Josh Goodman is a former staff writer for GOVERNING..
E-mail: mailbox@governing.comTwitter: @governing
Slightly Good News for Jim Gibbons
Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons hasn't gotten much good news since he was elected in 2006, but he received a boost this week. Former state senator Joe Heck, who's regarded as a potentially strong statewide candidate, announced that he is challenging Gibbons in a Republican primary in 2010.
Now, I know that sounds like bad news. For Gibbons, though, whose tenure has been plagued by personal scandals and economic upheaval, this is what passes for a positive development.
Gibbons is unpopular enough that it's unlikely (though not impossible) he could win a Republican primary against a single strong opponent. Now he doesn't have to try. Heck is his second credible primary challenger, along with North Las Vegas Michael Montandon. It's possible more candidates could still join the field.
What's more, Heck and Montandon both hail from Clark County. Normally, that's not a bad thing in Nevada politics, since more than three-quarters of Nevadans live there. However, Gibbons' base, if he still has one, is in Reno and the rest of the Southern Nevada, which he represented in Congress. If Heck and Montandon split the Clark vote, perhaps Gibbons could sneak to victory.
Still, the more likely scenario is probably that Gibbons decides against running for reelection at all. If he has virtually no chance of winning the general election, what's the point of winning the primary?
Twitter: @governing
GOVERNING Politics is the place for news and analysis on campaigns and elections. If there's a ballot measure in California, a legislative election in Alabama, a mayoral election in Anchorage or a governor's race in Rhode Island, GOVERNING Politics probably is writing about it. We love everything about state and local politics, from polls and campaign ads to policy debates and demographic trends.
Latest From Politics
- Eric Garcetti Faces Major Challenges as Next Mayor of Los Angeles
- How Weak is the Republican Party in the Most Democratic States?
- Looking Back at Howard Dean's 50-State Strategy
- Are States Deepening the Nation's Red-Blue Divide?
- How Successful Are Lieutenant Governors Seeking the Governorship?
Categories
- Ballot Measures
- Economic & Fiscal Issues
- Election Results
- Governors
- Legislatures
- Local Offices
- Mayors
- Media and Advertising
- National Politics
- Parties & Interest Groups
- Political Map
- Polls
- Redistricting & Reapportionment
- Social Issues
- State Offices
- Voting Process & Voting Rules
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
Flickr
RSS
© 2011 e.Republic, Inc. All Rights reserved. |