Dean Heller to enter governor's race in battleground Nevada
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. Dean Heller will announce a bid for governor of Nevada on Monday, joining a crowded field of Republican hopefuls vying to unseat Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak in 2022.
His entrance into the race in the battleground state adds a high-profile candidate to what's expected to be among the most competitive of the next year's 36 gubernatorial elections.
The Carson City Republican Party has scheduled Heller to appear for a “special announcement” at their headquarters. A party official and person close to the campaign not authorized to publicly comment on the “special announcement” ahead of time confirmed the former senator would declare his candidacy at an event in the state capital.
If he does, he’ll join a field that includes Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee, attorney Joey Gilbert, surgeon Fred Simon and businessmen Guy Nohra. The gubernatorial primary is scheduled to take place in June 2022.
Heller, through a representative, declined to comment about his plans for the announcement. At a Basque-themed barbecue hosted by U.S. Senate candidate Adam Laxalt in August, he told The Associated Press he would decide after Labor Day.
Carson City Republican Committee Chair Scott Hoen wouldn’t say what Heller’s planned announcement entailed. He said he expected 50 to 60 guests to pack into the chapter’s small space Monday morning.
The unspecified announcement will be followed by an event in Las Vegas, but Hoen said Carson City had special significance to Heller as his hometown.
Heller, 61, mostly withdrew from political life after losing a hard-fought 2018 U.S. Senate race against Democrat Jacky Rosen, during which he weathered attacks from both left and right.
Then-President Donald Trump berated him in 2017...