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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Philanthropist Susie Lee has kept her fundraising advantage over seven Democratic rivals in the primary for Nevada's 4th Congressional District seat.
Democrats are in a heated race to challenge freshman Republican Rep. Cresent Hardy.
Many of their policy positions sound similar, so the outcome is expected to come down to who does the best job reaching the relatively small number of voters expected to turn out June 14 in the Democratic-leaning district.
Here are some things to know about the race in the district that includes North Las Vegas and large swaths of rural central Nevada:
HOW MUCH HAVE THE CANDIDATES RAISED
Federal contribution reports due Friday show Lee, who has led education-focused nonprofit organizations and is married to a casino company executive, raised almost $230,000 in the first three months of 2016 and had about $642,000 on hand at the end of March.
Not far behind is longtime state lawmaker Ruben Kihuen, who raised $191,000 in the first quarter of the year and reported about $424,000 cash on hand.
Attorney and two-term former Assemblywoman Lucy Flores was next with $143,000 for the quarter and $159,000 cash on hand.
The five other Democrats in the race aren't expected to raise comparable funds. They include Dan Rolle, Brandon Casutt, Yucca Mountain proponent Mike Schaefer, Air Force veteran Rodney Smith and Morse Arberry Jr., who spent decades in the Legislature but pleaded guilty to a campaign finance violation charge a few years ago.
Critics have tried to paint Lee as wealthy and out-of-touch with the diverse, working-class district, pointing to the small plane and numerous homes her family owns.
Lee said she'd been fortunate, but she pointed to her humble beginnings as part of a large family and noted that she has worked with organizations serving at-risk youth and the homeless so others could have similar opportunities.
Hardy doesn't have any formidable primary foes and is girding for a tough re-election bid in the general election. He reported raising about $191,000 last quarter, and has nearly $761,000 cash on hand — more than any of the Democratic challengers.
BATTLE OF ENDORSEMENTS
Kihuen got an early boost with an endorsement from retiring Sen. Harry Reid, who remains a force to be reckoned with in Nevada politics. Kihuen also has the support of the powerful Culinary Union, which touts grassroots organizing skills and 57,000 hospitality industry workers.
Lee scored the backing of EMILY's List, a national group that organizes and fundraises for Democratic female candidates who support abortion rights.
Flores had the support of EMILY's List in her unsuccessful 2014 bid for lieutenant governor. The former two-term assemblywoman has talked publicly about having an abortion at 16.
Her endorsement of presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has helped her pick up steam among his young, enthusiastic base. Sanders returned the favor this week when he sent an email to his supporters urging them to donate to her campaign.
TURNOUT TRENDS
Voters won't be weighing in on polarizing presidential candidates or controversial statewide ballot measures in the June primary, so enthusiasm and turnout is expected to be low and keep the outcome volatile.
Candidates are focused less on targeting specific demographic blocs than honing in on Democratic voters likely to show up to the polls.
The presidential campaign is expected to drive Democrats to vote in higher numbers than 2014, when Hardy triumphed despite his party's registration disadvantage.
Democrats account for 43 percent of registered voters in the 4th Congressional District, compared with 33 percent for Republicans.
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