Nevada Senate, District 1

Map of the Las Vegas Valley with District 1 colored blue
Map of District 1

The current District 1 of the Nevada Senate encompasses a large part of North Las Vegas and small sections of Sunrise Manor and Las Vegas in Clark County. Its inhabitants are represented by senator Pat Spearman.

History

District 1 was created when the senatorial districts were redrawn in 2011 as a result of the 2010 Census.[1] The new districts went into effect on January 1, 2012 for filing for office, and for nominating and electing senators. They became effective for all other purposes on November 7 of the same year – the day after Election Day, when the new senator terms began. The law defines the borders District 1 using census tracts, block groups, and blocks.[2] Since its creation, two elections have been held in the district. From the 1960's to the 1980's, the district was based along the Colorado River and Henderson, which are now the 12th and 5th districts respectively. In the 1990's, it consisted of all Clark County outside of the Las Vegas Valley, Including Indian Springs, Boulder City, Sandy Valley and Mesquite.

District profile and demographics

District 1 has a surface area of 48.5 square miles (126 km2) and a perimeter of 33 miles (53 km).[3] The area of the senatorial district coincides completely with District 1 and District 17 of the Nevada Assembly.[4] In 2010, District 1 contained nearly 60,000 registered voters, which is over 45% of the total population and over 65% of the voting age population.[5] Of those registered voters, half is Democratic, a quarter is Republican, and a fifth is nonpartisan. An additional 4.5% are registered members of the Independent American Party. Democrat support is relatively high in de district compared to other senatorial districts in Nevada.[6]

According to the 2010 Census, the district has a population of 128,861, which is 0.2% below the ideal.[7] The population of the district has increased since.[6] Compared to other senatorial districts of Nevada, District 1 has the third smallest solely white population (52.5%), and it has the largest population of African Americans (21.5%). The representation of the other races is about average.[7] Furthermore, the first district has a younger population with nearly 65% of the population below the age of 40. The median household income in the district is almost $10,000 above the Nevada average, while the poverty rate is 10.5%.[6]

Elections

2012

In the 2012 election, the opponents were Democrat Pat Spearman and Gregory Hughes, a member of the Independent American Party. No Republican candidate filed for the senate seat.[8] For the Democrats, a primary was held, because both Spearman and Democrat John Jay Lee filed for the office. Lee was a two-term incumbent of the first senatorial district before its borders were redrawn.[9] Spearman, who is LGBT, is a veteran and a former evangelist minister, and she had never held political office.[9][9] She argued the district needed a "real democrat."[10] Lee, a Mormon, who opposed gay marriage, said he wasn't worried by Spearman, as he thought Spearman had been "encouraged to run by supporters of single issues like gay rights."[9][11] Spearman won the primary, that was held on June 12, with over 60% of the votes.[12]

One of the most important topics of Spearman's campaign was education, for which she wanted to raise funding. Hughes, a veteran as well, said he wanted to focus on creating jobs and growing the economy.[9] On November 6, Spearman won the elections with nearly 70% of the votes.[13]

Nevada elections, 2012: Senate District 1[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Pat Spearman 29,026 68.71 –
Independent American Gregory Hughes 13,221 31.29 –
Majority 15,805 37.42 –
Turnout 42,247 –
Democratic primary, 2012: Senate District 1[12]
Candidate Votes % ±
John Jay Lee 1,318 37 –
✓ Pat Spearman 2,244 63 –
Majority 926 26 –
Turnout 3,562 –

2016

In the 2016 elections, that were held on November 8, voters could choose between incumbent Democrat Pat Spearman and Republican Arsen Ter-Petrosyan. No primaries were held, since neither of them was challenged by a party member.[14] Pat Spearman was first elected in 2012 as senator of District 1.[15] Ter-Petrosyan is an entrepreneur and a political newcomer, who was a six year resident of Nevada, and had never held elected office before.[16] Spearman won the election with over 65% of the votes.[17]

Nevada elections, 2016: Senate District 1[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Pat Spearman (Incumbent) 33,688 65.43 -3.28
Republican Arsen Ter-Petrosyan 17,800 34.57 +34.57
Majority 15,888 30.86 -6.56
Turnout 51,488 +21.87%
Democratic hold

References

  1. ↑ "Final District Plans: Congressional, Legislative, and Board of Regents". Nevada Legislature. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  2. ↑ "CHAPTER 218B - LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  3. ↑ "Nevada State Senate - 2011 Districts: State of Nevada Area Analysis Report" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "What's My District Interactive Map". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "Nevada State Senate - 2011 Districts: State of Nevada Population Report" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Research Division of the Legislative Counsel Bureau (May 2015). "Demographic Profile of Nevada Senate District No. 1 of the 78th Session (2015)" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Nevada State Senate State of Nevada Population Report*" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "2012 Primary Election Filings". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Haynes, Brian (21 October 2012). "2012 Voter Guide: Nevada Senate District 1". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  10. ↑ Vogel, Ed (22 March 2012). "State senator Lee faces primary challenge". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  11. ↑ Vogel, Ed (27 May 2012). "2012 PRIMARY ELECTION: STATE SENATE DISTRICT 1". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  12. 1 2 "State Senate". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  13. 1 2 "Nevada State Senate". Nevada Secretary of State. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  14. ↑ Chereb, Sandra (27 May 2016). "3 dozen legislative candidates get free rides to general election". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  15. ↑ Munks, Jamie (25 October 2016). "State Senate District 1". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  16. ↑ "Candidate profile: Arsen "Arsen T" Ter-Petrosyan". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  17. 1 2 "Nevada State Senate". Silver State Election. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.

Coordinates: 36°17′N 115°08′W / 36.28°N 115.14°W / 36.28; -115.14

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