Democrats maintain control over both houses of Nevada Legislature

CARSON CITY – Democrats retained control of both houses of the Legislature in Tuesday’s election, but fell short of the two-thirds majority they needed to pass any bill, including tax increases, over Gov. Brian Sandoval’s veto.

In the Senate, Democrats picked up one Republican seat with 37-year-old Justin Jones’ narrow victory over Republican Mari Nakashima St. Martin, 28, in Clark County’s District 9. But in Washoe County’s District 15, incumbent Republican Greg Brower, 48, won a narrow victory over Democrat Sheila Leslie, 57.

Near-final returns, however, showed Republican Mark Hutchison, 49, earned a close victory over Democrat Benny Yerushalmi, 38, in Clark County’s District 6. That had been a Democrat seat.

Democrats will continue to hold an 11-10 majority at the 2013 legislative session that begins in February. That’s two votes short of a veto-proof majority.

Democrats also retained control of the Assembly, picking up one seat to gain a 27-15 advantage. That is just one seat short of a supermajority.

Republicans scored the biggest legislative upset of the night when Republican newcomer Wesley Duncan, 31, narrowly beat Assembly Majority Leader Marcus Conklin, 42, in Clark County’s District 37.

LEADERSHIP POST

That loss deprives Conklin of a chance to become Assembly speaker at the legislative session. Instead, Clark County Assembly members William Horne, 50, and Marilyn Kirkpatrick, 45, likely will compete for the leadership post, a post that allows the winner to set the Assembly agenda and name committee chairmen. With final returns pending, Conklin was the only incumbent legislator to lose in Tuesday’s election.

Despite Conklin’s loss, Democratic candidates picked up two Assembly seats that had been held by Republicans.

In District 21 in the Henderson area, Democrat Andy Eisen, 42, beat Republican Becky Harris, 44, to give the Democrats a pickup. And in District 35, Democrat James Healey, 39, scored a close victory over Republican Tom Blanchard, 54, to help his party also gain a seat held by Republicans.

In other key state Senate races, Democrats Joyce Woodhouse, 68, beat Republican Steve Kirk, 53, in Clark County’s District 5, while Republican Scott Hammond, 45, defeated Democrat Kelli Ross, 49, in District 18.

But one of the Democratic victors Tuesday was Andrew Martin, 48, who decidedly beat Republican Kelly Hurst, 30, in Assembly District 9.

A judge ruled Tuesday that Martin lives outside his district and that his candidacy was invalid.

The state constitution allows each house of the Legislature to make decisions on the qualifications of its members, including who won elections, but it also says legislators "shall" reside in their election districts. Further court challenges are expected.

The party caucuses of both parties are expected to name their leaders during closed-door meetings by the end of the week.

Democrats had hoped to gain a two-thirds majority in both houses because they now hold a 90,000 statewide registered voter advantage over Republicans, including a 127,000-voter edge in Clark County.

Because of that advantage, Democrats now have more voters than Republicans in 15 of the 21 state Senate districts and in 29 of the 42 Assembly districts.

TAX INCREASES

Short of a two-thirds majority, Democrats now cannot push tax increases into law over the promised veto by Sandoval, a Republican.

Sandoval, however, has indicated he will support extending $600 million in sales and business taxes for two more years. Otherwise those taxes would expire in July.

Democrats did not push for tax increases in the fall campaign, but emphasized they were the party of the middle class and that something must be done to improve education. A Kids Count report in July ranked Nevada dead last in education and near the bottom in the economic well-being of children and families.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.