Election 2018: Cresent Hardy Files For Candidacy In CD4

NEVADA - Cresent Hardy is once again running for Congress, seeking the House seat he lost two years ago to Ruben Kihuen in Nevada's 4th Congressional District. Hardy filed the paperwork to make his candidacy official on Thursday.

Hardy, a Republican, defeated Democrat incumbent Steven Horsford in a 2014 midterm upset to become Nevada's 4th District representative. His victory was a surprise in a congressional district that leans left and the seat was a pick-up target for Democrats in the 2016 election. Kihuen was able to unseat Hardy, but not by the margin some were expecting. Kihuen received 48.5 percent of the vote while Hardy got 44.5 percent.

Hardy filed the paper work on Thursday to run again in 2018 after weeks of speculation that he might do so following Kihuen's announcement that he won't seek reelection amid sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied. Kihuen said in a statement he won't run again because the investigation would detract from campaign issues.

Las Vegas city councilman Stavros Anthony was set to seek the Republican nomination in CD4, but backed out last week citing health reasons.

Image via J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press