The Nevada congressional elections of 2006 took place on November 7, 2006, when each of the state's three congressional districts elected a representative to the United States House of Representatives. Nevada was considered a battleground state due to the close victory margins. The primaries were held on August 15.

Nevada was one of seven states in which the party that won the state's popular vote did not win a majority of seats in 2006, the other states being Indiana, New Mexico, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

Overview Statewide PartyCandidatesVotesSeats %+/– %Democratic3287,87950.08133.33Republican3260,31745.29266.67Independent American313,1072.2800.0Libertarian28,0001.3900.0Independent15,5240.9600.0Total12574,827100.03100.0

By district Results of the 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada by district:

DistrictDemocraticRepublicanOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 85,025 64.84% 40,917 31.20% 5,182 3.95% 131,124 100.0% Democratic HoldDistrict 2 104,593 44.94% 117,168 50.35% 10,963 4.71% 232,724 100.0% Republican HoldDistrict 3 98,261 46.57% 102,232 48.46% 10,486 4.97% 210,979 100.0% Republican HoldTotal 287,879 50.08% 260,317 45.29% 26,631 4.63% 574,827 100.0%

District 1 Incumbent Democrat Shelley Berkley, who had represented the district since 1999, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 66.0% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of D+9.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Shelley Berkley, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary Asimo Sondra "Silver" Lawlor

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Kenneth Wegner, Gulf War veteran and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2004

Eliminated in primary Russ Mickelson, former Air Force pilot, retired Defense Department employee and nominee for this seat in 2004 Michael Monroe, handyman

Results

Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Jim Duensing, radio talk show host and nominee for this seat in 2004

Independent American primary Candidates Nominee Darnell Roberts

Reform primary Candidates Withdrawn Bruce Westcott, businessman and Republican candidate for Governor in 1998 & 2002

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Rothenberg November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2006 CQ Politics November 7, 2006

Results

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Shelley Berkley (D) $1,742,767 $1,674,409 $673,509 Kenneth Wegner (R) $96,582 $96,534 $48 Jim Duensing (L) Unreported Darnell Roberts (IN) Unreported

Outside Spending Candidate (party) Supported Opposed Shelley Berkley (D) $301 $0 Kenneth Wegner (R) $0 $0 Jim Duensing (L) $0 $0 Darnell Roberts (IN) $0 $0

District 2

The district covers all of Nevada outside of Clark County as well as some parts of Clark County. Incumbent Republican Jim Gibbons, who had represented the district since 1997, opted to run for governor rather than re-election, having considered a run for Senate in 2004. He was re–elected with 67.2% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of R+8.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Dean Heller, Secretary of State of Nevada

Eliminated in primary Sharron Angle, state representative Dawn Gibbons, former state representative and wife of Jim Gibbons Richard Gilster, pastor Glenn Thomas, retired aerospace engineer

Declined Kathy Augustine, Nevada State Controller Jim Gibbons, incumbent U.S. Representative and nominee for Governor in 1994 (running for Governor) Brian Krolicki, Nevada State Treasurer (running for Lieutenant Governor)

Campaign There was a "fiercely contested and often bruising" three-way race (with two minor candidates raising the total to five candidates). The Club for Growth poured in over $1 million backing Angle, and ran ads attacking both Heller and Gibbons as being "liberal" and in favor of tax increases.

Endorsements

Polling Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin of errorSharron AngleKathy AugustineDawnGibbonsRichardGilsterDeanHellerGlennThomas Undecided Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal)Las Vegas Review-Journal 2nd Rep Aug 06 August 8–11, 2006 400 (LV) ±5.0% 32% – 19% 1% 32% 1% 16% Neighborhood Research (R) August 8–10, 2006 ? ±5.6% 33% – 21% – 19% – 27% Global Strategy Group (Nevada Credit Union League)Global Strategy Group August 1–3, 2006 ? ±5.0% 26% – 23% – 30% – 21% Neighborhood Research (R) July 26–27, 2006 ? ±5.6% 19% – 22% – 24% – 35% Hart Research (D) July 20–22, 2006 ? ±4.0% 19% – 19% – 35% – 27% Research 2000Research 2000 May 12–14, 2006 400 (V) ±5.0% 15% – 32% – 27% – 26% Hart Research (D) March 12–13, 2006 ? ±4.7% 12% – 34% – 25% – 29% Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal)Las Vegas Review-Journal 2nd Rep Oct 05 October 21–24, 2005 ? ±7.0% 14% – 23% – 37% – 26% Strategic Solutions April 27, 2005 325 (V) ±5.6% 8% 3% 16% – 28% – 43%

Results

Refusal to concede After the primary, Angle refused to concede, complaining of voting irregularities that disenfranchised many voters in her popular home base of Washoe County, which includes Reno and is by far the district's most populous and vote-rich jurisdiction. Rather than calling for a recount — the typical route for candidates who challenge close election outcomes — Angle demanded to have the entire primary invalidated and held again. CQPolitics.com noted "Some have charged Angle’s decision to call for a special primary was based on economics: Had she demanded a recount, Angle would have been responsible for the cost of the procedure unless the result vindicated her request for it. That would not be the case if the courts were to order a primary do-over."

Exacerbating the disunity of the Nevada GOP, Nevada's Republican Party chairman, Paul Adams, announced his support for Angle's court challenge.

At a September 1 state court hearing, District Judge Bill Maddox rejected Angle's request on grounds that the state court lacks jurisdiction in congressional elections. According to Maddox, only the U.S. House of Representatives has standing to call for a new election. At that point, Angle conceded the race.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jill Derby, Regent for the University and Community College System of Nevada

Declined Frankie Sue Del Papa, former Attorney General of Nevada, former Secretary of State of Nevada, candidate for Governor in 1998 and U.S. Senate in 2000

Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Scott Babb

Independent American primary Candidates Nominee James Krochus

Other Candidates Daniel Rosen (Independent)

General election Campaign The bruising GOP primary, as compared to the Democratic situation, was reflected in the cash reserves reported by each candidate in their pre-primary filings with the Federal Election Commission. Derby had $444,000 on hand as of July 26, out of $748,000 raised. Heller had 260,000 left — and that was with 20 days left to go before the actual primary — out of $904,000 in total receipts, which included $108,000 in funds from his personal accounts.

In late August, CQPolitics.com analyzed the race: "Although the 2nd District generally leans Republican, Derby's competitive position in the general election was already strengthened by the fact that she was unopposed in the Aug. 15 Democratic primary while the Republicans staged a bruising battle among three well-known candidates."

Endorsements

Polling The Las Vegas Sun, quoting University of Nevada-Reno political scientist Eric Herzik, noted that the intra-fighting has given the Democratic Party a chance in this otherwise Republican leaning district. "Jill Derby was already doing everything right, and then she gets this gift," he said. "How do you turn a safe district into a competitive one? Fight among yourselves. Republicans here have won because they've stayed united and they continue to turn out. Now you've got partisan infighting, and Adams' leadership is aiding and abetting that - in an already bad year for Republicans."

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferrorDeanHeller (R)JillDerby (D)JamesKrochus (IA)DanielRosen (I)Undecided Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal)Las Vegas Review-Journal LARJ 2nd Oct October 26–30, 2006 400 (RV) ±5.0% 47% 39% 1% 1% 12% Research 2000 (Reno Gazette-Journal/KRNV-DT)Poll: Nevada incumbent senator continues to lead Carter October 23–25, 2006 600 (LV) ±4.0% 48% 40% – – 12% Mellman Group (Derby–D)Poll: Heller, Derby tied in House race October 14–16, 2006 400 (V) ±4.9% 40% 40%5% 15% Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal)Las Vegas Review-Journal LARJ 2nd Sep September 19–21, 2006 400 (RV) ±5.0% 45% 42% 1% – 12% Mellman Group (Derby–D) September 7–9, 2006 ? ±5.0% 44% 35%5% 15% Research 2000 (Reno Gazette-Journal/KRNV-DT)Poll shows close contest in Nevada 2nd Congressional race September 5–7, 2006 600 (LV) ±4.0% 45% 37% – – 18% Research 2000 (Reno Gazette-Journal/KRNV-DT) May 12–15, 2006 400 (LV) ±5.0% 39% 31% – – 30% Hart Research (D)2006 Nevada Polls March 12–13, 2006 429 (RV) ±4.7% 43% 25% – – 32%

With Angle Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorSharronAngle (R)JillDerby (D) Undecided Research 2000 (Reno Gazette-Journal/KRNV-DT) May 12–15, 2006 400 (LV) ±5.0% 31% 30% 39% Hart Research (D) March 12–13, 2006 429 (RV) ±4.7% 32% 28% 40%

With Gibbons Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorDawnGibbons (R)JillDerby (D) Undecided Research 2000 (Reno Gazette-Journal/KRNV-DT) May 12–15, 2006 400 (LV) ±5.0% 35% 30% 35% Hart Research (D) March 12–13, 2006 429 (RV) ±4.7% 37% 33% 30%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Rothenberg November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2006 CQ Politics November 7, 2006

Results

Finances Campaigns Candidate (party) Raised Spent Cash on hand Dean Heller (R) $1,634,942 $1,609,281 $25,658 Jill Derby (D) $1,610,549 $1,594,051 $16,496 Daniel Rosen (I) Unreported James Krochus (IA) Unreported

Outside Spending Candidate (party) Supported Opposed Dean Heller (R) $207,355 $722,582 Jill Derby (D) $232,280 $481,215 Daniel Rosen (I) $0 $0 James Krochus (IA) $0 $0

District 3 Incumbent Republican Jon Porter, who had represented the district since 2003, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 54.5% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of D+1.

Republican primary Porter was a member of the moderate/liberal Republican Main Street Partnership and was a supporter of stem-cell research.

Candidates Nominee Jon Porter, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Tessa Hafen, former press secretary for US Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid

Eliminated in primary Mark Budetich Jr, Merchant Marine electrician and candidate for this seat in 2002 and 2004 Barry Michaels, chiropractor Anna Nevenic, writer, peace activist and candidate for this seat in 2004 Freddie Warman

Declined Andre Agassi, professional tennis player

Results

Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Joseph Silvestri, teacher, realtor and nominee for this seat in 2004

Independent American primary Candidates Nominee Josh Hansen

General election Endorsements

Debate Complete video of debate, October 19, 2006

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferrorJonPorter (R)TessaHafen (D)JosephSilvestri (L)JoshHansen (IA)Undecided Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal)Las Vegas Review-Journal LARJ 3rd Oct October 26–30, 2006 400 (RV) ±5.0% 46% 39% 1% 4% 10% RT Strategies and Constituent DynamicsRT Strategies/CD RT Oct October 24–26, 2006 1,031 (LV) ±3.0% 51% 44% – – 5% Mason-Dixon (Las Vegas Review-Journal)Las Vegas Review-Journal LARJ 3rd Sep September 19–21, 2006 400 (RV) ±5.0% 47% 37% 1% 2% 13% RT Strategies and Constituent DynamicsRT Strategies/CD RT Aug August 27–29, 2006 1,018 (LV) ±3.1% 51% 43% – – 6%

Predictions