Nevada Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen has won re-election, defeating Republican Sam Brown in a closely contested but unusually low-profile race for the battleground state.
The first-term senator campaigned on abortion rights and cast herself as a non-ideological leader, a similar approach used by Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto in her own successful re-election two years prior.
“Thank you, Nevada! I’m honored and grateful to continue serving as your United States Senator,” Rosen shared on the platform X on Friday.
Sam Brown, a retired Army captain who relocated to Nevada from Texas in 2018 without any previous elected experience, aimed to capitalise on President-elect Donald Trump’s strong support in the working-class state. Trump had secured Nevada on Friday.
Before Rosen’s victory was announced, Brown expressed frustration over the prolonged vote-counting process, posting on X,
“We deserve to know election results within hours, not a week later.”
During the Republican primary, Brown enjoyed Trump’s endorsement and secured his nomination with ease. However, he was significantly outspent by Rosen’s campaign, enabling her to dominate the media landscape for months.
Rosen, a former Las Vegas-area synagogue president and computer programmer, ran campaign ads emphasising her independence, stating she doesn’t listen to “party leaders.”
Analysts note Nevada’s history of supporting pragmatic senators who can bring federal funding back to the state. In her campaign, Rosen highlighted her efforts to expand broadband internet access and her work on a light rail connection between Las Vegas and Southern California.
She also criticised Brown for his anti-abortion stance, asserting he would endorse a national abortion ban, despite Brown’s claims of respecting Nevada voters’ decision decades ago to legalise abortion.
Meanwhile, a recent ballot measure to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution passed; voters will need to approve it again in 2026 to amend the constitution.
Despite the intense focus on Nevada in the presidential race, with both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris targeting the state’s six electoral votes, the Senate race attracted relatively little national attention until the final days.
Conservative funding surged late as Republicans gained momentum, but Brown was unable to fully counter Rosen’s media presence.
Brown, a Purple Heart recipient severely injured by an IED in Afghanistan in 2008, often referenced his recovery journey and the 30 surgeries he endured, noting the scarring on his face from the attack. He is also the founder of a medical company that supports veterans.
Brown previously ran unsuccessfully in the 2022 Republican primary against Cortez Masto.
All four of Nevada’s U.S. House incumbents, three Democrats and one Republican, were also re-elected.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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