By Ray Hagar, Nevada Newsmakers
Nevada's 2nd U.S. House Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, said on Nevada Newsmakers that he has not ruled out a run for governor in 2022 and threw some shade at the five Republicans who have already committed to run.
"I will tell you this: I am not taken with the field so far," Amodei told host Sam Shad.
Former U.S. Sen. Dean Heller is the latest to announce his candidacy for the GOP gubernatorial primary, set for June 14 of next year. Heller joins a field that includes Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee, Reno attorney and former pro boxer Joey Gilbert and venture capitalist Guy Nohra.
Amodei said none of the candidates who have announced "takes the air out of the room."
"Part of the reason I've delayed (any announcement) is, listen, I'm a team player, so you are looking for a candidate to come along that quite frankly, takes all of the air out of the room and there you go," Amodei said. "It is my opinion, no disrespect to anybody, I'm a respectful guy but nobody has taken all of the air out of the room."
Current Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak, probably feels confident running for re-election with the current group of Republicans candidates, Amodei said.
"I'll just cut it short and say that the happiest guy in the state right now has got to be Steve Sisolak, and rightfully so, the way things sit right now," Amodei said.
Previously, Amodei has said he would decide by the end of October about running for governor. When asked if 'late October' is still his deadline he said, "It is, as of toward the end of September."
"In fairness, you have to say what you are going to do so other people who are affected by that have a chance to think about what they want to do," Amodei said.
On the subject of Congressional redistricting, Amodei doesn't think the current redistricting will have a major impact on his 2nd U.S. House district, which includes Reno, Carson City, Fallon and the I-80 corridor.
Congressional and other legislative district lines are redrawn every 10 years, following the U.S. Census. Amodei is in his 10th year as the 2nd U.S. House District representative, defeating Democrat Kate Marshall in a special election in 2011.
"The congressional stuff, you don't get much wiggle room in that," said Amodei, who added a simplified explanation of how Congressional redistricting works in Nevada:
"Here's your population," Amodei said. "You've got four seats (in the U.S. House of Representatives). Divide by four. You can't vary very much between that. You've had phenomenal growth in Las Vegas in the last 10 years, like 78 percent. Washoe has grown 16 percent so you'll have some shuffling of the lines in those three seats that are centered in Las Vegas.
Amodei said his 2nd U.S. House district "may add some acres." However, he discounted that his district would be affected by any gerrymandering.
"Ours, I don't think anybody is going to draw a 400 mile cherry stem to try to get some of the Washoe precincts down south," he said.
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