State GOP influence swells

Erin Neff

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002 | 11:15 a.m.

Tuesday's Republican tidal wave in Nevada not only flooded the best Democratic hopes for office but will also have a ripple effect in policy decisions and future elections.

The GOP swept the six constitutional offices, picked up four seats in the state Assembly, held the majority in the state Senate and won Nevada's new congressional seat by a sweeping margin.

"The spreads are even bigger than I could have dreamed," Nevada State Republican Party Chairman Bob Seale said.

The election is expected to set up Republicans not only in future races -- due to term limits, this will be Gov. Kenny Guinn's last term -- but also in the Legislature, where taxes and tort reform will be on the agenda.

A combination of Guinn's coattails, five GOP constitutional officers stumping around the state and what Republicans called their best top-to-bottom ticket in years were all being touted at the aptly named Victory 2002 party poolside at Caesars Palace.

Democrats were dumbfounded, comparing Tuesday's drubbing to the out-of-nowhere Republican congressional gains in 1994 and bemoaning what they said was a cyclical downturn in the party.

"We had some good candidates," State Democratic Party Chairman Terry Care said. "It's cyclical to an extent, but it's obviously a huge disappointment."

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., watched his party, and himself, lose leadership roles in the Senate and saw the three Nevada candidates he had personally championed each go down by double digits.

"The alternative would have been to have no one running," Reid said during a quick walk-through at the Democratic Party gathering at the Riviera. "John Hunt, Erin Kenny and John Lee didn't win, but they forced the Republicans to not coronate anyone."

But Republicans didn't see the three Democratic candidates who ran unsuccessfully for attorney general, lieutenant governor and controller respectively, as the right candidates.

"I think we won a lot of these races on filing day," said Mike Slanker, a Republican consultant who worked on Jon Porter's winning congressional campaign in the new 3rd District.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said he thought the Republican victories in Nevada were further evidence of "a great night for President Bush."

"Nationwide this is really a reflection on him," Ensign said. "But ultimately, candidates win elections and our candidates made the difference."

Guinn, who kept any serious Democratic opponents out of the race by raising more than $2 million for his re-election, said he thought having five of the six state constitutional offices in Republican hands going into the election helped his party.

"The top of the ticket worked very hard," Guinn said.

Republican incumbents Guinn, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Secretary of State Dean Heller, Treasurer Brian Krolicki and Controller Kathy Augustine all won handily and helped each other and newcomer Brian Sandoval in the attorney general's race.

But Guinn played the largest role, donating $225,000 from his campaign to the state Republican Party's efforts and attending fund-raisers for other Republicans.

"I showed up at their functions and helped the state party raise money," Guinn said. "I also gave them a lot of money."

Republican consultant Pete Ernaut, who ran Guinn's first campaign and worked this year for Sandoval, said this election was unique nationwide because national security continued to dominate policy.

"Anytime issues of national security are at the forefront, Republicans have an advantage," Ernaut said.

Democrats agreed, with everyone from Assembly candidates to former U.S. senators crediting President Bush and the war on terrorism.

"It's a great personal triumph for the president," said former Democratic senator and former Gov. Richard Bryan. "He campaigned more in a midterm election than any other president and this election was skewed by 9-11.

"The presidential bully pulpit made it difficult for Democrats to talk about the economy and made it even more difficult to criticize the president."

U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., was the lone bright spot for Democrats on Tuesday, winning re-election to her third term.

"The president did a masterful job and the Democrats are going to have to work twice as hard to turn out our voters," Berkley said.

Beyond simply occupying more seats in state government, Republicans will also have a greater say in the policy discussion.

Democrats had hyped a possible takeover of the state senate, but will return to Carson City in February with the same 12-9 deficit as in the 2001 session. The real pickup Tuesday was by Republicans in the Assembly, reducing the Democratic lead from 27-15 to 23-19.

Incoming freshman Republican Assemblyman Chad Christensen of Las Vegas said the pickup of seats will help "balance the equation."

Another incoming freshman, Republican Assemblyman Walter Andonov of Henderson, said he thought Tuesday's election will help his party hold the line on new taxes.

And with all six constitutional offices now held by Republicans, the GOP will have automatic candidates with proven statewide success in future years.

Attorney General-elect Sandoval, Hunt, Heller and Krolicki are all potential candidates in the future.

Hunt, who called Tuesday's sweep "a coup" and referred to the six constitutional officers as "the dream team," may use her second term as a launching pad for governor in four years.

Heller said when he is prevented from seeking re-election in four years, he'll follow U.S. Rep. Jim Gibbons' lead before deciding what to do.

"The best thing I have going for me is that I do have options," Heller said.