Nevada Senate, District 1

Map of the Las Vegas Valley with District 1 colored blue
Map of District 1

The current District 1 of the Nevada Senate encompasses a large part of North Las Vegas and small sections of Sunrise Manor and Las Vegas in Clark County. Its inhabitants are represented by senator Pat Spearman.

History

District 1 was created when the senatorial districts were redrawn in 2011 as a result of the 2010 Census.[1] The new districts went into effect on January 1, 2012 for filing for office, and for nominating and electing senators. They became effective for all other purposes on November 7 of the same year. The law defines the borders District 1 using census tracts, block groups, and blocks.[2] Since its creation, two elections have been held in the district.

District profile and demographics

District 1 has a surface area of 48.5 square miles (126 km2) and a perimeter of 33 miles (53 km).[3] The area of the senatorial district coincides completely with District 1 and District 17 of the Nevada Assembly.[4] In 2010, District 1 contained nearly 60,000 registered voters, which is over 45% of the total population and over 65% of the voting age population.[5] Of those registered voters, half is Democratic, a quarter is Republican, and a fifth is nonpartisan. An additional 4.5% are registered members of the Independent American Party. Democrat support is relatively high in de district compared to other senatorial districts in Nevada.[6]

According to the 2010 Census, the district has a population of 128,861, which is 0.2% below the ideal.[7] The population of the district has increased since.[6] Compared to other senatorial districts of Nevada, District 1 has the third smallest solely white population (52.5%), and it has the largest population of African Americans (21.5%). The representation of the other races is about average.[7] Furthermore, the first district has a younger population with nearly 65% of the population below the age of 40. The median household income in the district is almost $10,000 above the Nevada average, while the poverty rate is 10.5%.[6]

Elections

2012

In the 2012 election, the opponents were Democrat Pat Spearman and Gregory Hughes, a member of the Independent American Party. No Republican candidate filed for the senate seat.[8] For the Democrats, a primary was held, because both Spearman and Democrat John Jay Lee filed for the office. Lee was a two-term incumbent of the first senatorial district before its borders were redrawn.[9] Spearman, who is LGBT, is a veteran and a former evangelist minister, and she had never held political office.[9][9] She argued the district needed a "real democrat."[10] Lee, a Mormon, who opposed gay marriage, said he wasn't worried by Spearman, as he thought Spearman had been "encouraged to run by supporters of single issues like gay rights."[9][11] Spearman won the primary, that was held on June 12, with over 60% of the votes.[12]

One of the most important topics of Spearman's campaign was education, for which she wanted to raise funding. Hughes, a veteran as well, said he wanted to focus on creating jobs and growing the economy.[9] On November 6, Spearman won the elections with nearly 70% of the votes.[13]

Nevada elections, 2012: Senate District 1[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Pat Spearman 29,026 68.71 –
Independent American Gregory Hughes 13,221 31.29 –
Majority 15,805 37.42 –
Turnout 42,247 –
Democratic primary, 2012: Senate District 1[12]
Candidate Votes % ±
John Jay Lee 1,318 37 –
✓ Pat Spearman 2,244 63 –
Majority 926 26 –
Turnout 3,562 –

2016

In the 2016 elections, that were held on November 8, voters could choose between incumbent Democrat Pat Spearman and Republican Arsen Ter-Petrosyan. No primaries were held, since neither of them was challenged by a party member.[14] Pat Spearman was first elected in 2012 as senator of District 1.[15] Ter-Petrosyan is an entrepreneur and a political newcomer, who was a six year resident of Nevada, and had never held elected office before.[16] Spearman won the election with over 65% of the votes.[17]

Nevada elections, 2016: Senate District 1[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Pat Spearman (Incumbent) 33,688 65.43 -3.28
Republican Arsen Ter-Petrosyan 17,800 34.57 +34.57
Majority 15,888 30.86 -6.56
Turnout 51,488 +21.87%
Democratic hold

References

  1. ↑ "Final District Plans: Congressional, Legislative, and Board of Regents". Nevada Legislature. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  2. ↑ "CHAPTER 218B - LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  3. ↑ "Nevada State Senate - 2011 Districts: State of Nevada Area Analysis Report" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "What's My District Interactive Map". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "Nevada State Senate - 2011 Districts: State of Nevada Population Report" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Research Division of the Legislative Counsel Bureau (May 2015). "Demographic Profile of Nevada Senate District No. 1 of the 78th Session (2015)" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Nevada State Senate State of Nevada Population Report*" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "2012 Primary Election Filings". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Haynes, Brian (21 October 2012). "2012 Voter Guide: Nevada Senate District 1". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  10. ↑ Vogel, Ed (22 March 2012). "State senator Lee faces primary challenge". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  11. ↑ Vogel, Ed (27 May 2012). "2012 PRIMARY ELECTION: STATE SENATE DISTRICT 1". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  12. 1 2 "State Senate". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  13. 1 2 "Nevada State Senate". Nevada Secretary of State. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  14. ↑ Chereb, Sandra (27 May 2016). "3 dozen legislative candidates get free rides to general election". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  15. ↑ Munks, Jamie (25 October 2016). "State Senate District 1". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  16. ↑ "Candidate profile: Arsen "Arsen T" Ter-Petrosyan". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  17. 1 2 "Nevada State Senate". Silver State Election. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.

External links

Coordinates: 36°17′N 115°08′W / 36.28°N 115.14°W / 36.28; -115.14

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