DINO State Senator defeated by progressive gay minister in NV Primary

[WI_DEM]

Democratic state Sen. John Lee was defeated in a stunning upset Tuesday by political newcomer Patricia Spearman despite having a huge money advantage and the backing of the Democratic establishment.

With about 90 percent of the precincts reporting in Senate District 1, Spearman, a gay minister, had more than 60 percent of the vote to top the incumbent from North Las Vegas,

Lee raised more than $200,000 for his re-election bid, dwarfing Spearman's estimated $13,000 fund-raising take.

But he was targeted by environmentalists and conservationists upset over Lee's sponsorship of 2011 bill that paved the way for Nevada to withdraw from a partnership with California that governs development and environmental regulations at Lake Tahoe.

Lee, who has served in the Senate since 2004, also ran afoul of the more liberal members of the Democratic Party for opposing a 2009 domestic partnership law that extended rights to cohabitating gay and heterosexual couples. Lee also opposed a failed Democratic plan last year to raise taxes.


http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/jun/12/nv-nevada-legislature-2nd-ld-writethru/

[OffWithTheirHeads]

1. Maybe it's just me but people seem to be waking up.

[annabanana]

2. Well THAT'S interesting!

So it's going to be a teahadist vs a progressive in a race that could upset the razor thin 11-10 Democratic majority in Nevada's upper chamber.

A race to watch.

[monmouth]

3. If I hadn't read it here I would have not known. I love DU!! Thanks..n/t

[BlueCaliDem]

4. I wish Mike Strimling had won the primary instead of Dianne Feinstein.

It was disappointing to discover she easily won when it's high time she goes to her 9500 sq.f. $16.5 million dollar home in Pacific Heights.

[BlueCaliDem]

5. Wherever Republicans don't think an election is important enough Democrats always seem to win.

Where they have a vested interest, no matter how much turnout, Democrats always seem to lose.

[pinboy3niner]

6. Hey--at least we won't have Orly Taitz to kick around any more

...or so we hope...

[BlueCaliDem]

7. I wouldn't count her out just yet.

Corporate money seems to give these zombies new life every time they appear to die.

[coalition_unwilling]

8. There's always 2016 and a Taitz-Boxer showdown. Now that would be a race

in comic value for the ages

[pinboy3niner]

9. Emphasis on *COMIC*

[coalition_unwilling]

10. I may just have to do my part in 2016 and vote for Taitz in the

primary, under that new wacky California Senatorial nominating process. May also suggest it to a couple of my stand-up comedian friends to make it part of their sets too.

Draft Taitz in 2016!

[Nuclear Unicorn]

11. The reason the Tea party has been so "successful" is because they've displaced

the careerists on their side. Anyone who thinks the Dems don't have entrenched interests to battle is kidding themselves (and no one else). We won't be successful until we too remove the careerists and bring the party to heel.

This is one of those moments.