Senator John Ensign Resigns
Once the truth came out about Senator John Ensign having an affair with Cynthia Hampton it was downhill from that point on. Right now Senator Ensign is facing the very good chance of public hearings as well as legal proceedings that will be stemming from his affair that was made public late last year. The Senate Panel is looking into an ethics investigation because of his affair with Cynthia Hampton, former campaign aide, and how it lead to alleged conflict of interest violations. Shortly thereafter, Senator John Ensign, Republican for Nevada, ended up turning in his resignation on Thursday, April 21,2011, stating that his last day as Senator for Nevada would be May3.
Ensign has been a Senator for eleven years, however he recently stated that he could no longer stay the Senator of Nevada and try running for re-election in 2012 with all of investigations, the Senate Panel as well as all the negative press that has been brought on by his affair, not to mention what this is doing to his family as well as the state of Nevada.
With Ensign’s resignation in place, this will therefore allow the Governor of Nevada, Brian Sandoval (R) to appoint a new interim replacement until the 2012 election in November. More then likely a Republic will be taking the Senate seat of Ensign. Right now, Representative Dean Heller, who is a Republican, is expected to end up being appointed to Ensign’s seat. This would end up being the best possible scenario for Dean Heller to hopefully become re-elected again come 2012.
Many people are starting to wonder what this will do to the 2012 Senate races. After the past elections in 2010, everyone is preparing to see the next race in 2012 and they are expecting a major showdown once again. Therefore the question remains, what will Senator John Ensign’s resignation mean for the race? Many are saying that the resignation could actually end up giving the Republicans a leg up for the 2012 elections. If Heller ends up getting Ensign’s Senate seat, which more then likely he will, this will end up further strengthening Heller’s campaign, allowing for more donations, press and time.
Dean Heller will more then likely be appointed Senator John Ensign’ s seat therefore not changing anything in the Senate, but this does not mean that the Nevada Senate race for 2012 will be easy. A month after Representative Dean Heller put in his bid for the Senate race Representative Shelley Berkley did as well.
Representative Shelley Berkley has much popularity and support in her Democratic district in Clark County, Nevada. However, she will find some challenges throughout other parts of rural Nevada. Right now she is beginning to build a platform based upon her forward thinking as well as trying to improve her states high jobless, home foreclosure and bankruptcy rates. Essentially, Representative Shelley Berkley is telling the citizens of Nevada that it is either her or the conservative Tea Party ideology that is doing nothing to further the economy or jobs in Nevada. With Rep. Berkley already taking aim at Rep. Dean Heller and his more conservative ideology, it is already looking as though the 2012 Senate race in Nevada is going to be as hot as it was in 2010.