LAS VEGAS - Democrat Jill Derby's campaign for the 2nd Congressional District is expanding, preparing to open its second office, this one in Reno, and add new staff in her battle to unseat U.S. Rep. Dean Heller (R-Reno).

Derby's campaign has been operating out of an office in Minden, at the bottom of the 2nd district's populous U.S. 395 corridor. A new office in Reno will allow Derby's campaign to operate an effective field operation in the vote-rich Democratic center of Washoe County. In 2006, her first race against Heller, Derby won Washoe County by fewer than 5,000 votes.

Derby campaign manager David Mason said they are also preparing to hire new staff in the coming weeks, filling senior campaign positions vacant since Derby's announcement Feb. 20.

Since a "rural tour" in March, Derby has been campaigning steadily along the 50-mile stretch of U.S. 395 between Minden and Reno, where most of the district's population resides.

She will be in Elko next month for that city's July Fourth celebration.