Exclusive: Carrie Buck Gaining Ground in Race Against Dina Titus

Carrie Buck, a state senator from Nevada, is making notable progress in her campaign to unseat Democratic Representative Dina Titus. Titus is seen as a key target for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections.

Representing Nevada’s 1st Congressional District, Titus has faced challenges as the district has shifted more favorable toward Republican candidates in recent elections. Buck believes her status as a political outsider is crucial for rallying support and getting things done for the party.

In a recent interview, Buck remarked, “You can feel the tide turning. Dina Titus hasn’t accomplished anything in her last seven terms. She hasn’t done anything tangible for us, so I want to bring real results to the people of Nevada.”

Since announcing her run in August, Buck has shown impressive fundraising capabilities. Notably, she spent no personal funds to defeat an incumbent Democrat previously and outpaced Titus in the last quarter of 2025 with $352,400 raised compared to Titus’s $298,800. Overall, Buck has raised $497,929.59 from nearly 8,000 individual donors, averaging about $59 each, emphasizing her grassroots approach.

As the wife of a retired police chief and a mother of four, two of whom served in the U.S. Army, Buck views her relatability as a strength in her campaign. “I still drive a minivan. That’s my campaign vehicle,” she joked. “I want to advocate for Nevadans and our community.”

However, Buck has criticized Titus for repeatedly voting against policies that benefit Nevadans, including recent tax exemptions which aligned with a major bill backed by former President Trump. In response, a representative from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee suggested that Buck could learn from Titus’s effective track record.

The spokesperson stated, “Dina Titus consistently ranks as one of the most effective members of Congress. She’s focused on lowering living costs, strengthening tax exemptions, and fighting against what she sees as reckless Republican policies.”

Titus, before her political career, served as a principal at a struggling elementary school in Henderson, Nevada. Under her leadership, the school’s proficiency in reading and math saw significant improvements, earning her recognition with the Milken Educator Award.

If successful in November, Buck wouldn’t be new to flipping seats in Nevada. She has previously won a state Senate seat with a narrow margin, showing growth in her popularity over subsequent elections.

The National Republican Congressional Committee believes Buck could replicate that success in the 1st District. A spokesperson for the NRCC pointed to her fundraising as evidence that Titus is losing touch with Nevada voters.

Ultimately, Buck’s campaign centers on addressing everyday issues, asserting, “The truth needs to be highlighted. I feel like the Democrats and Dina Titus have misled us. They claimed the borders were under control and that they were making living costs more manageable, but we’re all aware of the reality.” Titus did not respond to requests for comment.