Washington, DC – Speaking at a conference of National Association of Latino Elected Officials [NALEO] in Las Vegas on Wednesday and wrapping up his first official Congressional campaign swing through Washington, DC on Tuesday, State Senator Ruben Kihuen is stepping up his national profile in his campaign to be elected to Congress in Nevada’s 4^th District.  

That seat is now held by Republican Congressman Cresent Hardy, who narrowly won election in 2014 amid historically low voter turnout. Ruben Kihuen believes the District should have Democratic Party representation. The District has a Democratic voter registration advantage and voter turn out increases during Presidential elections. In addition, the seat represents one of Nevada’s most demographically diverse Congressional Districts:  36% white, 30% Hispanic, 14% black and 5% Asian. The remaining 15% are unattributed.  

On immigration and diversity issues, Republican Congressman Cresent Hardy may be vulnerable.  His critics observe that Congressman Hardy first voted to start deporting millions of working immigrants without papers. It was only after this failed to pass, that Hardy then voted to continue funding for President Obama’s executive action. The first vote on hard line deportation of millions of American workers may be offensive to the 4^th District’s Hispanics and Asians, in particular, and voters in general. 

Senator Ruben Kihuen represented portions of the current 4^th Congressional District prior to reapportionment. Speaking to an audience of interested Washingtonian’s this week at the home of Mickey Ibarra, Kihuen emphasized a solid Nevada state legislative record and his unique appeal as the first Mexican immigrant to win election to the Nevada legislature and senate. Kihuen was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and moved to the United States at an early age. He also spoke about his long history of civic organizing and voter registration campaigns, including organizing for Hillary Clinton eight years ago.

Mentored by Senator Harry Reid and by the late Eddie Escobedo, founder of Las Vegas’ influential El Mundo newspaper, Kihuen brings extensive business, community and Hispanic networks into play. The majority of 4^th District voters reside in metropolitan Las Vegas, principally Clark County. About the district, Kihuen says ‘this is a district that is diverse and vibrant, and I am entering this race because I believe I am uniquely qualified to represent it. As the son of a housekeeper and a former farm worker, I understand the needs of the residents in the Fourth Congressional District, and I will fight every day so they, too, can have a fair shot at the American Dream. I’m running for Congress to keep the American Dream alive and to protect and expand our middle class.’

In his Facebook posting on legislative priorities, Ruben Kihuen notes “our state and our nation are facing critical issues that will determine what kind of future we want to build for the next generations. In Carson City and in Washington DC, elected officials are discussing how to: 1) fund public education; 2) ensure that our seniors retire with dignity; 3) pay workers a living wage; 4) provide quality access to health care; 5) protect worker's rights, women's rights, voter's rights, immigrants’ rights; and 6) how to protect our environment, including continuing the fight to keep dangerous nuclear waste from entering our state.” For more information on Kihuen campaign for Congress, also visit www.rubenforcongress.com.

Kihuen will face former assemblywoman Lucy Flores and Susie Lee for the Democratic Party nomination. How competitive that primary will be remains to be seen. Lucy Flores served in the Nevada state legislature and ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor in 2014. In that race, Flores suffered a land slide loss, earning only 35% of the vote against Republican nominee Mark Hutchison’s 60%. Susie Lee has not previously held elected office but is civically active and known for her philanthropy.