Politics

Democrat Ruben Kihuen Unseats Cresent Hardy in Nevada’s 4th District

GOP’s Hardy was considered one of the most vulnerable House members

Rep.-elect Ruben Kihuen, D-Nev., delivers his victory speech flanked by his family and supporters at the Nevada Democrats' election night watch party at the Aria Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas on Election Day. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Rep.-elect Ruben Kihuen, D-Nev., delivers his victory speech flanked by his family and supporters at the Nevada Democrats' election night watch party at the Aria Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas on Election Day. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
By Lindsey McPherson
Posted November 9, 2016 at 1:17am

Democrat Ruben Kihuen will defeat Republican Rep. Cresent Hardy in Nevada’s 4th District, The Associated Press projects. 

Kihuen led Hardy 49 percent to 45 percent with 46 percent of precincts reporting. 

Hardy was one of the most vulnerable House members this cycle, trying to hold on to his seat in a district that President Barack Obama carried by double digits in 2012.

[Election Results 2016]

Nevada’s 4th District, just north of Las Vegas, covers White Pine, Nye, Mineral, Esmeralda and Lincoln counties and parts of Lyon and Clark counties.

Coming into Election Day, the race was rated Tilts Democrat by the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call.

[The House: 10 Most Vulnerable]

In 2014, Hardy unseated Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford 49 percent to 46 percent.

Kihuen served two terms in the Nevada state Assembly before he was elected one of the Silver State’s youngest state senators in 2010. His priorities heading to Congress include pushing for free college education, raising the minimum wage and overhauling the criminal justice system. 

Kihuen told the story of his family immigrating to the United States from Mexico when he was 8 years old. He’s a proponent of an immigration overhaul that includes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented residents.