Election Changes North-South Balance of Power

The election produced a shift in power in Nevada, not only Republican to Democrat, but north to south. Those changes are taking place as the state approaches a critical session of the legislature.

The loss of two Republican senators in southern Nevada, ironically, will have the biggest impact on the north end of the state. Those senators, Bob Beers and Joe Heck, won't be returning to Carson City next year. Washoe County's Bill Raggio will, but in a different role.

Raggio has been a fixture in the Nevada State Senate since 1973, the longest senate career in state history. For much of that time, ten of those sessions, he's held the post of Senate Majority Leader, arguably the most powerful man in the Nevada Legislature. As southern Nevada grew in population and political power he's been the north's counterweight. When the lawmakers meet again next year, Democrats will hold the edge in the upper house for the first time since 1991. Raggio won't be setting the agenda.

"It's going to make a big difference," says Raggio. "We've been able to exert some influence and we'll still be able to do that. We have strong voices, but the most votes and the leadership are now all from the south."

The new man in the Majority Leader's office will be North Las Vegas Democrat Steven Horsford. The two men worked together during this past summer's special session. Horsford, new to the leadership position, signed off on a budget cutting agreement, but when it came time to vote, balked, stalling, for the moment a bi-partisan effort to pass the measure and adjourn. It was in the view of many a rookie mistake.

Months later Raggio dismisses the incident as a bit of political posturing, but stops short of personal criticism...and notes, the session just ahead will be difficult for Republican and Democrat, north and south.

"I've pledged to the new Majority Leader we'll work with him as much as we can on things we can agree on. We've got to do what's best for the state. These are difficult times and this session will be the most critical, difficult in my memory."

The change in leadership is something southern Nevada Democrats have been aiming at for years and its one Raggio has seen coming for some time. The result...he says...of a perfect storm of recession, an unpopular president, and a Democratic wave, but he says part of the blame lies with his own party.

Raggio: "We fight among ourselves. We're not unified. There's too much extremism in the party and until the party gets unified, we not sending out a clear message."

Raggio sailed to an easy victory Tuesday night, but he survived a serious challenge earlier in the Republican primary from veteran tax hawk and former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle. Realizing what was at stake, there were local Democrats who walked precincts for him.

The election produced a shift in power in Nevada, not only Republican to Democrat, but north to south. Those changes are taking place as the state approaches a critical session of the legislature.

The loss of two Republican senators in southern Nevada, ironically, will have the biggest impact on the north end of the state. Those senators, Bob Beers and Joe Heck, won't be returning to Carson City next year. Washoe County's Bill Raggio will, but in a different role.

Raggio has been a fixture in the Nevada State Senate since 1973, the longest senate career in state history. For much of that time, ten of those sessions, he's held the post of Senate Majority Leader, arguably the most powerful man in the Nevada Legislature. As southern Nevada grew in population and political power he's been the north's counterweight. When the lawmakers meet again next year, Democrats will hold the edge in the upper house for the first time since 1991. Raggio won't be setting the agenda.

"It's going to make a big difference," says Raggio. "We've been able to exert some influence and we'll still be able to do that. We have strong voices, but the most votes and the leadership are now all from the south."

The new man in the Majority Leader's office will be North Las Vegas Democrat Steven Horsford. The two men worked together during this past summer's special session. Horsford, new to the leadership position, signed off on a budget cutting agreement, but when it came time to vote, balked, stalling, for the moment a bi-partisan effort to pass the measure and adjourn. It was in the view of many a rookie mistake.

Months later Raggio dismisses the incident as a bit of political posturing, but stops short of personal criticism...and notes, the session just ahead will be difficult for Republican and Democrat, north and south.

"I've pledged to the new Majority Leader we'll work with him as much as we can on things we can agree on. We've got to do what's best for the state. These are difficult times and this session will be the most critical, difficult in my memory."

The change in leadership is something southern Nevada Democrats have been aiming at for years and its one Raggio has seen coming for some time. The result...he says...of a perfect storm of recession, an unpopular president, and a Democratic wave, but he says part of the blame lies with his own party.

Raggio: "We fight among ourselves. We're not unified. There's too much extremism in the party and until the party gets unified, we not sending out a clear message."

Raggio sailed to an easy victory Tuesday night, but he survived a serious challenge earlier in the Republican primary from veteran tax hawk and former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle. Realizing what was at stake, there were local Democrats who walked precincts for him.