With a key Senate race and potential House pickups in play, Democrats are aggressively courting the Nevada Hispanic vote in the final days of the election.
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, campaigned in Nevada’s Fourth District for Democratic hopeful Ruben Kihuen on Thursday — the same day that civil rights icon Dolores Huerta came out in support of Democratic Senate candidate Catherine Cortez Masto and several activist groups announced new campaigns in the state.
{mosads}President Obama will visit the state Sunday to support Clinton and Cortez Masto in her race against Rep. Joe Heck (R).
The Nevada seat, which is opening up due to the retirement of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D), is crucial in the battle for the majority.
The state is the lone pickup opportunity for Republicans in a year when they are defending 24 seats. If Heck won, it would make it significantly harder for Democrats to win control of the upper chamber.
If Hillary Clinton wins the White House, Democrats will need a net gain of four seats to win the majority. If she loses, they will need a five-seat gain.
Democrats have long seen Nevada as a swing state where the Latino vote could make the difference, and polls in October have been favorable for Cortez Masto, indicating she has a lead in the race.
Aside from the competitive Senate race, Nevada hosts two potential House pickups for Democrats.
Kihuen, who could become the first Mexican-born Nevada representative, is in a tight race with incumbent Rep. Crescent Hardy (R). Meanwhile, the race to replace Heck between Democrat Jacky Rosen and Republican Danny Tarkanian is a dead heat.
The House races are receiving increased attention now that Democrats are making a play to flip the House — a goal that seemed nearly impossible a few months ago.
But with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s poll numbers falling, Democrats are hoping 2016 will see another wave election that hands them control of the White House and Congress.
“Is there a shot? Yes. Is it a credible shot? Yes. Is it a done deal? Of course not,” Becerra told The Hill.
Becerra said the expanded Latino outreach will yield results on Nov. 8 and in future elections, by ensuring Democrats continue to lead Republicans with the fast-growing demographic.
“Those of us in the Democratic Party want to see continued progress, accelerated progress in bringing Latinos in at every level of the party,” said Becerra, adding, “every year Latinos are becoming more of an indispensable part of the Democratic Party’s success.”
Activists are following suit with the party.
People For the American Way (PFAW) released Spanish-language TV and radio ads in Nevada Friday linking Heck to Trump. Heck rescinded his support for Trump but has had to walk a fine line to avoid alienating the state’s Republican base.
Civil rights leaders like Huerta are running a massive get out the vote operation in the state, organized by a number of national and local groups, like America’s Voice, PFAW and the Service Employees National Union.
They touted Friday a Latino decisions poll that says Clinton leads Trump among Latinos by 55 points in Nevada.