Shirley Breeden

From left, SD-5 candidate Shirley Breeden, Greg Esposito, and AD-21 candidate Ellen Spiegel in Henderson last week.: Although most of the Democratic establishment is staying positive about Breeden's candidacy, the NSEA's endorsment of her opponent last week is a troubling sign. Politicker Photo.LAS VEGAS-Months ago, intent on retaking the state senate, Nevada Democrats cast their sights on Senate District 5 as one of two key targets. But hopes of capturing the seat may be fading as their candidate, a self-described "political unknown," has failed to win the endorsement of one of the pillars of the state Democratic establishment, the Nevada State Education Association.

And the endorsement of incumbent state Sen. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) by the state's teachers' union is just the latest in a series of missed opportunities for state Democrats that have led some Democratic operatives to believe their candidate, Shirley Breeden, is unlikely to defeat Heck.

National Democrats are prepared to put some heavy money behind the campaigns of several Democratic legislative candidates in Nevada as an investment in 2012 congressional redistricting – when Nevada is expected to gain a fourth seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. According to sources, the staff of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has told DNC and DCCC officials that non-federal dollars ought to be earmarked for three races that will help Democrats gradually turn the state from light red to blue: State Senate candidates Allison Copening, who is challenging Bob Beers, and Shirley Breeden, who is opposing Joe Heck; and for Democrat Dondero Loop, who is seeking Republican Valerie Weber’s open District 5 Assembly seat.

Shirley Breeden, right, chats with Assemblymen Moises Denis and Ruben Kihuen in March.: Politicker Photo.LAS VEGAS-Clark County School District administrator Shirley Breeden will file today to challenge Republican state Sen. Joe Heck in Senate District 5.  Breeden had previously declared that she would seek the 21st Assembly District seat now held by Assemblyman Bob Beers.

According to a press release issued by the state Democratic Party, Breeden will seek the seat "because she believes more needs to be done to address the serious problems facing families and retirees in Nevada. She said the home foreclosure crisis, the public health crisis with the Hepatitis C outbreak and challenges facing our schools must be addressed now."

Although the district has been trending Democratic, Breeden will face a tough race to unseat Heck, who returned from a tour of Iraq with the Army Reserve Monday.  Heck filed for reelection Wednesday.

Assemblymen Moises Denis and Ruben Kihuen speak with 21st District Assembly candidate Shirley BreedenLAS VEGAS – Shirley Breeden, director of professional development education for the Clark County School District, will announce “in the next week or two” her candidacy for the 21st Assembly District seat currently held by Republican Assemblyman Bob Beers.

Breeden’s candidacy will add to an already crowded field in the district. Jonathan Ozark, who in 2006 lost an election in the 10th Assembly District, is challenging Beers in a Republican primary, and now there will be a Democratic primary between Breeden and Henderson Democratic Club president Ellen Spiegel.