(Chuck Muth) – Make no mistake. Before the first ballots are even cast in early voting in Nevada’s June primary elections, conservatives will have already chalked up a number of “yuge” victories against tax-hiking RINOs (Republicans in Name Only).
Indeed, four state legislative RINOs in Republican-majority districts – Sen. Greg Brower and Assemblycritters Pat “The Appeaser” Hickey, Randy “Kirner Tax” Kirner and Lynn “The Bug Man” Stewart – were so scared of facing angry GOP primary voters after voting for the largest tax hike in Nevada history last year – they QUIT instead of being embarrassed at the polls.
Conservatives 4, RINOs 0.
Then there’s the fact that every other Republican legislator who voted for Gov. Brian “Worst Governor in America” Sandoval’s $1.4 billion tax hike earned themselves a primary challenge.
I believe that’s unprecedented in Nevada’s history. In the past, tax-hiking RINOs got away with such violations of core GOP principles. Not any longer.
By the way, only two incumbent Republicans avoided challenges in either the Republican primary or the general election: Assemblymen John Ellison (Elko) and Ira Hansen (Washoe), both whom were staunch opponents of Sandoval’s $1.4 billion tax hike.
Who says it doesn’t pay to oppose tax hikes?
Here are some of the more interesting “Conservageddon ‘16” races to watch…
* Senate District 6 (Clark) pits tax-hiking RINO Assemblyman Erv Nelson vs. Assemblywoman Victoria Seaman, who voted against the $1.4 billion tax hike last year.
* In Senate District 18 (Clark), incumbent tax-hiking RINO Sen. Scott Hammond earned himself what is expected to be a very spirited primary challenge from Brian Wilson, a close policy adviser on gun rights to conservative Assemblywoman Michele Fiore.
* Assembly Speaker-of-the-Weak John Hambrick – who was actually threatened with a recall effort during the 2015 session – is being challenged by conservative Kelly Hurst in District 2 (Clark).
* In Assembly District 13 (Clark), Republican Majority Leader Paul Anderson picked up not one, but two conservative challengers, including political flame-thrower Steve Sanson, president of Veterans in Politics.
* Assemblyman Chris “Let’s Make a Deal” Edwards (District 19 – Clark) enjoys the unique distinction of being the only Republican legislator to vote for the $1.4 billion tax hike before voting against it last year. He’s being challenged by tea party leader Connie Foust, who actively considered leading a recall effort against Edwards during the last session.
What makes this race doubly-interesting is that no Democrat filed. So the winner of the GOP primary, under a new state law, will automatically become the next AD19 assembly member.
* In Assembly District 21 (Clark), tax-hiking RINO incumbent Derek Armstrong-Anderson will face conservative Blaine Jones. The interesting thing here is that Jones is the son of conservative Assemblyman Brent Jones, one Armstrong-Anderson’s colleagues.
* Tax-hiking Assemblywoman Melissa Woodbury (District 23 – Clark) drew a credible primary opponent in longtime GOP party leader Swadeep Nigam.
Woodbury, – in large part due to the strong family name in the district thanks to her dad, former longtime Clark County commissioner Bruce Woodbury – has escaped primary challenges in the past despite a very liberal voting record in a Republican-majority district. No mas.
Other tax-hiking RINOs who drew serious primary challenges include:
- Assemblyman David Gardner (District 9–Clark) vs. conservative Diana Orrock.
- Assemblyman Steven Silberkraus (District 29–Clark) vs. conservative Amy Groves.
- Assemblyman Glenn Trowbridge vs. conservative Jim Marchant.
- Assemblyman James Oscarson (District 36-Nye) vs. conservatives Tina Trenner and Rusty Stanberry.
- Assemblyman P.K. O’Neill (District 40-Carson City) vs. three conservative challengers.
Here are a bunch of other races of possible interest… (click the “NEXT” button below)
