Ex-Nevada AG Sandoval resigns as federal judge

Friday, Aug. 14, 2009 | 2:50 p.m.

Brian Sandoval has resigned as a federal judge.

Sandoval, the former Nevada attorney general, has been heavily courted by Republican power brokers to run for governor, and his resignation would seem to indicate a move in that direction.

Sandoval was appointed to the federal bench by President Bush at the urging of Nevada Sen. Harry Reid.

If he decides to run for governor, Sandoval may be taking on Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid, Harry Reid's son and a likely Democratic candidate.

Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons, who has been plagued with flagging poll numbers, scandal and a terrible economy, has pledged a run for re-election. Former State Sen. Joe Heck and former North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon have also indicated they will run for the Republican nomination.

Sandoval, who is viewed as a strong candidate by power brokers, could clear the Republican field, however.

Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, is also mulling a run.

Discussion: 8 comments so far…

By Edna_Cameltoe

8/14/09 at 5:11 p.m.

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The Republicans must be doing a happy dance!
By That_Anonymous_Guy

8/14/09 at 5:40 p.m.

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I'm as liberal as they come, and I like Sandoval. Really good guy.

But will Republican primary voters be willing to embrace a guy who's probably best described as a second coming of Kenny Guinn?
By neiman1

8/14/09 at 5:48 p.m.

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I hope he runs for the Senate. Anybody but Reid.
By MichaelGreen

8/14/09 at 6:07 p.m.

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I eagerly await Sandoval as a gubernatorial candidate explaining that he is a Latino, but the right-wingers who honor the opponents of Justice Sonia Sotomayor are not prejudiced. Uh, yeah.
By renomuse

8/14/09 at 10:55 p.m.

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He's a Palin style quitter. Quit AG mid-term to go for a cushy federal job. Now this? Ego.
By benighse

8/15/09 at 8:45 a.m.

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Why does this article "assume" Sandoval is resigning to run against Gibbons for Governor?

Think about it. Is he giving up a lifetime appointment and salary to be without a job for a year while simply running a fulltime campaign with no guarantee of winning? Or is it possible the Republicans have a strategy here, where in a month when he is available, that Senator Ensign will resign and Governor Gibbons will appoint Sandoval to replace him in the Senate?

Don't laugh. It would take care of the Senator Ensign "problem." It would give newly minted Senator Sandoval an immediate paying job with no down time and give him time to start the 2012 Senate race with a leg up. It would make Governor Gibbons appear "lucid" for at least one moment and one decision in the last couple years.

You're right. It makes too much sense. Relying on the Luv Guv and the Luv Sen to make these good decisions, it will never happen.
By jsilver

8/15/09 at 1:14 p.m.

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Sandoval, He should beat one of the two Reids...Finally a strong candidate for the Republicans....Very nice to see.
By NVDem

8/21/09 at 2:03 p.m.

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So let me get this straight; this 'quitter' ran for AG on the Reublican ticket, then gave up the seat to take a lifetime appointment from Bush, a Republican. In doing so, he allowed a Democrat to take the seat. Next he quits the 'lifetime' appointment for a Federal judge, again representing the Republicans, and now opens the door for Obama and Harry Reid to appoint a Democrat judge, just to climb the political ladder. So, if I were a Republican in these partisan hairy times for R's, how can I possibly vote for this guy who obviously is a quitter that results in the other party gaining his vacated seats? This is the epitomy of selfish, greedy behavior. Yet the Republicans embrace this behavior with open arms. And they still wonder why they can't get a leg up?? Really?