The Washington Post said of the Nevada race:
[Heck’s] a battle-tested swing-district Republican going up against the disciplined Harry Reid Democratic machine and Reid’s hand-picked successor, former Nevada attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto.
The article went on to explain "the race is a legacy-defining one for Reid." Politico Pro even called the race "Reid’s final campaign."
Politico Pro also said:
75-year-old Reid has embarked on a behind-the-scenes drive to relegate last year’s sweeping losses to a mere blip in the history books.
After Reid’s huge loss last cycle, he’s looking to salvage his reputation by recruiting 2016’s candidates. However, there have been a few blunders so far.
Kay Hagan turned down a second Senate campaign to Senator Richard Burr after losing in 2014 to Senator Thom Tillis. In Pennsylvania, Reid’s top recruits have turned down Senate bids, leaving them with Joe Sestak who was deemed a "lackluster" candidate by his own party.
In Nevada, Heck is prepared and ready to take on Harry Reid. The Reno Gazette-Journal reported:
In an interview Monday afternoon in Reno, Heck said he expected Reid’s political team — known as the "Reid Machine" — to be well-oiled in backing Cortez Masto, even though Reid is retiring.
"My opponent is Harry’s hand-picked successor," Heck said. "I would assume he would not do that if he wasn’t going to be all in for her."
Heck has the support of numerous senators of his own and is ready to represent the Silver State in the Senate.