A few Nevada candidates face no opposition

CARSON CITY — A handful of political candidates, nearly all of them incumbents running for reelection, received the best present any office-seeker could ask for Friday: a free ride to a new term in public office.

Four members of the state Assembly and two candidates for the Board of Regents all discovered that no one had filed against them when the clock hit 5 p.m., signaling the end of the filing period.

While they still must wait until election day in November to formally win new terms, a single vote will suffice.

Those who will return to the Nevada Legislature in 2017 without having to campaign include Assembly members Ira Hansen, R-Sparks; John Ellison, R-Elko; Nelson Araujo, D-Las Vegas; and Olivia Diaz, D-North Las Vegas.

Regent Jason Geddes of Reno drew no opposition, nor did Regents candidate Cathy McAdoo of Elko. The seats are nonpartisan.

Several other major party candidates drew only token opposition from minor party candidates who historically have not been successful in past challenges to Republicans or Democrats in Nevada.

State Sen. Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, for example, faces Independent American Party candidate Janine Hansen of Elko, but no Republican in the primary or Democrat in the general.

But most of the offices up for election this year received numerous candidates from both major parties as well as minor party candidates and independents, ensuring spirited primary and general election battles.

Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3820. Find him on Twitter: @seanw801