2008 Caucus Guide

Chris Morris / Las Vegas Sun

For the first time, Nevada’s Democrats and Republicans will have a chance to play a stronger role in who the nominees will be for president by being among a select group of states picked to hold primaries and caucuses in January.

Caucus 101: A basic guide on how to participate. Or, read more about the logistics of Jan. 19.

By being one of the early states, Nevada’s caucuses are hoped to gain the state more national attention, bring in more presidential candidates and thus raise awareness of Western issues. More background...

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Interactive Graphic: Clark County Political Breakdown

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From The Politics Blog

Las Vegas voting experience: Albertson's, banana bread and a beauty queen: During early voting at Albertson's, 2011 Miss Nevada Alana Lee cast her ballot -- amid no fanfare.

Buzzfeed: Romney campaign exaggerates size of Nevada event with altered image: http://www.buzzfeed.com/zekejmiller/romney-campaign-appears-to-exaggerate-size-of-neva

Oscar Goodman saddened at the death of his friend and mentor Arlen Specter: Oscar Goodman was a young law student looking for work when he met Arlen Specter in Philadelphia.

Watchdog group hounds government for files on Ensign case: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a formal complaint this week to force the DOJ to turn over files collected during its now-defunct ...

Ron Paul, Mitt Romney delegates stand at the ready: GOP chairman Reince Priebus officially gaveled open the 2012 Republican National Convention today, only to immediately close it for a day-long recess. Even though the ...

Nevada alternate delegate compares national conventions past and present: For Nevada politico Patty Cafferata, the intrigue, plotting and wariness among opposing factions at a national convention is nothing new. Cafferata has been attending conventions ...

Senate passes tax cut extension for those earning $250,000 or less: Democrats in the Senate faced down the closest thing to a legislative dare from Republican leaders Wednesday and passed a tax cut extension for those ...

Senate observes moment of silence in honor of Colorado shooting victims: Sen. Harry Reid led the Senate in a moment of silence Monday afternoon for the moviegoers who died in a horrific shooting in Aurora, Colo., ...

Politics Stories

Photo: Yucca Mountain is located about 90 miles northwest

GOP bill would feed new funding to stalled Yucca Mountain project: By Karoun Demirjian; The annual federal fiscal fight over Yucca Mountain is on once again, now that House Republicans have released their annual appropriations proposal for fiscal 2014.

If NV Energy made too much money last year, should you get a refund?: By Andrew Doughman; NV Energy customers in Southern Nevada could soon get a rebate. A state agency is alleging that the utility essentially overcharged customers and should refund about $10 million to Southern Nevada ratepayers.

Rep. Heck's House seat among those poised for a fight in '14: LETTER FROM WASHINGTON:; By Karoun Demirjian; In 2014, Nevada’s highest elections are races for the House of Representatives, and among them, experts are predicting a knock-down, drag-out fight in only the 3rd Congressional District.

Legislature, Sandoval passed the buck on tax increases to counties: LEGISLATURE 2013:; By Andrew Doughman; It may seem like a riddle, but the Legislature effectively voted to raise taxes this year without ever really voting to raise taxes. That’s because legislators in several cases circumvented the two-thirds majority requirement to raise taxes and instead dumped the political toxicity of a tax vote on county commissions, whose members will vote on legislatively authorized taxes this year.

Photo: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaks with repo

Dealmaker Reid says no one in D.C. will play along, but would they?: Politics:; By Karoun Demirjian; Legislation, as Sen. Harry Reid often says, is the art of compromise. But lately, Reid is not in a compromising mood. “Who would I negotiate with?” Reid said in an interview with the Sun last week, when asked about his recently expressed reticence to parley with Republicans over how to keep student loan rates from rising on July 1, an issue on which Republicans and Reid’s Democrats differ. “I don’t know of anyone. I’m serious about that. I don’t know of anyone.”

Photo: From war to gay rights, Nevada Senator Richard “

If Dems can't beat Gov. Brian Sandoval in '14, at least have fun and pick Tick: J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; State Sen. Richard "Tick" Segerblom looks like a rumpled philosophy professor, his sun-bleached hair suggesting a sailboat summer sabbatical, icy cocktail in hand, one-liner holstered. Democrats should run him for governor against Brian Sandoval in 2014.

Photo: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, left talks with

Senate nearly votes on Heller's Nevada immigration amendment: By Karoun Demirjian; Sen. Dean Heller’s amendment to include Nevada on the immigration bill’s Southern Border Security Commission almost got its day on the Senate floor Thursday, when Sen. Harry Reid suggested the Senate vote to approve it.

Heller's immigration bill amendments aim to help Las Vegas tourism: Politics:; By Karoun Demirjian; Nevada Sen. Dean Heller is being widely praised in the tourism community for submitting two amendments to the Senate’s immigration bill to better define and streamline a proposed entry-exit system for the country’s top 10 airports for international travelers.

Sandoval says yes to tax-free comped meals, no to legislative committee: Politics:; By Cy Ryan; Gov. Brian Sandoval wrapped up his work Thursday on bills passed by the 2013 Legislature, signing six into law, including the agreement that the state could not collect sales or use tax on complimentary meals given to some players in casinos or on the free food provided to their employees.

Rep. Joe Heck apologizes for son's 'offensive' Twitter rants: By Andrew Doughman; Nevada Rep. Joe Heck’s teenage son has used his Twitter account to insult women, demean gay people and poke fun at President Barack Obama’s race. The Republican congressman apologized for the comments.