LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The battle for U.S. Senate in Nevada will be clearer after the June 11 primary as Republican candidates compete for the right to challenge incumbent Democrat Jacky Rosen.
Republican infighting has marked the months leading up to the primary, with several candidates trying to chip away at support for Sam Brown, a U.S. Army vet who was injured in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in 2008. Brown raised $2.2 million in the first quarter of 2024.
Brown has outperformed other leading candidates in 8 News Now polls showing head-to-head matchups against Rosen. The high percentage of undecided voters in those polling numbers suggest others have a chance to beat Brown, but which candidate will emerge from the crowded field? A total of 12 Republicans are still in the race.
Former President Donald Trump’s trip to Las Vegas for a Sunday, June 11, rally at Sunset Park could influence the vote if he endorses any of the candidates. It’s a battleground race that could influence which party controls the Senate, and Trump has endorsed Nevada candidates in the past.
Here’s a look at each of the Republican candidates. Click on the candidate’s name to see their campaign website:
Sam Brown
Although Brown failed to overtake Adam Laxalt in the 2022 primary to challenge U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, he did gain significant name recognition and he took 34.2% of the vote. Now he has a clearer path to challenge Rosen. Brown is spending money advertising ahead of the primary, declaring his support for Trump’s policies and his attention to finish Trump’s border wall. Democrats have attacked Brown’s views on abortion. Brown served in the U.S. Army and was wounded by an IED explosion while he was deplyed to Afghanistan in 2008. He received a purple heart and retired as a captain in 2011. He and his wife run a small business providing veteran services.
William Conrad
An Army veteran with city government experience in Modesto, California, Conrad owns a media company and has experience as a licensed general contractor and owner of a design-build construction company. He served in the Army from 1976 to 2011, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel. He served four tours in Afghanistan and was a Special Forces team leader. He is a member of the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America.
Vincent Geronimo Rego
A delivery driver, Rego cites his experience dealing with obstacles as a hearing impaired citizen. He has lived in Nevada since 2003 and opposes changes that would make the state similar to California. “I aim to make Nevada GREAT again and the leading state in all fields from manufacturing to education to technology and so on,” according to a statement on his website. He supports term limits and closed U.S. borders.
Tony Grady
A retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel who served from 1977 to 1997, has been one of Brown’s most vocal critics despite his support for Brown in the 2022 election. “Our country’s going in the wrong direction,” he told 8 News Now. “I’m very positive that if people will look at my record and just compare it with every other candidate in the race, then they will see that I have the best experience to be able to beat Jacky Rosen.” He questioned Brown’s use of funds donated to a political action committee meant to help conservative candidates get elected. He cites his work experience at the Pentagon, as well as his life experience being subject to government shutdowns. Grady said driving down energy prices would be one of his priorities. His second priority would be the border.
Jeff Gunter
After serving as U.S. Ambassador to Iceland under the Trump administration, Gunter describes his campaign as a move “to represent Nevada and provide President Trump with much-needed backup in Washington D.C.” His tough-minded TV ads favor the America-first approach, and he lists finishing the border wall as one of his top issues, along with other immigration-related goals. He would pursue policies to unleash American energy resources rather than relying on other countries. His background as a rural doctor with a dermotology practice is a part of his opinions on health care policy. “We need physicians to set our healthcare policy, not Washington bureaucrats and politicians.”
Eddie Hamilton
A perennial candidate, Hamilton has sought elected offices from Henderson city council to U.S. House of Representatives, including a run for governor in 2022, where he got 1,293 votes (0.6%) as Joe Lombardo took the Republican nomination. He campaigns against high gasoline prices and inflation. Hamilton describes his experience as a manufacturing engineer and an economist.
Ronda Kennedy
With campaign experience from unsuccessful bids for a seat in the California Assembly (2018) and two different seats representing California in the U.S. House (2020 and 2022), Kennedy now brands herself as a conservative Nevada Republican living in Las Vegas. She is an attorney “ready to bring common sense conservative solutions to Washington,” according to her campaign website. Her top issues include cracking down on crive, defending the Second Amendment and protecting our children.
Barry Lindemann
A previous Independent candidate in the 2022 U.S. Senate race against Catherine Cortez Masto, Lindemann finished a distant third (0.8%) to Cortez Masto (48.8%) and Republican Adam Laxalt (48.0%). Now Lindemann is running as a Republican for the chance to oppose Rosen. He promotes conservative positions through his campaign website under the motto, “Be Furious VOTE Lindemann.”
Garn Mabey
A physician by trade, Mabey served three terms in the Nevada Assembly. His platform centers on economic issues that include fighting inflation and ending policies that favor the rich. He’s tough on crime and believes the U.S. should stay out of international conflicts.
Jim Marchant
Since winning in 2016 to lead Nevada State Assembly District 37, Marchant narrowly lost his re-election bid in 2018 and has been unsuccessful in runs for the U.S. House in 2020 and Nevada Secretary of State in 2022. His platform centers on free and fair elections with a focus on voter ID, the elimination of electronic voting machines and a return to paper ballots. Marchant was among the six Republican “fake electors” who signed paperwork signaling their support for Trump in a symbolic ceremony devoid of any legal merit. Trump endorsed him in 2020 and 2022.
Gary Marinch
No information available.
Stephanie Phillips
A real estate broker, Phillips is running on a platform of protecting children and improving education. “I will dedicate my time in Washington to ending child sex slavery,” according to her website. She also supports Second Amendment rights, veterans’ rights, law enforcement and a secure southern border. She opposes the “two-tiered justice system,” saying justice is supposed to be equal for all.
Candidates who have withdrawn or were disqualified from the race: Cornell Clark, Heath Fulkerson, Shawn White.