One likely candidate is Representative Dean Heller, a Republican House member already running for the job.
Gov. Brian Sandoval appointed Representative Dean Heller to the Senate seat that John Ensign plans to leave next week.
"I think it's only normal they assumed this could be their year," said Representative Dean Kaufert, a Republican who introduced the legislation, speaking of the rifle association.
Among Republican contenders, Representative Dean Heller had been readying a campaign even if Mr. Ensign ran again and is considered the current front-runner.
Mr. Ensign has already been replaced in the Senate by former Representative Dean Heller, a Republican who is now running for a six-year Senate term.
LAS VEGAS — Even before Senator John Ensign announced last month that he would not seek re-election, Representative Dean Heller was working feverishly to make sure he was seen as the inevitable Republican nominee.
Two Republican leaders in Las Vegas called Thursday for Mr. Ensign to resign, a day after Representative Dean Heller, a Republican from northern Nevada, said that the ethics inquiries were causing "real problems" for party members around the state.
A special election to replace Representative Dean Heller, a Republican about to be appointed to the United States Senate, should be open to all candidates, not just those selected by the two major political parties, Nevada's secretary of state ruled on Monday.
According to a statement emailed by a representative for Dean, the venue is "expected to open in the fall under a new name and vision," under Dean and Director Andrew Inomata's leadership.
