Democrat Sen. Jacky Rosen Declares 2024 Reelection Bid for Vulnerable Seat

Democrat Sen. Jacky Rosen Declares 2024 Reelection Bid for Vulnerable Seat
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) speaks to reporters in Washington on May 10, 2022. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Zachary Stieber
4/5/2023
Updated:
4/5/2023
0:00

U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) on April 5 announced she’s running for a second term, defending a seat that Republicans hope to flip in the 2024 election.

“I ran for office to solve problems, fight for hardworking Nevada families, and make a real difference in people’s lives,” Rosen said in a statement. “Our work in the U.S. Senate is just getting started—that’s why I’m officially launching my reelection campaign today!”

In a video, Rosen said she’s helped pass legislation aimed at solving problems and improving people’s lives but that there are still “big problems to solve,” including “tackling the climate crisis” and “defending abortion rights.”

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee urged Democrats to support Rosen in her bid for another term.

Rosen, 65, defeated incumbent Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) in 2018, winning 50.4 percent of the vote. She is a computer programmer by profession.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), 59, who holds Nevada’s other seat in the Senate, won reelection in 2022 by under 8,000 votes.

“Last year’s Senate race was decided by 7,928 votes, and it could be just as competitive in 2024,” Rosen said Wednesday, asking for donations to help her campaign.

Republicans went into 2022 hoping to flip both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, but only gained control of the lower chamber. Holding onto Masto’s seat, and flipping a seat representing Pennsylvania, actually expanded Democrat control of the upper chamber to 51–49.

Rosen said that the outcome of her race could “decide control of the Senate” and that the race “will be one of the toughest in the country.”

Attorney Ronda Kennedy, who has never held office, is the only Republican candidate who has launched a bid for the seat.

Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.), 64, the state’s only Republican in Congress at the moment, recently told the Nevada Independent he will not vie for the Senate seat.

The House “feels like I’m where I belong,” Amodei said. “In terms of contributing to public service at the federal legislative level, I have no desire to enter the whole culture of mini-nationals in running for the Senate.”

Former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt, 44, is among the potential Rosen challengers. Laxalt lost to Masto in 2022, and also lost a gubernatorial bid in 2018.

Senate Map

Republicans defended 21 Senate seats in 2022, compared to 14 defended by Democrats.

In 2024, Democrats are defending 23 seats, while Republicans are defending just 11.

Additionally, Democrats are representing multiple seats in red states, including seats representing Montana and West Virginia.

Political handicappers have indicated some of the seats are up for grabs. The race for the Montana seat, held by Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), 66, is a toss up, Sabato’s Crystal Ball says, while Cook Political Report, another handicapper, lists as a toss up the race for the West Virginia seat held by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), 75.

Both Cook and Sabato’s rate the Nevada race as leaning Democrat, while Inside Elections, a third handicapper, lists it as a battleground race currently in favor of Democrats.

Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), 61; Bob Casey (D-Pa.), 62 ; and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), 79, are among the senators who have not announced whether they will run again.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) recently said she will retire at the end of her term, but the vacancy is expected to be filled by another Democrat in the blue state.