No surprises in U.S. House races

Tuesday’s primary races for the U.S. House went as expected, with the favored candidates nabbing their party’s nominations and heading towards the general election.

In the 2nd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Dean Heller (R-Carson City) and state university regent Jill Derby are headed to a rematch of their 2006 race. Heller led Ron Paul campaign activist James Smack by an 89 percent to 11 percent margin with 13.3 percent of the precincts reporting. Derby was uncontested in her primary.

“This marks the point at which this race really swings into high gear.  It’s an exciting time and we have growing momentum for our campaign here in the 2nd district,” Derby said in an email message this evening. “I have had a number of significant endorsements in recent weeks and we look forward to a race where we can address the big problems facing Nevada families.”

In the 3rd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Jon Porter (R-Boulder City) and state Sen. Dina Titus (D-Henderson) were headed for one of the most hotly contested general elections in the nation. With 20 percent of the vote in Porter and Titus led their primary opponents with 81 percent and 85 percent of the vote, respectively. 

"Dina Titus and I have served together in the Nevada Legislature and I'm looking forward to a spirited campaign," Porter said Tuesday evening, according to the Las Vegas Sun.