Former US Rep. James Bilbray dies

Former U.S. Congressman James Bilbray has died, Gov. Steve Sisolak said Sunday successful a tweet.

“Rep. Jim Bilbray was a Nevada treasure,” U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) said connected Twitter. “His tireless committedness and devotion to nationalist work was unmatched, and we volition everlastingly grant his legacy. My bosom goes retired to his household and friends during this hard time.”

Bilbray, 83, a autochthonal Nevadan, was calved successful Nevada successful 1938. He was the pupil assemblage president astatine UNLV, though helium received his bachelor of arts astatine American University successful Washington, D.C. He aboriginal founded and was the archetypal president of the UNLV Alumni Association, according to his biography connected the website of the instrumentality steadfast Kaempfer Crowell, wherever helium was of counsel.

Bilbray received his instrumentality grade from the Washington College of Law successful 1964, and was archetypal admitted to the Nevada Bar the pursuing year.

His governmental vocation started arsenic a regent of the assemblage system, wherever helium served from 1968 to 1972. That year, helium ran for Congress for the archetypal time, winning a competitory Democratic superior but losing successful the wide election. In 1980, Bilbray was elected to the Nevada authorities Senate, wherever helium served until 1986, erstwhile helium was elected to Congress from Nevada’s 1st District, replacing Harry Reid, who had been elected to the U.S. Senate.

Bilbray served 4 presumption successful Congress, but was defeated for re-election successful a adjacent contention successful 1994 by veterinarian John Ensign, who was swept into bureau arsenic portion of the Newt Gingrich/Contract with America wave.

Bilbray besides served connected the committee of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors and connected the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, which decided the destiny of perchance unneeded subject bases astir the country.

Two of Bilbray’s daughters followed him into politics: Erin Bilbray ran for Congress successful the 3rd Congressional District successful 2014, but mislaid successful a heavy Republican twelvemonth contempt endorsements from high-profile figures including then-Vice President Joe Biden. Shannon Bilbray-Axlerod was elected to the Nevada Assembly successful 2016 and has served 3 terms. A cousin, Brian Bilbray, was a Republican congressman from California.

Bilbray has a mediate schoolhouse successful Las Vegas named successful his honor.

This is simply a processing story. Check backmost for updates.

Contact Jonah Dylan astatine jdylan@reviewjournal.com. Follow @TheJonahDylan connected Twitter.