Nevada NV-03 House2018

Ordinarily, an open seat that President Trump carried by a point would be a terrific GOP pickup opportunity. But nothing's coming easy for Republicans this fall, and this diverse, suburban Henderson seat may be slipping away. Wealthy Democratic education non-profit executive Susie Lee is the favorite over GOP perennial candidate Danny Tarkanian, who lost by a point here in 2016.

Lee grew up in Ohio and touts her working class roots. But she's married to gaming executive Dan Lee, former CFO of Mirage Resorts, and has been a major Democratic donor for years. She resides in upscale Summerlin (outside the 3rd CD) and ran in the Democratic primary for the 4th CD in 2016, placing third. Republicans will attack her for her lavish vacation homes and private plane use.

However, Tarkanian brings much higher negatives to the race. He's the son of legendary UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian but has lost races for Senate in 2010 and House in 2012 and 2016 amid scrutiny of failed real estate deals that led to bankruptcies. He initially filed to primary GOP Sen. Dean Heller this year, angering some Republicans, but dropped down to the House race when President Trump endorsed the incumbent.

Tarkanian was able to transfer the cash from his Senate race to this contest but had to spend plenty of it to win his primary, defeating TV reporter Michelle Mortensen 44 percent to 24 percent. He enters the home stretch with a cash deficit ($1.1 million to $656,000). Tarkanian underperformed Trump here in 2016, and private polling conducted by both parties shows Lee with a modest lead.

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