Nevada Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval, the state’s outgoing governor, endorsed Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., Tuesday for re-election to the Senate, touting his bipartisan work in a new ad.
“Dean Heller has passed over 100 pieces of legislation to help Nevada,” Sandoval said in the ad, which is set to run statewide, pointing to Heller’s standing as being among the more bipartisan members of the Senate and his work on behalf of the state’s veterans. “Anyone who tells you something different is wrong.”
“Dean delivers. I know because we’ve fought side by side,” Sandoval said. “Nevada needs Dean Heller in the United States Senate.”
Sandoval’s endorsement is notable because he decided against endorsing Adam Laxalt, the state’s Republican attorney general, to replace him in the governor’s mansion. Sandoval is well-known as a moderate Republican.
Sandoval and Heller have been top allies, with Heller consulting with him last year during the GOP’s push to pass the American Health Care Act, which Sandoval opposed. Heller opposed it too before throwing his weight behind a bill pushed by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., and voting for a “skinny repeal” of the Affordable Care Act.
Heller is in the midst of a dogfight with Rep. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., just over a month out from the November election. According to the latest RealClearPolitics average, Rosen leads the incumbent Republican by a 2.3-point margin.
