State Sen. Barbara Cegavske to run for Congress

By Anjeanette Damon

Published Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 | 5:09 p.m.

Updated Friday, Nov. 11, 2011 | 11:10 a.m.

State Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, today became the first Republican to throw her hat in the ring for Nevada’s new 4th Congressional District.

Cegavske, a three-term state senator with a reputation as a staunch conservative who has consistently opposed tax increases, said she will run on a platform of “protecting social security” and job creation.

“We can improve our economy and get people back to work if we send people to Congress who are committed to sound fiscal policy, sensible tax policy and regulatory reform,” Cegavske said in a written release.

Cegavske, who cannot run for re-election in the state Senate again because of term limits, will be competing in a heavily Democratic district that stretches from North Las Vegas through six rural counties.

Democrats have a 13-point voter registration advantage in the district, but Republican strategists believe the vote might favor the GOP because of the rural counties.

State Sen. Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, and state Sen. John Lee, D-North Las Vegas, have already launched campaigns for the seat.

UPDATE: Las Vegas businessman Dan Schwartz has also filed papers with the Federal Elections Commission to begin raising money for the CD4 race. He has not formally launched his campaign yet.