In addition to the controversial Yucca Mountain nuclear repository and being a pivotal swing state in the presidential election, Nevada, a “red state” in 2000, has congressional seats up for grabs — as well as several important state ballot questions.

U.S. Senate: Searchlight native Harry Reid, the senior senator from the state and Democratic Whip, is being challenged by conservative Republican Richard Ziser. Reid is predicted to win re-election.

Congressional Districts: Incumbent congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-Las Vegas) faces Republican opponent Russ Mickelson and Libertarian Party candidate Jim Duensing; veteran congressman Jim Gibbons (R-Reno) is being challenged by four opponents led by Democrat Angie Cochran; incumbent Jon Porter (R-Boulder City) and former casino executive Tom Gallagher (D-Henderson) are embroiled in a bare-knuckle battle for the state’s third congressional seat as two 3rd-party candidates trail behind.

Berkley, Gibbons, and Porter are favored to win their respective races.

Statewide, three supreme court seats are up for grabs, along with 8 state senate seats, all 42 state assembly seats, 2 regent seats for the state university system, and one seat for the state board of education.

Also of note are the following state ballot questions:

Question 1: If passed, the Education First initiative would require state legislators to fund public schools before passing any other budget bills. The initiative was started by Rep. Gibbons after legislators delayed the 2003 schools budget over a tax impasse, which resulted in teacher hiring freezes and the late start of the 2003-2004 year for Nevada school districts.

Question 2: The Public School Funding question would call for Nevada public schools to be funded at the national average. If passed, the initiative to increase taxpayer funding of public education by at least $500 million annually by 2012.

Question 3: Medical malpractice reform is the goal of the Keep Our Doctors In Nevada initiative. If passed, it would remove two exceptions to a $350,000 cap on pain and suffering settlements and limit attorney contingency fees. Doctors supporting the initiative say that stabilizing the monetary cap would enable malpractice insurance providers to offer lower premiums.

Questions 4 and 5: The two initiatives focus on insurance and lawsuits. Both are backed by trial lawyers.

Question 4, if passed, would add provisions governing insurance rates to the Nevada Constitution. Question 5 would hold an attorney liable for fees, court costs, and expenses if the attorney was found to be deliberately litigating solely for harassment or economic gain unrelated to the merits of a lawsuit. However, doctors oppose both questions due to loopholes that would void any and all medical malpractice reforms passed by the legislature.

Question 6: This initiative would increase the state minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $6.15 per hour.

Question 7: A “yes” vote on this question would amend the state constitution by replacing the term “an idiot or insane person” with “a person who has been adjudicated mentally incompetent, unless restored to legal capacity” in regards to voting rights for the mentally ill. The question would also repeal a provision dealing the appointment of U.S. senators by the state legislation — which was made obsolete by the 17th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Question 8: This initiative, if passed, would exempt motor vehicle trade-ins, eyewear, farm machinery, artwork for public display, aircraft, aircraft parts, and professional racing vehicles and their parts from taxation.

Nevadans got a head start on balloting with early voting in mid-October, and a large turnout is expected at the traditional polls tomorrow.