Election 2018: Tarkanian Audibles, Jumps Races From Senate To CD3

LAS VEGAS, NV - Nevada Republican Danny Tarkanian announced on Friday he is dropping out of Nevada's Senate race and will instead file to run for Congress in Nevada's 3rd Congressional District. Tarkanian announced his decision after President Donald Trump at the behest of President Donald Trump, who said he'd better serve the Republican Party in Congress.

"It would be great for the Republican Party of Nevada, and it's (sic) unity if good guy Danny Tarkanian would run for Congress and Dean Heller, who is doing a really good job, could run for Senate unopposed," Trump tweeted.

One hour later, Tarkanian announced on Twitter he is switching races to run for the 3rd Congressional District seat he lost to Rep. Jacky Rosen in 2016.

"(Trump) is adamant that a unified GOP ticket in Nevada is the best direction for the America First movement. Thank you Mr. President for your full support & endorsement, I'm filing to run again in CD3 with the firm belief that we will finish what we started in 2016 & win in 2018," Tarkanian tweeted.

Despite Trump's suggestion that Heller will run unopposed with Tarkanian dropping out, three other Republicans - Sherry Brooks, Vic Harrell, and Tom Heck - have all filed to run for United States Senate.

Tarkanian said in August he was running for United States Senate. Before Friday's announcement, he was initially slated to take on Heller in the Republican primary. Rosen is running as the party favorite to win the Democratic nomination.

Including this year's Senate campaign and previous primary campaigns, the CD3 race will be Tarkanian's 10th political campaign since 2004. In 2004 he ran and lost in Nevada Senate District 11. In 2006, he won the Republican primary for Secretary of State but lost the general election. In 2010, he lost the Republican primary for United States Senate. In 2012, he won the Republican primary for Nevada's 4th Congressional District, but lost in the general election. In 2016, he won the Republican primary for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District, but lost the general election to Rosen.

Tarkanian said he will file on Friday at noon at the Clark County Government Building.

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