During the Clark County Democratic Party’s Jefferson Jackson Dinner Thursday night at the Paris hotel, many were wondering: Where’s Ruben Kihuen?

He’s the assemblyman who some have dubbed the “gatekeeper” of the Hispanic vote. He also announced earlier this week that he’s endorsing New York Sen. Hillary Clinton in her bid for president.

At the dinner, he won the county party’s “Rising Star” award, one of four handed out. He was also the only winner who wasn’t present to accept the award.

So where was the rising star?

He showed up at the dinner, which featured presentations from all eight Democratic presidential hopefuls, just after the awards were presented.

Turns out he got stuck hobnobbing with Clinton campaign VIPs at the post-debate cocktail reception.

“After the debate there was a reception,” he explained. “They wanted me to say hi to everyone, you know, all the VIPs.”

One party member came up to him after the dinner and asked where he was. “I was devastated,” she told him.

It’s a microcosm of the kind of balancing act Kihuen will have to learn as he grows into his role. Such is the life of a rising star.

He and Clinton will headline a campaign event Saturday at Rancho High School.

“This right here is superficial,” he said, pointing at his award. “My goal is to get people out to vote.”