Nevada's 4th Senate district

Nevada's 4th Senate district is one of 21 districts in the Nevada Senate. It has been represented by Democrat Dina Neal since 2020, succeeding appointed fellow Democrat Marcia Washington.[3]

Nevada's 4th
State Senate district

Senator
  Dina Neal
DNorth Las Vegas
Registration65.0% Democratic
16.6% Republican
13.7% No party preference
Demographics18% White
25% Black
49% Hispanic
4% Asian
4% Other
Population (2018)128,947[1][2]
Registered voters54,821
Closeup on the Las Vegas Valley with District 4 colored blue
Closeup map of District 4

Geography and demographics

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District 4 covers parts of North Las Vegas, Las Vegas, and Sunrise Manor in Clark County; it also includes North Las Vegas Airport.[3]

The district overlaps with Nevada's 1st and 4th congressional districts, and with the 6th and 7th districts of the Nevada Assembly.[4] The district has a total surface area of 25 square miles (65 km2) and a perimeter of 26.6 miles (42.8 km).[5]

According to the 2010 Census, the 4th district had a total of 128,783 inhabitants – 0.14% above the ideal. The district had a large Hispanic and Latino community: over 45% of the district's inhabitants belonged to one of these groups, second only to the 2nd district.[6] The district's population was also low educated. Over 30% of the adult population did not have a high school diploma, and only 6 percent had a bachelor's degree. The median household income was nearly $15,000 lower than Nevada's average, and over a quarter of the population lived in poverty.[7] It had the second-lowest number of registered voters in the state, after District 2.

Recent election results

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Nevada Senators are elected to staggered four-year terms; since 2012 redistricting, the 4th district has held elections in presidential years.

2020

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2020 Nevada State Senate election, District 4[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dina Neal 31,417 75.3
Republican Esper Hickman 10,322 24.7
Total votes 41,739 100
Democratic hold

2016

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In 2016, incumbent Kelvin Atkinson faced Stephen Harvey Munford, the son of Assemblyman Harvey Munford, in the primary election. The elder Mumford had previously showed interest in running for the district, but declined.[9] Atkinson vastly out-raised Munford, and won the primary election with two-thirds of the vote.[10][11][12] He was unopposed in the general election.[12]

2016 Nevada State Senate election, District 4[8]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kelvin Atkinson (incumbent) 3,926 66.6
Democratic Stephen Harvey Munford 1,966 33.4
Total votes 5,892 100
General election
Democratic Kelvin Atkinson (incumbent) 29,912 100
Total votes 29,912 100
Democratic hold

2012

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In 2012, incumbent Steven Horsford successfully ran for Nevada's 4th congressional district, leaving the 4th Senate district vacant. Three Democrats ran to succeed him: Assemblyman Kelvin Atkinson, businesswoman Katherine Duncan, and parole officer supervisor David Wallace. Atkinson, who was endorsed by the Senate Democratic Caucus, highlighted his own experience, while Duncan noted that Atkinson had to move into the district to run and argued that she knew the community better.[13] Wallace, meanwhile, died of a heart attack a month before the primary, but still appeared on the ballot.[14] Atkinson won the June 12 primary with nearly 70% of the vote.[15]

In the general election, Atkinson faced caretaker and political newcomer Linda West Myers. Atkinson argued that his experience would provide "consistency," while West Myers attacked Atkinson for simultaneously receiving a salary from both the legislature and Clark County after he was fired in 2003.[16] Atkinson nevertheless won with nearly 80% of the vote in the heavily-Democratic district.[17]

2012 Nevada State Senate election, District 4[8]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kelvin Atkinson 2,646 67.9
Democratic Katherine Duncan 983 25.2
Democratic David Wallace 266 6.8
Total votes 3,895 100
General election
Democratic Kelvin Atkinson 27,422 79.8
Republican Linda West Myers 6,946 20.2
Total votes 34,368 100
Democratic hold

Federal and statewide results

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Year Office Results[18]
2020 President Biden 72.2 – 25.6%
2018 Senate Rosen 75.5 – 20.0%
Governor Sisolak 73.5 – 20.1%
2016 President Clinton 74.6 – 20.7%
2012 President Obama 80.1 – 18.5%
Senate Berkley 72.7 – 18.2%

History

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The 4th district was created during the reapportionment of the districts in 2011 after the 2010 Census was held.[19] The new districts went into effect on January 1, 2012 for filing for office and nominating and electing senators. It became effective for all other purposes on November 7 – the day after Election Day, when the new senator terms began. The borders of District 4 are defined in the Nevada Revised Statutes using census tracts, block groups, and blocks.[20] In the 1960s, the 4th district was a multi-member constituency that covered the entirety of Clark County. Since the 1970 census, it has been based around the Las Vegas Historic West Side and southern North Las Vegas.

References

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  1. ^ "State Senate District 4, NV". Census Reporter. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  2. ^ "Nevada State Senate - 2011 Districts: State of Nevada Population Report" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Legislator Information: Senator Dina Neal". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  4. ^ David Jarman. "How do counties, House districts, and legislative districts all overlap?". Daily Kos. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  5. ^ "Nevada State Senate - 2011 Districts: State of Nevada Area Analysis Report" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  6. ^ "Nevada State Senate - 2011 Districts: State of Nevada Population Report" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  7. ^ Research Division of the Legislative Counsel Bureau (May 2015). "Demographic Profile of Nevada Senate District No. 4 of the 78th Session (2015)" (PDF). Nevada Legislature. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c "Nevada State Senate District 4". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  9. ^ Brean, Henry (May 28, 2016). "State Senate District 4". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  10. ^ Chereb, Sandra; Whaley, Sean; Botkin, Ben (May 24, 2016). "Nevada legislative incumbents doing well in fundraising". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  11. ^ "State Senate". Nevada Secretary of State. August 3, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Nevada State Senate". Silver State Election. November 22, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  13. ^ Curtis, Lynnette (May 27, 2012). "2012 PRIMARY ELECTION: STATE SENATE DISTRICT 4". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  14. ^ Jourdan, Kristi (May 11, 2012). "State Senate candidate dies of heart attack". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  15. ^ "State Senate". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  16. ^ Jourdan, Kristi (October 21, 2012). "2012 Voter Guide: Nevada Senate District 4". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  17. ^ "Nevada State Senate". Nevada Secretary of State. November 27, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  18. ^ "Daily Kos Elections Statewide Results by LD". Daily Kos. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  19. ^ "Final District Plans: Congressional, Legislative, and Board of Regents". Nevada Legislature. June 7, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  20. ^ "CHAPTER 218B - LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS". Nevada Legislature. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
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36°13′N 115°10′W / 36.21°N 115.16°W / 36.21; -115.16