ShareKihuen exits Vegas House race, cedes seat to Titus
The Associated PressState Sen. Ruben Kihuen announced Tuesday that he was dropping his bid to become Nevada's first Hispanic congressman after polling and fundraising numbers suggested he would have a hard time winning the Las Vegas-based district.
His exit effectively ensures fellow Democrat and former U.S. Rep. Dina Titus will return to Washington. The district is overwhelmingly Democratic.
Kihuen said he would help to re-elect President Barack Obama and other Democrats, including Titus. Kihuen intends to remain in the state Senate.
"Unfortunately, the reality is that continuing my efforts to win in what would promise to be a resource draining primary at this time is not in the best interest for me, my family, my community and my party," he said.
Kihuen announced he would campaign in Nevada's 1st Congressional District before Titus did, but she soon made clear that she would not play nice. During her campaign announcement, she dismissed Kihuen as an inexperienced rival.
Titus served one term in Congress representing Nevada's 3rd District before she was defeated in 2010 by Republican Joe Heck.
Kihuen was elected to the Senate in 2010.
Federal fundraising reports show Titus outpacing Kihuen by more than 2-to-1. She raised nearly $422,000 to his $189,000.
Titus also released internal polling that suggested Kihuen could not win.
The southern Nevada district is about 40 percent Hispanic. The seat is being vacated by long-time Rep. Shelley Berkley, a Democrat who is challenging Republican U.S. Sen. Dean Heller.
Some Democrats had hoped Kihuen's candidacy would turn out the Hispanic vote, which tends to favor Democrats. He said he would continue to encourage Latinos to be active in the electoral process ahead of the November elections.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who had indicated in recent months that he was quietly supporting Kihuen, responded to the announcement by endorsing Titus.
"Nevada's middle-class families need Dina Titus in their corner," he said.
Two Republicans and political newcomers, Chris Edwards and Miguel "Mike" Rodrigues, are also running for the southern Nevada district, where Democrats hold a 67,000-voter registration advantage.