Republicans keep statehouse, Democrats take the rest

While Republicans Jim Gibbons and Brian Krolicki won the state house, it appears that Democrats are winning virtually every other state constitutional office.

Douglas County followed the rest of the state in returning Sen. John Ensign to the U.S. Senate. Democrat Jack Carter lost to Ensign in every county in the state.

Secretary of State Dean Heller won a close race against challenger, University Regent Jill Derby. Derby faced an uphill battle in the mostly Republican Second Congressional District, but she came within 5 percent of Heller in the hard fought race where she took only Washoe and Mineral counties.

One of the closest races of the night saw Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., defeat state Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, in the race for governor. Titus defeated Gibbons only in Clark County, which left her fewer than 20,000 votes short of Gibbons total. The number of voters casting ballots for none of these candidates was 19,856.

Stateline resident Treasurer Brian Krolicki won the office of lieutenant governor handily over Las Vegas developer Bob Unger. Krolicki defeated Unger in all 17 Nevada counties.

Republican-dominated Douglas County diverged from the rest of the state on several constitutional offices, but agreed with the election of Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto to the office of attorney general. Cortez Masto defeated Don Chairez in Douglas County 10,248 votes to 7,892 on her way to a clear victory statewide.

Jack Carter was not the only chief executive's son in the election this year.

In the battle of the famous sons, Gov. Bob Miller's son, Ross, defeated Danny Tarkanian for the office of secretary of state. Tarkanian, a Republican, is the son of the former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian.

Kate Marshal defeated Republican Mark Stefano in the statewide race for state treasurer.

Republican Steve Martin, who was appointed to the office of state controller when Kathy Augustine died, was not able to hang onto the position. Democrat Kim Wallin narrowly defeated Martin, by winning both Clark and Washoe counties. Of the rest, only Mineral voted for Wallin.