) [28] November 30 – December 2, 2009300 (RV)±6.0%40%40%20%

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [10] Lean R (flip)November 1, 2010
Rothenberg [11] Tilt R (flip)November 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball [12] Lean R (flip)November 1, 2010
RCP [13] Lean R (flip)November 1, 2010
CQ Politics [14] Lean R (flip)October 28, 2010
New York Times [15] TossupNovember 1, 2010
FiveThirtyEight [15] Safe R (flip)November 1, 2010

Results

Even though polling showed Heck with a lead over the incumbent Titus, it was a surprisingly close race, and Heck eked into Congress with less than a one percent and 1,700 vote margin of victory.

Nevada's 3rd congressional district election, 2010 [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Joe Heck 128,916 48.1
Democratic Dina Titus (incumbent)127,16847.5
Independent Barry Michaels6,4732.4
Libertarian Joseph Silvestri4,0261.5
Independent American Scott Narter1,2910.5
Majority1,7480.7
Total votes267,874 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

Notes

  1. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010" (PDF). p. 29.
  2. Haas, Karen L. (June 3, 2011). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives . Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Partisan Voting Index Districts of the 111th Congress." The Cook Political Report. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2011. <>.
  4. Benjamin Spillman (March 28, 2010). "GOP brass pick side in primary". reviewjournal.com. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  5. "Nevada Election 2010: Decision-Making Time". nevadabusiness.com. Nevada Business Magazine. June 1, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  6. Chuck Muth (January 6, 2010). "Republican Lake Joins Uphill Race Against Berkley". nevadanewsandviews.com. Nevada News & Views. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  7. Laura Myers (April 30, 2010). "Lowden, Tarkanian attack each other during Republican debate at Orleans". reviewjournal.com. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 For the House | Las Vegas Review-Journal
  9. 1 2 3 Clear picks for House - Las Vegas Sun News
  10. 1 2 3 "The Cook Political Report – Charts – 2010 House Competitive Races". The Cook Political Report. November 1, 2010. Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
  11. 1 2 3 Rothenberg Political Report (November 1, 2010). "House Ratings". Rothenbergpoliticalreport.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
  12. 1 2 3 Crystal Ball, as of November 1,2010
  13. 1 2 3 RealClearPolitics, as of November 1,2010
  14. 1 2 3 "2010 House Ratings Chart". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "House Race Ratings". nytimes.com. The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  16. "Easy primary for House veterans". nevadaappeal.com/. Reno, NV: Nevada Appeal. May 16, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  17. Benjamin Spillman (September 26, 2009). "GOP's Guedry folds campaign for Congress". lvrj.com. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on September 29, 2009. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  18. Dina Titus, Joe Heck exchange jabs in second debate - Las Vegas Sun News
  19. Mason-Dixon Oct
  20. OnMessage Inc.
  21. The Hill/ANGA
  22. Mason-Dixon Sep
  23. American Action Forum
  24. Mason-Dixon August
  25. Mason-Dixon July
  26. Mason-Dixon April
  27. Wilson Research Strategies
  28. Mason-Dixon December