Carrie Buck, the Republican nominee for Nevada's first congressional district, is aiming to unseat eight-term Democratic incumbent Rep. Dina Titus in a race that could test the shifting political landscape of the Las Vegas area. Buck, who flipped a Democratic-leaning state senate district in 2020, now sets her sights on a larger target: a district that stretches from urban Las Vegas east to the Arizona border.
In an interview at Freedom Fest in Las Vegas, Buck emphasized her background as a teacher and principal as central to her appeal. She served in Nevada's education system for three decades, teaching adult ESL and children before becoming principal of one of the state's lowest-performing schools, which she turned into a national Title I school. She also won the Milken Award during her tenure. Buck believes this experience gives her a deep connection with voters. When she knocks on doors, she says, people often recognize her as their former principal, which she sees as a sign of trust.
Housing affordability is a signature issue for Buck. She pledges to work toward lower-cost housing and to help drive down interest rates so that Nevadans can afford homes. She argues that the immigration crisis during the Biden administration contributed to rising housing costs by depleting low-income housing stock. With recent deportations, she says, prices are beginning to drop. Buck also takes a hard line on the national debt, calling for an end to waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending. She supports the vice president's task force on fraud but insists that taxpayer dollars must be carefully managed to benefit seniors, children, and veterans.
On immigration, Buck supports a pathway to citizenship for those who follow legal procedures, but she maintains a firm stance against illegal immigration. She argues that those who enter the country illegally should be deported, citing victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants. As the wife of a law enforcement officer, she stresses the importance of safe communities and supports law enforcement efforts.
Water issues are another major concern for Nevada, and Buck argues that California could help by building basins to capture rainwater instead of releasing it into the Pacific. She calls for federal intervention to build reservoirs that would secure water access for Nevada, which has long been a leader in conservation. She describes California as a selfish neighbor that has not done enough to share water resources.
Buck's campaign is part of a broader Republican effort to flip competitive House districts in Nevada. The first congressional district has been a Democratic stronghold, but Buck believes her focus on kitchen-table economics and her record of flipping a blue state senate district give her a realistic chance. She notes that 20% of the NV-1 district overlaps with her former state senate district, where she already proved she can win over Democratic voters.
Rep. Dina Titus, first elected in 2008, has strong ties to organized labor, the tourism industry, and the business community. She has fended off primary challengers this cycle and remains a formidable opponent. However, Buck argues that voters are tired of Titus and ready for change. The race is expected to be one of the most closely watched in the country, with national implications for control of the House.
Buck's campaign also emphasizes her support for pathways to citizenship, a position that could appeal to Nevada's diverse electorate, including a significant Latino population. She has been involved in movements to ensure access to legal citizenship, while maintaining that border security and enforcement of immigration laws are essential.
As the election approaches, Buck is focusing on door-to-door campaigning and community engagement, leveraging her local reputation and experience. She believes that her message of fiscal responsibility, housing affordability, and border security will resonate with voters who feel left behind by the current representative.
