Joe Heck wins GOP Nevada Senate primary
Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.) is projected to win the Republican Nevada Senate primary, easily defeating opponent Sharron Angle.
Heck, a popular congressman, was the establishment favorite. Angle — who unsuccessfully challenged Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in 2010 — in March jumped into the race to replace the retiring Senate leader.
{mosads}Angle lost to Reid by nearly 6 points in 2010, amid a GOP electoral wave and the rise of the Tea Party. Republicans, still bitter over her loss, did not rally behind her campaign this time around.
Heck’s resounding victory sets up what is expected to be a competitive Senate race this fall against former Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, who won the Democratic primary Tuesday night.
Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump’s low approval rating with Hispanic voters could hurt Heck’s chances in a state where 17 percent of its eligible voters are Hispanic, according to the Pew Research Center.
If elected, Cortez Masto would be the first Hispanic woman elected to the Senate.
Reid’s seat is one of the few Republican targets this cycle as the party seeks to maintain its slim Senate majority. The GOP is defending 24 seats this fall while Democrats defend just 10.
Democrats need to gain five seats — or four seats and maintain control of the White House — to reclaim the majority in the Senate.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Regular the hill posts
The Hill Podcasts
