Cresent Leo Hardy (born June 23, 1957) is an American politician and businessman who served as the U.S. Representative for Nevada's 4th congressional district from 2015 to 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the Nevada Assembly from 2011 to 2015.[1][2] He unseated one-term Democratic incumbent Steven Horsford in 2014, then lost his own bid for reelection in the 2016 general election to Democratic challenger Ruben Kihuen. He ran unsuccessfully for his old seat in 2018, but lost to Horsford.
Cresent Hardy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada's 4th district | |
| In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Steven Horsford |
| Succeeded by | Ruben Kihuen |
| Member of the Nevada Assembly from the 19th district | |
| In office February 4, 2013 – January 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Steven Brooks |
| Succeeded by | Chris Edwards |
| Member of the Nevada Assembly from the 20th district | |
| In office February 7, 2011 – February 4, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Joe Hardy |
| Succeeded by | Ellen Spiegel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Cresent Leo Hardy June 23, 1957 Mesquite, Nevada, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Peri Jean |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Dixie State University (BA) |
Early life and education
Hardy graduated from Virgin Valley High School and Dixie State College.
Business career
Since leaving college, Hardy has pursued a career in business. He is a partial owner of properties in Alaska and Utah as well as in and around Mesquite, Nevada. Prior to entering Congress, he was a partner in a construction company.[3] He was also one of several owners of Mesquite's Falcon Ridge Golf Course, which he personally designed.[4]
Hardy began his career in government by serving as the public works director in Mesquite, Nevada. He then became a member of the Virgin Valley Water District and a member of the Mesquite City Council.[5] He was elected to the Nevada State Assembly in 2010.[6]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2014
Hardy ran as a candidate for the United States House of Representatives in Nevada's 4th congressional district, held by Steven Horsford of the Democratic Party, in the 2014 election.[7] Hardy defeated Horsford 48.5%-45.7%.[8]
Hardy held "a number of community meetings" after being elected. He said "the two issues he heard about most often...were jobs and health care," and these would become his priorities in office.[9]
2016
Hardy ran for re-election in 2016. Hardy faced two challengers in the Republican primary in June 2016, winning 77.44% of the vote.[10][11] In the general election, he faced Democratic state senator Ruben Kihuen. Kihuen defeated Hardy with 48.5% of the vote. While Hardy carried six of the district's seven counties, he could not overcome a 24,000-vote deficit in Clark County.[12] After initially supporting Donald Trump's presidential bid, Hardy said in October 2016 he would not vote for Trump.[13]
2018
In January 2018, Hardy announced his candidacy for his old congressional seat after Republican Las Vegas City Councilman Stavros Anthony dropped out of the race.[14] He won the June 2018 Republican primary. In August 2018, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan campaigned for Hardy in Las Vegas.[15]
Hardy faced Democratic nominee and former U.S. Representative for the district, Steven Horsford in the general election.[16] Horsford defeated Hardy, winning 52% of the vote to Hardy's 44%. Third-party candidates took the remaining 4% of the vote.[17]
Committee assignments
Political positions
Immigration
Hardy voted against an amendment to defund Obama's DACA program.[5]
Health care
In 2016, Hardy and Terri Sewell (D-AL) introduced the Rural Health Enhancement and Long Term Health Act (HEALTH), intended to forestall the closure of rural hospitals.[18]
Iran deal
Personal life
Hardy and his wife, Peri Jean Hardy, have four children and two grandchildren.[9]
In August 2016, Hardy was hospitalized after a heart attack that occurred while he was preparing to undergo a colonoscopy. The next day he returned to his re-election campaign. Doctors discovered he had been living with a collapsed artery on his heart, and they inserted two stents to repair it. Hardy said "I actually feel better than I've felt in quite some time."[20]
Electoral History
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cresent Hardy | 10,398 | 42.6 | |
| Republican | Niger Innis | 8,077 | 33.1 | |
| Republican | Michael Ace Monroe | 5,393 | 22.1 | |
| Republican | Carlo "Mazunga" Poliak | 523 | 2.2 | |
| Total votes | 27,075 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cresent Hardy | 63,466 | 48.5 | |||
| Democratic | Steven Horsford (incumbent) | 59,844 | 45.8 | |||
| Libertarian | Steve Brown | 4,119 | 3.1 | |||
| Independent American | Russell Best | 3,352 | 2.6 | |||
| Total votes | 130,781 | 100.0 | ||||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cresent Hardy | 18,610 | 76.79% | |
| Republican | Mike Monroe | 4,336 | 17.89% | |
| Republican | Wayne Villines | 1,290 | 5.32% | |
| Total votes | 24,236 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ruben Kihuen | 128,985 | 48.6 | |||
| Republican | Cresent Hardy (incumbent) | 118,328 | 44.5 | |||
| Libertarian | Steve Brown | 10,206 | 3.8 | |||
| Independent American Party (Nevada) | Mike Little | 8,327 | 3.1 | |||
| Total votes | 265,846 | 100.0 | ||||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cresent Hardy | 15,252 | 47.4 | |
| Republican | David Gibbs | 6,098 | 19.0 | |
| Republican | Bill Townsend | 3,659 | 11.4 | |
| Republican | Kenneth Wegner | 3,625 | 11.3 | |
| Republican | Jeff Miller | 2,560 | 8.0 | |
| Republican | Mike Monroe | 971 | 3.0 | |
| Total votes | 32,165 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Steven Horsford | 121,962 | 51.9 | |
| Republican | Cresent Hardy | 102,748 | 43.8 | |
| Independent American Party (Nevada) | Warren Markowitz | 3,180 | 1.3 | |
| Independent | Rodney Smith | 2,733 | 1.2 | |
| Libertarian | Greg Luckner | 2,213 | 0.9 | |
| Independent | Dean McGonigle | 2,032 | 0.9 | |
| Total votes | 234,868 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
- ^ "Nevada-4: Cresent Hardy (R)". www.nationaljournal.com. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
- ^ "2016 Election Results:". www.Politico.com. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
- ^ Tetreault, Steve. "Hardy worth more than $1.8m but might take another hit". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
- ^ Roerink, Kyle. "Hardy failed to pay over $5 million in taxes, loans for his private businesses". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
- ^ a b Messerly, Megan. "Straight-talking, sometimes to a fault, Cresent Hardy reaches out to unlikely supporters". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
- ^ "GOP wins rural District 20 race, knocks out Boulder City's Goya – Las Vegas Sun News". Lasvegassun.com. November 3, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
- ^ Call, Roll (October 23, 2013). "Nevada Republicans Line Up to Depose Reid in 2016 : Roll Call Politics". Rollcall.com. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
- ^ Amber Phillips. "Cresent Hardy closes out surprising win over Rep. Steven Horsford". LasVegasSun.com. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
- ^ a b Theobald, Bill. "Hardy begins role in Congress as 'second-class citizen'". Reno Gazette Journal. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
- ^ Thomas, Lucas (April 1, 2016). "Hardy discusses CD4 race". The Spectrum. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "2016 primary election results: A look at several key races". June 14, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
- ^ "Nevada U.S. House 4th District Results: Ruben Kihuen Wins". The New York Times. November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
- ^ Schneider, Elena (October 8, 2016). "Heck, Hardy withdraw Trump support in Nevada". Politico. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
- ^ "Cresent Hardy jumps into race for his old congressional seat". Las Vegas Review-Journal. January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
- ^ Price, Michelle L. "House speaker campaigns for GOP candidate Hardy in Las Vegas". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
- ^ Todd, Camalot (June 13, 2018). "Old rivals Horsford, Hardy set for rematch in Congressional District 4". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
- ^ "Nevada Election Results: Fourth House District". New York Times. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
- ^ Thomas, Lucas M. "Hardy introduces Rural HEALTH Act". The Spectrum. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ Schwartz, Brian. "Megadonor Sheldon Adelson rewards GOP candidates in tight races who opposed Iran deal". CNBC. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ Rindels, Michelle. "Cresent Hardy puts head down for tough House re-election bid". NBC News4. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
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