Obama doing robo-calls to help Nevada legislative candidates

LAS VEGAS — President Barack Obama is helping Nevada Democrats low on the ticket as part of his nationwide effort to flip state Legislatures to Democratic hands.

Obama endorsed two state Senate candidates in tough Las Vegas-area races and nine Assembly candidates. He’s recorded robo-calls on their behalf that will soon reach Democratic voters.

Both houses of the Nevada Legislature are controlled by Republicans, but the more favorable turnout patterns of a presidential election cycle could hand one or both of those chambers to Democrats.

Legislatures are in charge of redistricting, which influences which party controls Congress.

The Nevada Senate candidates Obama’s helping are Nicole Cannizzaro and Joyce Woodhouse. The Assembly candidates are Daniele Monroe-Moreno, William McCurdy II, Jason Frierson, Steve Yeager, Chris Brooks, Ozzie Fumo, Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod, Justin Watkins and Sandra Jauregui.