With Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval’s (R) announcement Tuesday that he would not be running to replace outgoing Minority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the floodgates opened for possible Republican candidates.
On Wednesday, Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.) became the first serious Republican contender to announce that he’s mulling a run for Reid’s seat.
“I’d leave it at 50-50 for now. We’re still considering it. I’ve got to have a discussion with my family, and hopefully we’ll come to a decision soon,” Heck told The Hill.
Heck, a three-term congressman, is a one-star general in the U.S. Army Reserves. He also chairs a House Armed Services Committee subpanel.
“We don’t have a specific timeline, we’d like to make it as soon as possible, just for the sake of providing some stability,” Heck continued. “But it’s going to be dependent on my family and mine’s conversation to see how we go.”
Nevada Republicans have many candidates to choose from. In 2014, Republicans won the state legislature and every statewide elected position. Currently, the only statewide elected Democrat is the retiring senior senator.
Other possible Republican candidates include Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison, former Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, and state Senate Majority Leader Michael Roberson.
Reid’s chosen successor and the only Democrat to have announced is former state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto.
