Horsford pursues seat in Congress, vows to help Nevada families

Announcing his run for Congress, state Sen. Steven Horsford on Thursday laid claim to urban Las Vegas, hoping to scare away primary competitors -- especially former U.S. Rep. Dina Titus -- for the safest Democratic district in Southern Nevada.

Horsford was born and raised in West Las Vegas, the historical heart of the African-American community. The state's first black Senate majority leader said he could best represent the district, which has been held since 1998 by Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev. She is running for the U.S. Senate.

"I am running to be your voice and your congressman in this district," Horsford, 38, said at a campaign kickoff attended by more than 100 loyal backers and his family. They cheered him as he recounted growing up poor with three younger siblings and a mother battling drug addiction.

Pamela Horsford, who he said has been clean for 20 years, sat in the audience as Horsford made his announcement at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas. He is chief executive officer of the school, a partnership between unions and casinos that trains 3,000 workers a year.

Horsford, who would become Nevada's first black congressman if he won, cast himself as a populist advocate for working people, health care, education, Social Security and Medicare. He is a foe of "tea party extremists" and Wall Street bankers.

"Too many Nevada families are feeling like my family did when I was a kid," he said. "I've been there, too, and that's why I will never stop working for Nevada families."

The three-term state senator is the fifth major Democratic candidate to launch a bid for a House seat for 2012. But he is the first to say exactly where he will run before new district lines are drawn for three Southern Nevada seats -- including a new one -- and one Northern Nevada seat.

Horsford's goal to discourage primary competition might not work, however, with so many Democrats vying for two open House seats in a year President Barack Obama will be on the ticket.

Titus said she has lived in the 1st Congressional District for more than 30 years, representing a large state Senate district for two decades before she won a different House seat in 2008.

Titus lost to Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., in a tight 2010 contest for the 3rd Congressional District in Southern Nevada.

"He has no claim to that district," Titus said of Horsford. "I live right there, too. When they redraw the lines, no matter how they draw them, somebody's going to have to run against me."

Titus couldn't say for certain whether she would run for the 1st Congressional District or the newly created 4th Congressional District, which could include areas she previously has represented. She has all but ruled out a rematch against Heck in his swing district, although it's not impossible.

Titus didn't single out Horsford as a potential competitor. She said she is also prepared to go up against Las Vegas state Sen. Ruben Kihuen, who is seeking to become Nevada's first Hispanic congressman.

Kihuen and Horsford have a tacit agreement not to split the minority community by running against one another, so Kihuen probably would run in the 4th Congressional District.

"They've tried not to draw me in Ruben's district or Horsford's district, but they're going to have to," Titus said. "They can say all they want to that they're not going to have a primary, but they will."

Titus' ire may have been raised by new maps proposed by Democratic Party attorneys during a redistricting hearing last week. The hearing was before a special court panel tasked with drawing new districts after GOP Gov. Brian Sandoval vetoed two maps from the Democrat-controlled Legislature.

The maps favor Horsford, Kihuen and Assembly Speaker John Oceguera of Las Vegas, who also is running for Congress. The urban black community is contained in the proposed 1st Congressional District. Urban Hispanic areas where Kihuen lives are part of the new 4th Congressional District, which also includes a half dozen rural counties outside Clark County. And the 3rd Congressional District drops areas such as Laughlin and Boulder City, making it lean more Democratic to hurt Heck's chances.

It's possible the Nevada Supreme Court could rule in the redistricting case and try and force the governor to call a special session to approve new maps. Horsford said if that happened, he would not recuse himself, which could put him in the position of drawing his own district.

"I will continue my responsibility until the end of my term," Horsford said.

Titus, Horsford and Kihuen share much of the same Democratic base, including unions, teachers and minority communities, which could make for highly divisive primaries. Oceguera of Las Vegas has portrayed himself as a moderate who could best run competitively against Heck.

A fifth contender, state Sen. John Lee of North Las Vegas, a conservative Democrat, is gearing up for a primary against Oceguera but may challenge any of the other candidates, his campaign said. Lee, a plumber, noted most of the other House hopefuls have drawn government salaries.

Titus and Kihuen recently quit higher education jobs to run. Oceguera just quit the North Las Vegas Fire Department. Conservatives have accused him of "double-dipping" by collecting his firefighter salary while also receiving legislative pay during the 120-day session. Oceguera has denied the charges.

"I believe Nevadans will send me to Washington because they understand we need leaders with experience actually creating jobs, not just talking about it," Lee said Thursday.

Party insiders said at this point they are not concerned about too many Democratic contenders, but officials may become worried once lines are drawn if a divisive primary could cost the party a seat. In addition, candidates who can't compete on the fundraising side could be forced to drop out.

Titus, known as a tough campaigner, and Horsford are viewed as the strongest fundraisers because of their deep ties in the Democratic Party, business and union communities.

Kihuen also is expected to get lots of support because the White House is encouraging Hispanic candidates to help Obama lure Latinos to the polls to ensure his own re-election in 2012.

Contact Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919. Follow @lmyerslvrj on Twitter.