One of the Republicans running in the primary was future assemblywoman and Las Vegas City Council member Michele Fiore.

Instead, Nancy Price, a former regent of the Nevada System of Higher Education, emerged as the Democratic nominee.

Facing her first bid for re-election in this marginally liberal[3] district based in the suburbs of metropolitan Las Vegas, incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Dina Titus, the 2006 Democratic nominee for Governor, faced off against former State Senator Joe Heck.

Throughout the campaign, the two candidates argued over the effectiveness of the 2009 Stimulus, how the health care reform bill would affect small businesses, and whether Democratic control of the government has helped or hurt the country.

[6] The Las Vegas Review-Journal strongly criticized Congresswoman Titus for being "a Keynesian to the core" and for believing "government simply isn't spending enough to ensure our prospertity" and praised Republican challenger Heck for bringing "to the office the kind of perspective the House badly needs," endorsing Heck over Titus.