2008 ELECTION:

Titus declares victory over Porter

Sam Morris

State Sen. and now Congresswoman-elect Dina Titus greets supporters at the Nevada State Democratic Party election night party Tuesday at the Rio.

By Brian Eckhouse (contact)

Published Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 | 7:42 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 | 12:03 a.m.

Dina Titus Acceptance Speech

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Congresswoman-elect Dina TItus addresses the crowd.

Jon Porter's concession

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Jon Porter concedes to Dina Titus.

3rd District congressional race

3rd District congressional race - See stories, blogs, photos

Dina Titus declared victory tonight as she continues to lead Rep. Jon Porter, R-Boulder City, in the race for the 3rd Congressional district and appears to have ousted the incumbent congressman. With 71.6 percent of precincts reporting, Titus is leading 47.6 percent to 42.1 percent. Porter has conceded and congratulated Titus.

The incumbent congressman was conciliatory and said he hoped the country could unite again.

"Nevada families are struggling now unlike I've ever seen in my 10-year public service. The mortgages are causing a major impact, we have small businesses that are closing, we have seniors that are losing their pensions. We have a lot of work to do."

"I congratulate my opponent, Dina Titus for her success, but know that we have a lot of work to do. I look forward to working with her and all the other officials that one this evening as we move into this next Congress."

"Throughout the campaign, families would tell me that we need to roll up our sleeves and work together as Democrats and Republicans and Independents for what's best for our community of Nevada and what's best for our nation. I believe we can do that."

"Yes, we have serious challenges today. But I know that together the community of Nevada and the greatest nation in the world, we will overcome these challenges as we always have historically. I'm truly proud to be an American. I'm proud to be a Nevadan and represent our community for so many years."

Many political analysts watched the race between the former state Senate colleagues closely, trying to glean whether Obama’s candidacy had down-ballot coattails. But there were other factors in Titus’ favor.

As the Sun’s Michael J. Mishak reported last month, the Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district by about 31,000, whereas the split was fairly even just two years ago. And incumbent Republicans nationally have been vulnerable this cycle, and especially so since the economy went belly-up in mid-September.

Some of the most debated issues nationally were central in this race. In a debate last month, the candidates squabbled over privatizing Social Security, the federal bailout (Porter supported it, Titus initially opposed it) and energy.

In 1997, Titus recommended limiting growth in a rapidly developing Las Vegas Valley, labeling the proposal “ring around the valley.” The idea, wrote Sun reporter J. Patrick Coolican, “was to allow growth, but manage it within the ring.” The proposal polarized the community and ultimately failed, but “Titus stirred the debate on growth, got people talking about it, and led the fight to protect Red Rock Canyon some years later,” according to Coolican’s report.

Porter also dealt with growth in the state Senate.

According to a profile of Porter by Mishak: “On growth, Porter proposed a 21-member Southern Nevada Planning Authority to study growth requirements in Clark County, a measure opposed as unnecessary bureaucracy by county commissioners.

He won, and, after the 1997 session, announced he had required a packaged of six bills to manage and pay for growth.”

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By thebs

11/5/08 at 12:16 a.m.

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And thus clears the way for Porter to attempt to usurp Gibbons' seat.

Congrats, Dina!
By Public_Education_NV

11/5/08 at 1:05 a.m.

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Dr. Dina Titus will work hard for Nevada. I know she will always have UNLV in the back of her mind while in DC.
By jfnance32

11/5/08 at 1:46 a.m.

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She will be on the very bottom of the food chain in DC.

It will be many years before she will work her way up that food chain.

She will face big election battles every 2 years.

It will be tough for her to keep that seat in 2010 for she will not have Obama coattails to help in a non-presidential year election.

Usually, the party in power loses House seats in first election cycle after winning the Presidency.

She will have to be careful about being a big lib for that will cost her votes.
By johnevegas

11/5/08 at 4:01 a.m.

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I know they both ran negative campaign ads, it was my experience that the ads against Dina were both ridiculous and unceasing.

Congratulations Dina. Good luck to you.
By johnevegas

11/5/08 at 4:38 a.m.

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nance "She will have to be careful about being a big lib for that will cost her votes."

Agreed. But, that logic seems to contrast with your Pelosi puppy comments over the last few weeks. And though you make some reasonable points, you leave out the possibility that Dina will be well liked and do a good job.

I'm betting that both will happen, and that Dina will enjoy the benefits of being in step with Washington for the next eight years. She has the possibility to be there for a long time. We'll see.