Nevada Senate, District 5

Map of the Las Vegas Valley with District 5 colored blue
Map of District 5

The current District 5 of the Nevada Senate contains parts of Henderson and most of southern Paradise. It has been represented by senator Joyce Woodhouse since its creation in 2012.[1]

History

District 5 came into existence in 2012 after the senate districts were redistricted in the previous year as a result of the 2010 Census.[2] The new districts went into effect for filing for office, and for nominating and electing senators on January 1, 2012, and for all other purposes on November 7 – the day after Election Day, when the new senator terms began. In the Nevada Revised Statutes, the area of the fifth senatorial district is defined using census tracts, block groups, and blocks.[3] Two senatorial elections have been held in the district since its creation.

It was originally known as Clark County Senate District 5 and was a dual member district. In the 1980s, it stretched from Sandy Valley toward Spring Valley, Enterprise and southern Paradise. In the 1990s, it contracted in size and stretched from northwest Las Vegas into Henderson. In the 2000s, it became based around most of Henderson.

Previous holders of the seat included Bill O'Donnell, Ann O'Connell, Sandra Tiffany, Joe Heck, Shirley Breeden and Michael Roberson.

District profile and demographics

The fifth senatorial district has a surface area of 26.2 square miles (68 km2), and a perimeter of 34.3 miles (55.2 km).[4] The district occupies the same area as the assembly districts 21 and 29.[5] In 2010, District 5 had almost 75,000 registered voters, which is over 55% of the total population and almost three quarters of the voting age population. Of those registered voters, over 40% were Democrats, and just over 35% were Republicans. Most of the remainder was non-partisan.[6]

128,800 people live in District 5 according to the 2010 census, which is 0.16% above the ideal. Compared to the other senatorial districts, the district has a relatively high solely white population at almost 75%. Moreover, it has a relatively high number of Asian American inhabitants at 11% of the population.[6] The population of District 5 is better educated than the Nevada average. More than 35% of the district's inhabitants have an associate's, bachelor's, or graduate degree. The median household income, which amounts to a little over $62,000, is nearly $10,000 above the Nevada median. The poverty rate is equal to 8.5%, and is close to twice as low as in the rest of Nevada.[7]

Elections

2012

Democrat Joyce Woodhouse and Republican Steve Kirk participated in the 2012 senatorial election for District 5. While no other Democrats filed for the office, a primary were held on June 12 in order to determine the Republican nominee.[8] Besides Steve Kirk, who served in the Henderson city council for 12 years, Annette Teijeiro was on the ballot during the primary. Teijeiro, who is Hispanic, had never been elected to public office before.[9] She said that taxes had to be decreased, and that she wasn't sure whether she would support Governor Brian Sandoval's plan to extend a tax increase. Kirk, on the other hand, said he supported the extension of the tax increase, as he didn't want to cut the education budget anymore. Furthermore, he argued he had more local government experience, which he said was necessary in the Senate.[8] Kirk, who received the endorsement of the Senate Republican Caucus, won the primary with over 70% of the votes.[10]

The Democratic nominee for the election on November 6, Joyce Woodhouse, had served in the Nevada Senate before, but lost re-election in 2010. She said legislators were needed "who are looking out for middle-class working families," and that she was that person. Her most important issues were the economy and education. Both Kirk and Woodhouse said they considered themselves to be moderates. Kirk, who called creating jobs his priority, argued the government needed private-sector experience. Moreover, he said he was "very conservative fiscally," while he would "take care of those who can't take care of themselves."[11] Woodhouse won the election with a small majority.[12]

Nevada elections, 2012: Senate District 5[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Joyce Woodhouse 26,520 52.0 –
Republican Steve Kirk 24,524 48.0 –
Majority 1,996 4.0 –
Turnout 51,044 –
Republican primary, 2012: Senate District 5[10]
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Steve Kirk 3,090 71.2 –
Annette Teijeiro 1,247 28.8 –
Majority 1,843 42.4 –
Turnout 4,337 –

2016

During the 2016 election, incumbent Joyce Woodhouse sought re-election, facing off against Republican Carrie Buck and Libertarian Tim Hagan. The Democratic nominee was chosen during a primary. Woodhouse was contested by fellow Democrat Nicholas Lash, who claimed to be inspired by senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Lash had never run for public office before, and said he wouldn't accept any donations, as he wanted "to prove Bernie's point about taking the money out of politics." He called Woodhouse an "establishment candidate," and said he would, if elected, press for among other things the establishment of a single-payer health care system and education reforms. Woodhouse, meanwhile, said she was "really proud" of the progress the legislature had made on the funding of education. She promised to focus on child care regulations and again on education in another term.[13] On June 14, Woodhouse defeated Lash with over four-fifths of the popular vote.[14]

While campaigning for the general election, Woodhouse kept her focus on education. The Republican candidate, Carrie Buck, worked as a charter school director, and attacked Woodhouse's record regarding education. Buck argued Woodhouse was part of the "status quo," and said that she had failed to improve schools. Buck said she would apply the things she had learned while working in the education sector in order to improve Nevada's education system.[15] Woodhouse's campaign raised over $500,000, more than three times as much as Buck's $140,000.[16] The Libertarian candidate, Tim Hagan, said he participated to "give voters another choice," and said he would push for a tax reduction and for the expansion of school choice.[15] Woodhouse won the election, that was held on November 8, with a narrow margin, receiving less than half of the votes.[1]

Nevada elections, 2016: Senate District 5[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Joyce Woodhouse (Incumbent) 26,208 47.9 -4.1
Republican Carrie Buck 25,739 47.0 -1.0
Libertarian Tim Hagan 2,784 5.1 +5.1
Majority 469 0.9 -3.1
Turnout 54,731 +7.2%
Democratic primary, 2016: Senate District 5[14]
Candidate Votes % ±
✓ Joyce Woodhouse (Incumbent) 4,145 85.5 –
Nicholas Lash 704 14.5 –
Majority 3,441 71.0 –
Turnout 4,849 –

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Nevada State Senate". Silver State Election. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  2. ↑ "Final District Plans: Congressional, Legislative, and Board of Regents". Nevada Legislature. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  3. ↑ "CHAPTER 218B - LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  4. ↑ "Nevada State Senate - 2011 Districts: State of Nevada Area Analysis Report" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  5. ↑ "What's My District Interactive Map". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Nevada State Senate - 2011 Districts: State of Nevada Population Report" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  7. ↑ Research Division of the Legislative Counsel Bureau (May 2015). "Demographic Profile of Nevada Senate District No. 5 of the 78th Session (2015)" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  8. 1 2 Vogel, Ed (27 May 2012). "2012 PRIMARY ELECTION: STATE SENATE DISTRICT 5". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  9. ↑ Vogel, Ed (26 January 2012). "Henderson doctor pursues state Senate seat". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  10. 1 2 "State Senate". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  11. ↑ Vogel, Ed (21 October 2012). "2012 Voter Guide: Nevada Senate District 5". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Nevada State Senate". Nevada Secretary of State. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  13. ↑ Brean, Henry (27 May 2016). "State Senate District 5". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  14. 1 2 "State Senate". Nevada Secretary of State. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  15. 1 2 Brean, Henry (25 October 2016). "State Senate District 5". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  16. ↑ Chereb, Sandra (5 November 2016). "Reports show fundraising edge for some Nevada legislative candidates". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  • "Map of District 5" (PDF).
  • "Larger map of District 5" (PDF).

Coordinates: 36°02′N 115°04′W / 36.04°N 115.07°W / 36.04; -115.07

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