Three candidates running in Nevada’s new 4th district have advanced to the second step of the National Republican Congressional Committee’s Young Guns candidate program.

The committee will announce today that state Sen. Barbara Cegavske, 2010 Senate candidate Danny Tarkanian and businessman Dan Schwartz have all made it to the “On the Radar” step of the program, which allows candidates to advance based on district-specific benchmarks such as fundraising and organization.

Several more Republicans have lined up to take on state Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford (D) in a district that leans strongly in favor of Democrats. Although it’s a tough district, the NRCC clearly views Horsford as a flawed candidate and has launched a website designed to highlight evidence of that.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is confident enough in Horsford’s chances that he was one of the committee’s first three “Majority Makers” — candidates who are in such strong districts that they can help others raise money.