Danny Tarkanian on Tuesday won the GOP nomination in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, defeating a candidate preferred by Washington Republicans in a district that could become a general election battleground.  

Tarkanian got 32 percent of the vote, beating state Senate Majority Leader Michael Roberson by 8 points. State Assemblywoman Michele Fiore got 18 percent of the vote and Nevada think tank president Andy Matthews got 14 percent.  

Tarkanian, a businessman and son of legendary Nevada-Las Vegas basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, will face Democratic nominee Jacky Rosen, who on Tuesday easily won her own primary.  

Tarkanian and Rosen are running to succeed Rep. Joe Heck, who won the Republican Senate primary to succeed Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.  

President Barack Obama won the southern Nevada district narrowly in 2012. With it now an open seat, Democrats are hopeful they can retake it in the fall.  

In 2012, Tarkanian won the GOP nomination in the 4th Congressional District but lost in the general election.

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