Democrat Jacky Rosen has narrowly held onto her Nevada Senate seat, defeating Republican challenger Sam Brown in one of the most closely watched races in the 2024 midterms. Rosen's victory comes as the Senate flips to Republican control, making her re-election a rare bright spot for Democrats in an otherwise challenging election cycle.
The race's outcome reflects Nevada's evolving political landscape, with the state's tourism-driven economy and large working-class population often fluctuating in response to economic pressures and shifts in immigration policy.
While Nevada's Senate seat remains Democrat, the state has shifted in the presidential race. In this key battleground, where Latinos make up 20 percent of the electorate, Trump secured 50.7% of the vote, defeating Kamala Harris at 47.4%. This marks the first time in 16 years that Nevada has swung from Democrat to Republican.
Senator Rosen, 67, a former computer programmer and synagogue president, was initially considered vulnerable. As Nevada's economy struggled to recover from the pandemic, and with her low-profile approach, Republicans believed they had an opportunity to gain ground. Rosen's opponent, Sam Brown, a combat veteran who was severely injured by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, campaigned on a platform of economic reform, border security, and criticism of Democratic policies under President Joe Biden.
Despite never having held office, Brown's background resonated with many voters, and his campaign gained momentum with support from the GOP and significant ad spending in the final stretch.
Throughout the campaign, Democrats targeted Brown's stance on abortion, especially as the Supreme Court's 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade heightened focus on reproductive rights. Rosen's campaign highlighted Brown's past comments opposing abortion, an issue he later sought to moderate.
Abortion also appeared on Nevada's ballot, where voters approved a measure to enshrine it as a constitutional right in the state. The strong voter support for the measure likely boosted Rosen's standing among moderates and independents, helping her secure a narrow lead.
Rosen's campaign benefited from a well-established Democratic ground game in Nevada, supported by unions like the Culinary Workers Union, which has deep roots in the state's labor sector.
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