Nevada's 8th Senate district

Nevada's 8th Senate district is one of 21 districts in the Nevada Senate. It has been represented by Democrat Marilyn Dondero Loop since 2018, succeeding Republican-turned-independent Patricia Farley.[3][4]

Closeup of the Las Vegas Valley with District 8 colored blue
Closeup map of District 8
Nevada's 8th
State Senate District
Senator
  Marilyn Dondero Loop
D–Las Vegas
Registration39.6% Democratic
38.3% Republican
16.9% No party preference
Demographics58% White
7% Black
17% Hispanic
13% Asian
1% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
5% Other
Population (2018)134,632[1][2]
Registered voters72,500

Geography and demographics

District 8 is based in the Las Vegas Valley in Clark County, including parts of Las Vegas, Summerlin South, and Spring Valley.[3]

The district overlaps with Nevada's 1st and 3rd congressional districts, and with the 2nd and 5th districts of the Nevada Assembly.[5] The surface area of District 8 is 24 square miles (62 km2), and its perimeter is 28.2 miles (45.4 km).[6]

According to the 2010 Census, the 8th district had a population of 128,218 – 0.3% below the ideal. Compared to the rest of the state, the district has a relatively high proportion of Asian Americans, and a relatively low proportion of Hispanics and Latinos.[2] The district's population is older than the Nevada average; just over 50% is 40 years old or older, compared to 45% statewide. The inhabitants of District 8 are also better-educated and wealthier than the state at-large, with a median household income of $65,000 compared to $53,000 statewide, and a poverty rate of 10%.[7]

Recent election results

Nevada Senators are elected to staggered four-year terms; since 2012 redistricting, the 8th district has held elections in midterm years.

2018
2018 Nevada State Senate election, District 8[8]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Valerie Weber 2,533 40.3
Republican Dan Rodimer 2,391 38.0
Republican Elizabeth Helgelien 1,365 21.7
Total votes 6,289 100
Democratic Marilyn Dondero Loop 4,590 65.7
Democratic Stephanie Alvarado 2,398 34.3
Total votes 6,988 100
General election
Democratic Marilyn Dondero Loop 25,777 51.6
Republican Valerie Weber 24,154 48.4
Total votes 49,931 100
Democratic gain from Independent

2016 partisan switch

After the 2016 election, Republican incumbent Patricia Farley announced her intention to switch her party registration to nonpartisan and caucus with Democrats for the 2017 legislative session. Farley justified her switch by saying, "My constituents come before party labels, and I believe this is the best way to represent them."[9] She did not seek re-election in 2018.

2014

In 2014, term-limited incumbent Republican Barbara Cegavske successfully ran for Nevada Secretary of State.[10] Republican Patricia Farley, Democrat Marilyn Dondero Loop, and Independent American Jon Kamerath ran to succeed her in what the Las Vegas Review-Journal called one of "three critical seats which [would] decide which party [would control] the Senate."[11]

Both major parties held primaries. On the Republican side, Farley, a construction businesswoman endorsed by the Senate Republican Caucus, faced Clayton Hurst and Lisa Myers.[11] Farley won with over 50% of the vote.[12] For Demcorats, Loop, an Assemblywoman and former teacher, was challenged by Garrett LeDuff, whose opposition the Las Vegas Review-Journal called "token."[10][13] Loop defeated LeDuff with over 80% of the vote.[12]

During the general election campaign, Loop said she supported raising funding for public education in order to raise teacher's wages, among other things. She had no position on Question 3, which would have implemented a 2% margins tax on business to increase funding for public schools, because she argued it would hurt small businesses.[14] Farley, meanwhile, opposed the ballot measure, and said she advocated school choice.[15] Kamerath, a licensed practical nurse, opposed Question 3 as well.

As of October, Loop had out-raised Farley $340,000 to $285,000.[16] Polling showed Farley with a small advantage. Republican pollster The Tarrance Group put Farley over Loop 43% to 36%, while Democratic pollster Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research gave Farley a smaller 46-44% edge.[17] The polls successfully predicted the winner, but underestimated the margin; Farley defeated Loop 57-39%.[18] With Farley's win and other wins elsewhere, the GOP gained control of the Senate.[19]

2014 Nevada State Senate election, District 8[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Patricia Farley 2,814 52.0
Republican Clayton Hurst 2,054 38.0
Republican Lisa Myers 543 10.0
Total votes 5,411 100
Democratic Marilyn Dondero Loop 2,844 83.0
Democratic Garrett LeDuff 582 17.0
Total votes 3,426 100
General election
Republican Patricia Farley 16,205 57.0
Democratic Marilyn Dondero Loop 11,092 39.0
Independent American Jon Kamerath 1,119 3.9
Total votes 28,416 100
Republican hold

Federal and statewide results in District 8
Year Office Results[20]
2018 Senate Rosen 50.8 – 46.1%
Governor Sisolak 50.4 – 45.8%
2016 President Clinton 47.6 – 46.6%
2012 President Romney 49.5 – 48.9%
Senate Heller 48.5 – 43.9%

History

The 8th district was created after the 1990 census. It was originally a north–south district stretching from Spring Valley up towards North-Central Las Vegas, but has shifted westward as the population has grown. The borders of the current 8th district were drawn during the reapportionment in 2011 after the 2010 Census.[21] The new districts became effective for filing for office and for nominating and electing senators on January 1, 2012. They went into effect for all other purposes on November 7 – the day after Election Day, when most new senator terms started. The area which District 8 occupies is defined in the Nevada Revised Statutes using census tracts, block groups, and blocks.[22] Barbara Cegavske, the current Nevada Secretary of State, is a former occupant of the seat.[23][24]

References
  1. "State Senate District 8, NV". Census Reporter. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  2. "Nevada State Senate - 2011 Districts: State of Nevada Population Report" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  3. "Legislator Information: Senator Marilyn Dondero Loop". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  4. "Freshman Orientation: Sen. Marilyn Dondero Loop". The Nevada Independent. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  5. David Jarman. "How do counties, House districts, and legislative districts all overlap?". Daily Kos. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  6. "Nevada State Senate - 2011 Districts: State of Nevada Area Analysis Report" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  7. Research Division of the Legislative Counsel Bureau (May 2015). "Demographic Profile of Nevada Senate District No. 8 of the 78th Session (2015)" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  8. "Nevada State Senate District 8". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  9. Chris Kudialis (November 14, 2016). "State Sen. Patricia Farley to caucus with Democrats". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  10. Morrison, Jane Ann (25 May 2014). "Three Republicans, two Democrats want Cegavske's seat in District 8". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  11. Morrison, Jane Ann (10 June 2014). "Early voting appears to boost GOP Senate takeover plans". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  12. "State Senate". Nevada Secretary of State. 15 July 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  13. Myers, Laura (8 June 2014). "It's been a slow primary season, but there's still much at stake". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  14. Myers, Laura (18 September 2014). "Nevada Senate candidate favors teacher pay raises". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  15. "EDITORIAL: For state Senate". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 8 October 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  16. Whaley, Sean (22 October 2014). "2 GOP Senate candidates outraised, still could win". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  17. Myers, Laura (8 October 2014). "Polls show GOP running strong in key state Senate races". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  18. "Nevada State Senate". Nevada Secretary of State. 15 December 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  19. Whaley, Sean (4 November 2014). "GOP takes control of Nevada Legislature". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  20. "Daily Kos Elections Statewide Results by LD". Daily Kos. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  21. "Final District Plans: Congressional, Legislative, and Board of Regents". Nevada Legislature. 7 June 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  22. "CHAPTER 218B - LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  23. "Nevada State Senate". Nevada Secretary of State. 23 November 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  24. "Nevada State Senate Clark County Senatorial District 8" (JPG). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved January 1, 2017.

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