The Congressional recess seems to be bringing out the sort of behavior generally seen in college dorms. Case in point, Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) has challenged fellow Nevada Senator Harry Reid (D) to a beard-growing competition.
Already sporting some stubble at a news conference on Monday, Heller explained that he was sporting the new look in honor of Nevada’s upcoming 150th anniversary of statehood and challenged Reid to do the same.
Heller got the idea from his dad, who grew a beard for the celebration of the state’s centennial.
“I was about four years old, sitting on the steps of the state Capitol, and my dad had a beard. We were sitting there, the whole family, listening to the band playing and I said, ‘Dad, I didn’t know you could grow a beard.’ And he said, ‘I’m growing it for the centennial,'” said Heller to the Reno Gazette Journal.
“Anyway, I was speaking to this group and said because my dad did it for the centennial, I’m doing it for the sesquicentennial.”
Reid seemed less inclined to take up the challenge.
“I challenged Harry to do the same thing. He looked at me [and said] ‘No way, not a chance,'” Heller said.
The Gazette-Journal said Reid’s office declined to comment on the challenge.
Heller told the Las Vegas Review Journal that he planned to shave the beard on Nov. 1. State traditions apparently outweigh “No Shave November.”
Nevada joined the Union on Oct. 31, 1864 and has been celebrating the 150th anniversary of its statehood all year.
