2011 Nevada's 2nd congressional district special election

Rules

On May 2, 2011, Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller announced the election, held under an untested 2003 law for replacing House members, would be open to any and all qualified candidates, without primary elections or nominations made by parties' central committees.

The Republican Party filed suit challenging Miller's plan, preferring instead that each party be required to nominate a single candidate. The party's complaint stated that "A fundamental principle of Nevada's electoral statutes is that, in a partisan election, there shall be only one nominee from each political party." On May 19, District Judge Todd Russell sided with the Republican Party and ruling that the major parties would hold conventions in order to each nominate a single candidate. Miller asked the office of the Nevada Attorney General to appeal the case to the Supreme Court of Nevada, which on May 31 issued an order instructing Miller and the state's political parties to address whether the election can be rescheduled due to concerns that the ongoing dispute over its rules may necessitate a delay.

Democratic nomination

Nominee

• Kate Marshall, Nevada State Treasurer

Declared candidates

• George S. Bay
• Chad Dehne, U.S. Marine Corps veteran
• Blake Franzman
• R. J. Gillum
• Zach Jones
• Kate Marshall, Nevada State Treasurer
• Jacques Maye
• Nancy Price, former regent of the Nevada System of Higher Education and unsuccessful candidate for the 2nd district in 2010
• Rex Ricks

Declined to run

• Jill Derby, former regent of the Nevada System of Higher Education and unsuccessful candidate for the 2nd district in 2006 and 2008

Republican nomination

The central committee of the Nevada Republican Party voted to decide the Republican nominee in June 2011. Any Republican who receives at least two votes from members of the central committee can compete in the nomination process, which will be held under a two-round system.

Nominee

• Mark Amodei, state party chairman and former State Senator

Declared candidates

• Mark Amodei, state party chairman and former State Senator
• Greg Brower, State Senator and former United States Attorney
• Hal Carmack
• Guy Felton
• William R. Graves
• Edward Hamilton, perennial candidate
• Ryan Henderson, optician
• Greg Hudson
• Robert X. Leeds
• Kirk Lippold, former USS Cole commander
• Daniel Miller
• Troy "Gunny" Orosco
• Phillip D. Telander
• Busch Voigts Jr.
• Jonathan M. Yuspa
• Sidney Zeller, U.S. Marine Corps veteran

Declined to run

• Sharron Angle, former member of the Nevada Assembly and 2010 Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate
• Brian Krolicki, Lieutenant Governor of Nevada

Independent American Party nomination

Declared candidates

• Timothy Fasano

Independent candidates

• Earl Ammerman
• Roland Lee
• Helmuth Lehmann, businessman and author
• Christopher Simon

General election

Polling

• Commissioned by Daily Kos and the SEIU

Results

References

References

1. Clifton, Guy. (April 29, 2011). "Nevada special election date September 13". [[Reno Gazette-Journal]].
2. Demirjian, Karoun. (April 27, 2011). "Sandoval chooses Dean Heller for John Ensign replacement". [[Las Vegas Sun]].
3. link. (2011-10-04)
4. Trygstad, Kyle. (May 2, 2011). "Nevada Special Election to Be Open to All Candidates". [[Roll Call]].
5. Dornan, Geoff. (May 5, 2011). "GOP challenges Heller seat election plan". Lahontan Valley News.
6. Ryan, Cy. (May 19, 2011). "Judge sides with GOP, rules against free-for-all special election". [[Las Vegas Sun]].
7. Hagar, Ray. (May 21, 2011). "Appeal sought in Nevada's vacant U.S. House seat ruling". [[Reno Gazette Journal]].
8. (May 31, 2011). "Court suggests delay for Nevada House election". [[KSNV-DT.
9. (May 4, 2011). "Nevada Treasurer Kate Marshall announces run for Nevada CD2". [[Reno Gazette-Journal]].
10. "2011 Special Election Filed Candidates". [[Nevada Secretary of State]].
11. Chereb, Sandra. (April 27, 2011). "Nev. governor names Heller to Ensign's Senate seat". [[Yahoo! News]].
12. Myers, Laura. (May 26, 2011). "Derby announces she will not seek U.S. House seat". [[Las Vegas Review-Journal]].
13. Silva, Christina. (June 11, 2011). "350 to decide nominee". [[Nevada Appeal]].
14. Vogel, Ed. (May 9, 2011). "Nevada GOP Chairman Amodei announces run for 2nd Congressional District". [[Las Vegas Review-Journal]].
15. Goldberg, Delen. (May 5, 2011). "Special election count: 4 Republicans, 3 Democrats in race to replace Dean Heller". [[Las Vegas Sun]].
16. Trygstad, Kyle. (May 25, 2011). "Sharron Angle Won't Run in Special Election". [[Roll Call]].
17. Starkey, Melanie. (May 5, 2011). "Krolicki Opts Out of Nevada Special Election". [[Roll Call]].
18. [http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_NV2_912.pdf Public Policy Polling]
19. [http://www.dailykos.com/polling/2011/8/18/NV-2/49/kbV81 Public Policy Polling]
20. "2011 Official Special Election Results September 13, 2011". Nevada Secretary of State.