Hutchinson vs. Flores for No. 2 post

In the closely watched lieutenant governor’s race, state Sen. Mark Hutchison defeated one-time U.S. Senate hopeful Sue Lowden, who lost the 2010 primary to tea party darling Sharron Angle in the race for Sen. Harry Reid’s seat.

Hutchison will face Democrat Lucy Flores, a two-term assemblywoman from Las Vegas who also easily won her primary with more than 70 percent of the vote. Flores has U.S. Sen. Harry Reid’s support to become Nevada’s first black lieutenant governor.

Flores defeated Navy veteran Harley Kulkin.

Flores enjoyed the support of Reid in her bid for lieutenant governor, whose primary job is to oversee tourism in Nevada.

Hutchison, a first-term senator and wealthy lawyer from Las Vegas, had the backing of Gov. Brian Sandoval.

Hutchison’s campaign ads attacked Lowden for making contributions to Reid’s re-election campaigns in the 1980s.

Sandoval’s popularity has many Republicans wanting him to serve only half of a final term and run in 2016 against Reid, the Democratic majority leader.

Hutchison said he and Sandoval will run as a team in a “dual campaign.”

“We have a very similar governing philosophy,” he said. Sandoval “is popular for a reason” and puts “Nevadans first.”

Sandoval dismisses speculation he may have his sights set on higher office.