Carson City- Nevada Democrats are preparing to make two major announcements about candidates for key races within the coming days. 

In Reno, Nevada Democratic chairwoman Jill Derby will be announcing her future political plans tomorrow at Cathexes, Inc., a Northern Nevada architectural firm that specializes in sustainable design or “green architecture.”  Meanwhile, in Clark County, an announcement is expected within days that Allison Copening, a public and media relations spokeswoman for the Springs Preserve, will challenge Republican state Sen. Bob Beers for his seat in the county’s 6th district.

Derby’s announcement should put an end to months of speculation as to whether or not she’ll challenge Congressman Dean Heller (R-NV) in the 2nd Congressional District.  Greg Richardson, a self-described volunteer and friend of Derby’s, sent out a one sentence press advisory today that Derby “will bring family and supporters together to make an announcement about her political future in Nevada.” 

Derby’s choice of setting suggests that she will indeed challenge Heller, as Cathexes, Inc. was recently used as a campaign venue by N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton in January.  Derby will likely use the location as a backdrop to argue for greater innovation in addressing Nevada’s and the country’s energy troubles, an issue much on the minds of Northern Nevada voters these days.

Copening’s announcement should likewise put an end to months of speculation about what Democratic challenger would face Beers in the November election.  Beers’ and fellow Republican Sen. Joe Heck’s districts in Clark County are high priority targets for Democrats seeking to overturn the GOP’s one vote majority in the state senate.

According to one source within the state Democratic Party, Copening will not be answering reporters’ questions until after her announcement is released, having just made her decision “last Friday.”