Heller appears at GOP events while weighing run for governor

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, a Republican who lost his reelection in 2018, is testing out a potential run for Nevada governor next year, speaking to rural Republicans at two events this month alongside announced candidates.

Heller, who had a complicated relationship with President Donald Trump, spoke at a June 12 dinner in Elko hosted by the county Republican Party. He made a similar appearance last weekend at a GOP dinner in Churchill County.

The former senator has kept a low profile since losing reelection in 2018 to Democrat Jacky Rosen. Heller had once been a critic of Trump, and the former president publicly scolded him for hindering a GOP health care plan. But they patched up their relationship by the time Heller sought another term, and they campaigned together.

U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei told The Associated Press last month that Heller had told the congressman that he was considering a run for governor, but Heller has not responded to messages seeking comment.

The former senator told the crowd of several hundred people at the Elko GOP's Lincoln Day Dinner that he's exploring whether to run for governor in 2022 and try to unset incumbent Democrat Steve Sisolak, according to one attendee.

Mandy Simons, a member of the Elko City Council who attended the June 12 Lincoln Day Dinner, said Heller spoke along with the other GOP candidates but Heller told the crowd he hadn’t decided yet whether to run.

“Heller said he’s exploring the possibility of running for governor,” she said.

Lee Hoffman, the chairman of the Elko Republican Party, confirmed the senator appeared with the candidates for governor but declined to comment further on the senator’s remarks or how he was received.

Heller also spoke at a June 19 Lincoln Day Dinner in Fallon, where several...