Midterm results: Nevada incumbent Rep. Dina Titus defeats Mark Robertson in redrawn district
Ryan King
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Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) managed to stave off a spirited campaign challenge from Republican Mark Robertson in what has been widely regarded as one of the tightest races of the midterm cycle.
“We always knew this would be a tough race and I am so grateful to all who volunteered, contributed, and dedicated their time to this race. I am humbled to have your support, and I promise to continue delivering for all Southern Nevadans,” the congresswoman said on Twitter following projections of her victory.
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With about 87% of the vote tallied by Thursday evening, Titus clinched 50.7% of the vote compared to Robertson’s 46.9%, and multiple outlets such as CNN and NBC projected her as the winner.
Political forecasters such as the Cook Political Report consistently ranked the battle for Nevada’s 1st Congressional District seat as a toss-up after redistricting greatly diminished its partisan advantage for the Democrats by adding a deluge of Republican voters to the district.
“I totally got f***ed by the legislature on my district,” Titus vented during a town hall last year as apportionment unfolded, the Nevada Current reported. “I’m sorry to say it like that, but I don’t know any other way to say it.”
Titus was first sworn into office for the district in 2013 after she previously served the state’s 3rd District from 2009 to 2011. Under the old map, the contours of the district were very hospitable to Democrats, wrapping around much of Las Vegas and giving the Democrats a 22-point partisan advantage, according to FiveThirtyEight.
During the latest redistricting cycle, Democrats took a calculated risk and unpacked the Democratic stronghold district in hopes of shoring up their three-quarter congressional seat majority in Nevada as Republicans gain ground in the bellwether state. Now the district only has a scant 4-point advantage for the Democrats, per FiveThirtyEight.
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Robertson served as a colonel in the Army Reserves and worked as a financial planner. Throughout the campaign, Robertson and Titus traded barbs on some of the classic issues in the national spotlight, such as inflation, burgeoning gas prices at the pump, abortion, and more.
Republicans have long had their sights set on finding political rejuvenation in the desert-covered state, and the district was seen as an opening in that quest. Sparse polling gave limited insights into who was leading in the Titus-Robertson showdown.