Brian Sandoval (R)

Immigration

Sandoval, who is Latino, said he supports the strict anti-immigration law passed in neighboring Arizona. He opposes offering amnesty to illegal immigrants already in the country.

He was criticized by a reporter for Spanish-language television station Univision, who pressed Sandoval about the strictness of the Arizona law in an interview. "In reference to the same law, he was asked how he would feel if he and his children were stopped in the street and asked for their papers. He answered, with a note of pride in his voice, 'My children don't look Hispanic.'"

Pressed to release the videotape, Univision said it didn't record the audio.

Sandoval said he did not remeber the incident, but said if he had said those things he was sorry.

Sandoval was caught in a second scandal related to immigration less than a month before the November 2010 election. Anna Padilla told the media she had worked for Sandoval as a housekeeper while she was undocumented in the 1990s.

"In the time I worked with him, he supported me," said Padilla. "Now he says he does not support Latinos that are already here?"

Sandoval and his wife denied knowing Padilla and accused her of being planted by the opposing campaign.

The Economy

The 2008-2009 economic crisis hit Nevada hard. The state relies on tourism and gambling for much of its tax base, and those industries suffered badly in the recession.

The result was a state in "freefall," with a $3 billion budget deficit.

As governor, Sandoval pledged not to raise income taxes, but instead would recruit new businesses to the area. He said he would be "personally involved" in recruiting businesses away from Califonia and Oregon.

In a debate, Sandoval said he would consider taxes on fuel, services, cigarettes or alcohol to plump up the budget.

Sandoval came under fire from both 2010 opponent Rory Reid (D) and the press for failing to release a budget plan that would deal with Nevada's $3 billion deficit.

Health Care

Sandoval said in a gubernatorial debate that he supports overturning the health-care reform legislation passed by President Obama in March 2010. He said the legislation would raise health-insurance premiums. "That's why that law needs to go away," he said.

Education

In a 2010 gubernatorial debate on education, Sandoval said he opposed increasing funding to Nevada schools, but rather wanted to encourage the school system to spend money more wisely.

He supported offering vouchers that students could use to attend private schools.

Opponent Rory Reid said Sandoval's proposed education plan would actually cut funding to schools by $533 million.

Tea Party

The moderate Sandoval was not associated with the tea party movement, the collection of grassroots conservative groups that proved influential in 2010. However, lacking a tea-party candidate in the gubernatorial race, most self-described "tea party voters" told pollsters they would vote for Sandoval.

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