Thirteen seek to unseat Sen. Reid

Two of the most contentious primary contests in Nevada history will be resolved Tuesday.

Thirteen Republicans are vying for the chance to knock four-term Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid off that perch. The leading contenders are former state Sen. Sue Lowden, former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle and Danny Tarkanian.

Lowden was the choice of party leaders early on but she has complicated her race with several missteps, including accepting the gift of a tour bus worth many times the maximum allowable contribution and possibly using contributions restricted to the general election race in her primary. But "chickens for checkups" was the gaff that brought her national ridicule - suggesting people barter with their doctors.

Latest polls show those errors opened a door for Angle, who has a long legislative record of stark anti-taxation. She is now reportedly leading Lowden in more than one poll despite the fact Lowden has spent more than $3 million to Angle's $1.1 million.

Angle's detractors charge that she is so far right she can't win a general election and that a primary victory for her would guarantee Reid another six years in office.

Tarkanian, meanwhile, has been unable to get real traction for his campaign despite strong name recognition from his father, a nationally known basketball coach. Outgoing Assemblyman Chad Christensen and banker John Chachas suffer the same problem in their campaigns.

No matter who wins the primary, the GOP nominee's road to victory in November will be difficult with four independents, a Tea Party candidate and an Independent American on the ballot with the GOP nominee - all claiming to be more conservative than the others - siphoning off anti-Reid votes.

Race for the Governor's Mansion

The other race grabbing voter attention is the gubernatorial contest where four Republicans have taken the unusual step of challenging incumbent Jim Gibbons.

The leading contender is Brian Sandoval, who resigned a lifetime appointment as a federal judge to make the run. Sandoval has the endorsements of a number of longtime GOP leaders including state Senator Bill Raggio and the backing of most major Republican contributors. His war chest is more than $901,000 while Gibbons raised just under $179,000 as of the June 1 primary reporting deadline.

Gibbons charges Sandoval is a liberal Republican. Sandoval charges Gibbons violated his promises to voters and supported millions in higher taxes.

Legislative seats

The national disgust with politics, anger over the recession and divisive issues such as immigration have brought out large numbers of candidates not only in federal races - 23 in the Senate contest - but state and local races as well. Altogether, there are 12 running for governor and seven for lieutenant governor including incumbent Brian Krolicki.

Both major parties have primary races for the Capital Senatorial District seat vacated when Mark Amodei was barred from running by term limits. The favorite in the race is Assemblyman James Settelmeyer of Gardnerville.

The Washoe Senate 4 race, which reaches into the north end of Carson City as well as Incline Village, is more contentious. Assemblyman Ty Cobb is trying to move into that seat but has been strongly opposed by Ben Kieckhefer, who is backed by the GOP's leadership, including Sen. Bill Raggio, outgoing Assembly minority leader Heidi Gansert and Sen. Randolph Townsend.

Cobb further complicated his chances when he trashed a campaign sign belonging to Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie of Reno.

Democrat Bonnie Parnell declined to run for Assembly 40, which includes nearly all of the capital. Four are in the race and two of them - Pete Livermore and Robin Williamson - are Carson Supervisors. Williamson, the only Democrat, has raised more than double what Livermore has.

Six are vying for Settelmeyer's Assembly seat including Democrat Joetta Brown, running a third time despite the fact Douglas County hasn't put a "D" in that seat in anyone's memory. If contributions are any indicator, Kelly Kite has raised more than double any other candidate in that race.

Assembly 38, which includes part of east Carson City, is also contested but incumbent Republican Tom Grady of Yerington is the favorite to return.

The hottest race in Carson City is for sheriff where Kenny Furlong is trying to become the first three-term sheriff in city history. He faces two of his employees - Bob Guimont and Bob White. If one gets more than 50 percent in the primary, the contest is over. Otherwise, the top two will advance to the general election in November.

Six are running for Williamson's Ward 1 seat, three for Livermore's in Ward 3.

The only other primary contests on the Carson City ballot are in two of the four school board seats up this year.

PRIMARY GUIDE: Copies of the 2010 Primary Election Guide are available Monday on a first-come, first-served basis at the Nevada Appeal, 580 Mallory Way, Carson City. Call 882-2111 to check availability.

ONLINE: You can also view the candidate profiles at nevadaappeal.com. Click on the News tab, then Politics and Government.