In Nevada: “Ending months of speculation, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman announced today that he will not run for governor and will instead focus on promoting the city and improving its economy.”

This doesn’t quite guarantee a Republican win in this state, but it certainly helps make it more likely. Former state attorney general Brian Sandoval, the Republican, has led recent polls, and Democratic Clark County commissioner Rory Reid, son of Senate majority leader Harry Reid, has trailed. But it’s easier to get 34 percent or so than to get 50.1 percent, and so Reid probably would have preferred a serious third-party contender.