Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Del Papa withdraws from U.S. Senate race

Frankie Sue Del Papa thought that being a U.S. senator from Nevada would be the best job in the world. Trying to raise money for it, though, turned out to be her worst nightmare.

Del Papa dropped out of the race Wednesday to succeed U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan, saying she didn't have the stomach for raising enough money to be competitive against likely Republican nominee John Ensign.

It was the second withdrawal from a major statewide race in two years for Nevada's attorney general, who quit an earlier campaign for governor for similar reasons.

"The seats are being auctioned off to the highest bidder," Del Papa told The Associated Press in announcing her withdrawal.

Del Papa, who was running for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan, said she had raised only $320,000 and would have had to raise some $250,000 a month between now and the election to stay competitive.

The third-term Democrat said she had a "heart-to-heart talk" with U.S. Sen. Harry Reid over the weekend and decided at that time that she would pull out of the race.

"I once thought that to be U.S. senator from Nevada would be the greatest job one could ever have," Del Papa said. "I still believe that, but the price I would have to pay is something regrettably I am unwilling to do. I care more about serving the public than I do about raising the money."

Del Papa's withdrawal leaves Ensign, a former Republican congressman who lost by 428 votes to Reid last year, as the only major candidate in the race to succeed Bryan, who is stepping down after two terms in office.

"The worst thing about running for office is raising money," Ensign said. "I know that because I've been outspent in every one of my races."

Bryan said he was disappointed in Del Papa's withdrawal, but understood her frustration with raising the money needed to stay in the race.

"It's a sad day when money becomes a dominant part of the process," Bryan said. "I think it is totally out of control."

Bryan said Del Papa was his personal choice to succeed him in office, but said he did not try and talk her out of getting out of the race.

"I know she's been anguishing about this, but this was her choice," Bryan said. "We talked, but it was her decision. I would have been proud to have Frankie Sue hold my seat. She would have been an outstanding senator."

The disparity in fund raising between Del Papa and Ensign was highlighted in campaign financing reports filed by both candidates in July.

Ensign reported he had raised $1.1 million for his campaign, with about a quarter of it being donated by casino interests.

Del Papa, 49, said those same casino interests were not receptive to her candidacy and had contributed less than $50,000 to the campaign.

"I think the financial reports speak for themselves," she said. "I've said all along it shouldn't be about money. Unfortunately, that is the dominating factor."

Del Papa's decision was in contrast to her claims just last month that "the rumors and questions of my demise as a candidate for the U.S. Senate have been overblown."

The veteran Democratic politician declared her candidacy in June, with a group of supporters hoisting campaign signs and cheering in front of her alma mater, Rancho High School, in Las Vegas.

"It's a different race," she said at the time. "We're all committed here."

Del Papa not only had the support of Bryan, who announced earlier this year he would not run again, but was also the choice of Reid, former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones and a number of other politicians.

That didn't prove enough, though, to overcome money raising problems.

Though Del Papa's withdrawal leaves the Democratic Party without a major candidate for the 2000 election, Bryan said there was still enough time for another candidate to emerge.

That candidate, he suggested, could be someone who has never run for office before and has the money to fund a campaign on his own. Meeting that criteria is Las Vegas personal injury attorney Ed Bernstein, who has been mulling entry into the race.

"An Ed Bernstein might fit that role and catch the public's fancy," Bryan said. "Anything can happen in politics and nothing is certain."

Del Papa withdrew in October 1997 from the race for governor under similar conditions, saying she couldn't match the campaign chest of now-Gov. Kenny Guinn. She ran for a third term as attorney general, and won easily.

Del Papa said she would serve out her term as attorney general before deciding what to do next, but acknowledged that her chances at ever running for another statewide office were "probably" over.

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