Carter’s Son Wins Primary in Senate Bid
Former President Carter’s son Jack won the Democratic nomination to face Republican U.S. Sen. John Ensign in November.
Carter claimed 80% of the vote in early returns to defeat political unknown Ruby Jee Tun of Carson City, a middle school science teacher. Ensign won with more than 90% of the vote over Ed “Fast Eddie” Hamilton of Las Vegas, a former Chrysler Corp. supervisor.
Voters also were picking candidates to replace popular Republican Gov. Kenny C. Guinn. Guinn, who is leaving office after eight years because of term limits, did not groom a successor, locking candidates from both parties in brutal primary contests that included offbeat personal attacks using sock puppets, “Star Wars” parodies and Internet images.
In the Republican gubernatorial primary, five-term Rep. Jim Gibbons of Reno led state Sen. Bob Beers, an anti-tax advocate from Las Vegas, 41% to 31%, with Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt getting 17% of the 57,225 votes.
Longshots in that race include a former porn star, Melody Damayo.
On the Democratic ballot, state Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus had 54% of the vote to Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson’s 36%.
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