Jim Wheeler resigns as Nevada Assembly minority leader

CARSON CITY — Less than 24 hours after the Nevada Legislature ended its 2019 session, state Republicans shook up party leadership in the Assembly.

Assembly Minority Leader Jim Wheeler, R-Minden, resigned from his leadership position during the caucus’ post-session meeting Tuesday.

Three-term Assemblywoman Robin Titus, R-Wellington, was unanimously elected to replace Wheeler. Assemblywoman Jill Tolles, R-Reno, and freshman Assemblyman Tom Roberts, R-Las Vegas, were selected as co-deputy leaders.

Titus, a physician, said she would work on increasing the number of Republicans in the Assembly.

“I’m honored to have the support of my colleagues,” she said in a statement. “I look forward to working with Speaker Frierson and Governor Sisolak to ensure that we can make progress for all Nevada families. Our caucus is united, and we are ready to get to work in an effort to send more Republicans to Carson City. I look forward to announcing our full leadership team in the coming weeks.”

Reached Tuesday, Wheeler said he resigned from the post for “some personal reasons.”

But sources said the resignation came after one of the caucus members approached Wheeler before Tuesday’s meeting and told him he didn’t have the votes to be re-elected as leader.

Republicans lost key Assembly seats in 2018 that led to them being in the super-minority in the Legislature, leaving them with little power to stop legislation backed by Democrats, who control both houses and the governor’s mansion. There were just 13 Republicans in the Assembly this session, and 29 Democrats.

With the legislative session over, Wheeler said that the caucus needed to shift immediately towards the 2020 election and recruiting candidates to competitive races so that the party can have more influence when the 2021 legislative session comes around.

“Gotta get seats back, that’s the whole point of everything,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler said he intends to run for re-election for his Assembly seat and wished Titus “all the luck in the world.”

Wheeler took over as leader of the caucus in 2017 after then-Assemblyman Paul Anderson stepped down from his seat in the Legislature to work for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3820. Follow @ColtonLochhead on Twitter.