LAS VEGAS — Democrats are firmly in control of Nevada's legislative delegation, holding three of the four House seats and both Senate seats. But the Silver State's lone Congressional Republican is sitting in the catbird seat for re-election this year, unless independents manage to spoil it.
According to a poll conducted by Emerson College in the state's 2nd Congressional District, which covers the mineral-rich northern region from Tahoe and Reno near California to casino-rich West Wendover near the Utah border. , incumbent Congressman Mark Amodei leads by 31 points. The Hill newspaper, which commissioned the poll, estimates the Republican Party's chances of re-election at over 99%.
Game over, it appears. But Greg Kidd, a technology entrepreneur and banker who moved to northern Nevada four and a half years ago, wants to rewrite that ruling.
He is running as an independent candidate, with so-called “independent” voters now making up the state's largest constituency, according to official figures, willing to work with both sides of parliament to get things done. states.
At the same time, Nevada state senator Jacky Rosen, a Democrat, has endorsed Kidd, raising suspicions that Kidd's “independent” status is unshakable.
The Associated Press reported earlier this month that third-party candidates were being recruited in some races to siphon votes from Republicans, but Kidd was not mentioned as one of them.
Kidd, who is self-funding his campaign, went to Congress and said he wanted to ease the burden on “my company and my employees” who are “under scrutiny” from regulators.
“Regulators are only scrutinized by Congress, and there has been intense debate from both Republicans and Democrats about what guidance Congress should give regulators.”
He told the Post that industries like cannabis and cryptocurrencies should have easier access to the banking system, but legal cannabis dispensaries struggle with this. The state's banks “know how to manage money laundering and fraud in the gambling industry” and could apply those skills to other areas.
Kidd also believes Nevada has the potential to become an “innovation hub” in mining lithium, a rare metal that is central to electric vehicle battery production and other green energy projects.
“Our district has probably the largest lithium reserves in the world,” he said. Kidd supports the creation of a “Lithium Loop” within the district that would handle the processing, manufacturing and recycling of lithium batteries, and a “permanent I would like to create a fund. residents.
But Amodei, who has defended his seat since winning a special election in 2011, will not be an easy opponent to defeat, local experts say.
“The 2nd Congressional District was created as a Republican district in the early 1980s, but it has never elected a Democrat,” said Fred Locken, dean of political science at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno. . He told the Post that the 2021 reapportionment added more registered Republicans to the district.
Asked about Kidd's avid pursuit of lithium, Amodei said his experience with the Bureau of Land Management and understanding of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which governs the environmental aspects of mining, were more important to Booster. He told the Post that there was more value to the residents than the rhythm.
“If you want someone to represent this area, which is very likely to be rich in lithium, it helps to know the federal land laws,” said Amodei, a former Nevada Mining Association president.
“It's helpful to hire someone who has successfully completed multiple public lands bills. It's helpful to know the BLM folks I've been talking to. Each district has to go through the NEPA process.”
The incumbent also ridiculed Kidd's claim to be nonpartisan.
“He changed his registration three days before registration” to run, Amodei said, adding: “There is no rule against that.”
But Kidd's federal campaign contributions include a “maximum” contribution and “six” contributions to Rosen's campaign. [Senate Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer candidates. ”
Amodei said Kidd has been “campaigning on Democratic National Committee issues” such as abortion rights, a right guaranteed by a voter initiative in Nevada decades ago.
As for the claim that Kidd is an independent?
“I'm not fooled for a second,” Amodei said.
