CARSON CITY — A Las Vegas dentist has been elected chairman of the Nevada Republican Party.

Dr. Chris Comfort replaces Sue Lowden, who resigned Sept. 30 to launch her campaign for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination and try to unseat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in next year's election.

Comfort, who ran Clark County's Republican convention in 2008, was elected during a central committee meeting this past weekend in Hawthorne.

Sherry Dilley of Douglas County was elected vice chairwoman; Carol DelCarlo of Washoe County was retained as secretary; and David Buell, a Reno accountant, was elected treasurer.