Sandoval breezes into general

RENO — Republican Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval steamrolled to victory Tuesday.

The state’s first Hispanic governor captured more than 90 percent of the first 65,000 votes counted Tuesday night, with 5 percent of the precincts statewide reporting.

“I am honored that Republicans from across Nevada have nominated me to lead our ticket into the general election,” Sandoval said in a statement Tuesday night.

The state’s first Hispanic governor should have a relatively clear path to his second term after the Democratic primary winner emerged from a field of eight, but couldn’t beat out “none of these candidates” as voters’ top selection.

Sandoval will face Robert Goodman, a retired state economic development commissioner, who emerged Tuesday from a field of eight candidates that included a casino executive, a lawyer, an artist and a radio show host.

Goodman, a former state economic development commissioner from Las Vegas, emerged as the unlikely Democratic winner with 25 percent of the vote — about 3,500 votes behind “None of these candidates” with less than one-third of the precincts outstanding.

Goodman loaned his campaign the only $20,000 it reported to the secretary of state May 20.

Knecht rolls to controller victory

Carson City’s Ron Knecht rolled to a 53 percent victory in the Republican primary for the state controller post.

Knecht was leading three others with more than 50,000 votes, with more than 65 percent reporting.

“We exceeded our expectations,” Knecht said Tuesday night. “We won all 17 counties and when you take out the “none” vote, we received more than 60 percent of the votes cast for controller.”

Knecht cited his ideas for the position like posting the state’s checkbook online for all to see as to why voters selected him.

Knecht, a current Nevada regent, will face Democrat Andrew Martin in November and Tom Jones, an Independent American.

The winner will replace Kim Wallin as controller. Wallin is termed out of office.

HICKEY WINS

Nevada Assemblyman Pat Hickey has turned back a party challenge from the conservative right in the Republican primary.

The Reno lawmaker seeking a third consecutive term was challenged by Rick Fineberg, a retired lawyer who described himself as a constitutional conservative.

Hickey will face nonpartisan candidate Niklas Putnam in the District 25 general election in November.