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City Cast Las Vegas

Rob Kachelriess

 last week, so let’s zero in on the races getting the most attention on a local level in Southern Nevada. The primary is June 9 with early voting May 23-June 5.

 is running for reelection with a strong prognosis since she won her first term with 

 in the 2022 primary. (In the nonpartisan race, the top two face off in November if a candidate doesn’t exceed 50% of the vote.) The closest challenger, 

Term limits keep Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown from running for reelection during a period when North Las Vegas is on the upswing. While the office is nonpartisan, the 

, who identifies as Republican, and Democratic assemblymember 

, who's also chair of the Nevada Democratic Party. (Like Henderson, the 50% threshold will determine if a runoff is needed in the fall.) There’s been a legal challenge over Black potentially violating term limits if he wins, since the mayor is a voting member of City Council.

Democratic incumbent Justin Jones declined to run for reelection over a 

, leaving the door wide open for his District F seat, which includes the Southwest Valley. If a Republican can flip the seat, it will either be Assemblymember 

 (endorsed by Gov. Lombardo) and former Democrat 

 (endorsed by Sheriff Kevin McMahill, and whose family name is the “Mack” in Thomas & Mack) in a race that’s described as the 

The Democratic side is a little more crowded. Former Republican and founder of the Bamboo Bridges nonprofit 

 appears to be the frontrunner with endorsements from Jones and County Commissioner Tick Segerblom. She faces spirited campaigns by Armenian advocate and attorney 

, a former adjunct professor at UNLV involved in Chinatown’s redevelopment plans.

 will overcome some rough headlines, including confrontations with coworkers and a 

 for allegations of secretly recording one, to win election. Her opponents are 

endorsements by the mayor and other city council members

 is hoping to win back her seat as Pahrump Justice of the Peace following a suspension for fraud involving misuse of funds for a police memorial. She’ll face the person appointed to fill her position, businessman Michael Foley, who doesn’t appear to have a campaign website 🤔

A few primary races have caught our attention in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas ... and yes, even Pahrump. 

Primary Races to Watch in Southern Nevada 2026

Local Primary Races to Watch in Southern Nevada

What Las Vegans have been wondering. We break down why things in Las Vegas are the way they are and how they work.

Las Vegas, Explained

For an “off-year” election, there’s a lot going on, especially in Nevada. Our state’s primary is coming up on June 9 with early voting May 23-June 5. So study up before casting your ballot.

 is running for reelection. Technically, he’s not unopposed (there are 

 for the Republican nomination), but he might as well be. Nevada Attorney General 

 is the leading Democrat to face him in November, but is facing a spirited challenge from Washoe County Commissioner 

Nevada mixes to mix things up, by electing governor and lieutenant governor separately, instead of having candidates running together as a ticket. So yes, you could end up with the top two offices represented by different parties. Incumbent 

 is running unopposed. Nevada Assembly majority leader 

With Ford moving on to seek higher office, the Democrats are left with a choice of Nevada Treasurer 

 — and based on frequent ads, both are trying to outdo each other in the “stand up to Trump” lane. Vying for the GOP nomination are Lombardo-backed lawyer 

, an attorney who’s turned a famous last name into a career of perpetually losing elections.

, including Deputy State Treasurer Tya Mathis-Coleman, who can claim the understudy role. 

 are fighting it out on the Republican side, with the latter accusing the former of 

Secretary of State is usually a ho-hum office to worry about, but takes on greater significance with President Trump 

 on the election process. Democratic incumbent 

 will breeze through the primary to face one of four Republicans. 

 seems to have the edge with a Gov. Lombardo endorsement. Her contenders include famous Harry Reid foil 

, who’s leaning more heavily into Trump-style election denialism.

Southern Nevada has three Democratic incumbents defending their districts with little opposition within the party. So the main intrigue involves the Republicans challenging them.

 to overcome before facing one of five Republican contenders to represent District 1, which includes southeast Vegas and Henderson. 

 is the favorite to win the nomination after endorsements from President Trump and Gov. Lombardo.

 has possibly the most moderate district in Nevada — District 3 (Southwest Vegas, and then some). 

, a video game music composer and former Trump critic has the edge in the Republican field after making nice with the president and earning his endorsement, along with one from Gov. Lombardo.

, whose District 4 covers the north half of Vegas and a big chunk of rural Nevada, is unopposed in the primary. He’ll face rancher 

 in April, Republicans still have a slight lead on Democrats in the state, but both fall far short of independents, who command the plurality at more than 38% (!) of all registered voters. [Las Vegas Sun]

how the primary races are shaping up in Nevada

, plus the role of independents, who are mostly left out of this early voting process. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

Nevada's Primary is Messy: What Las Vegas Voters Need to Know

Your guide to the 2026 primary races that matter to voters in Nevada.

2026 Primary Races to Watch in Nevada

We’re exactly two weeks away from New Year’s Eve. (Have you 

 yet?) To be honest, 2026 is shaping up to be a relatively quiet year for Las Vegas. I’m not excited. So let’s skip ahead to 2028, a year that’s packed with big projects. Will they actually happen?

The long-promised all-electric high-speed rail between Las Vegas and 

 Rancho Cucamonga was supposed to be ready in time for the 2028 SoCal Summer Olympics. Despite the 

 more than a year ago, Brightline has spent its time on environmental studies, contracts, and 

 before laying what’s supposed to be 218 miles of track through the Mojave Desert.

, a baseball stadium for a team nobody likes is now under construction on the lot. If you believe A’s officials, work is on schedule and already 

, while the A’s continue to play at a minor league field in Sacramento (instead of building some local goodwill by doing the same thing here).

I think the local tourism industry and A’s owner John Fisher will somehow will this thing to happen, even if it gets messy.

Las Vegas has an art scene, but not a big-time, full-fledged accredited art museum. That’s changing with the Las Vegas Museum of Art, 

 at Symphony Park. Once complete, it will have two floors of exhibition space covering 90,000 square feet, plus a sculpture park.

Count on it. The philanthropy and art crowd has a lot of pull in Las Vegas — and the city is heavily invested in the success of Symphony Park, which also includes the Smith Center. Plus, nobody wants to drop the ball on the 

🗳️ Nevada: First In the Nation Primary?

Get ready 🫣 America will have another presidential election in 2028 — and the first to not have Trump on the ballot since 2012 (assuming the Constitution is still functioning as usual). The Democrats have been shuffling around the primary calendar and Nevada is a 

 to be moved to the head of the line, thanks to its diverse electorate and dropping the old, complicated caucus system.

Maybe. If it does, it will come with an asterisk. New Hampshire has a built-in state law to be the first primary, which meant its delegates didn’t count in 2024 when the DNC made South Carolina first.

March Madness is the busiest time of the year for sportsbooks — and Las Vegas will go all the way in 2028, 

 for the first time at Allegiant Stadium.

As 2026 shapes up to be a relatively quiet year for Las Vegas, let’s skip ahead to 2028, a year that’s packed with big projects.

Changes Coming to Las Vegas in 2028

Looking Ahead to … 2028? 

 tomorrow night. The Tony-winning Broadway production was inspired by the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. That got us thinking — how did Nevada fare in the suffrage movement? 🤔

As soon as Nevada was officially formed as a state in 1864, suffrage was a 

. The Nevada Constitution barred women from voting or holding elective office, prompting Assemblymember Curtis J. Hillyer to 

 in favor of women’s voting rights just four years later.

Women were allowed to run (but not vote) for school superintendent and trustee positions (1889)

Women were allowed to be attorneys and counselors in law (1893)

Women in the small Nevada town of Austin were allowed to vote in the local school election (1896)

Women were allowed to be appointed as notaries public (1912)

Resolutions would pass, but the Legislature would fail to vote in favor of women receiving the right to vote in 1871 and 1887. Finally, the legislature approved a 1911 resolution in 1913 to allow women access to ballot boxes, sending the issue to voters. A year later, 12 of 16 counties (yes, Clark was one of them) 

 to change Nevada’s constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote.

Women appeared on the ballot and in polling places for the first time in city elections in 1915. Then, in 1920, the Nevada Legislature gathered for a special session to 

 to the U.S. Constitution, allowing all adult American women to vote.

: Suffrage activist whose invitation to address the Nevada Assembly was rescinded, but spoke in the chambers when members were not in session — and was a featured speaker at the Nevada’s first suffrage convention

: Feminist icon who spoke in favor of women's rights in Reno in 1895 and 1896

: Founder of the Nevada Citizen, a pro-suffrage newspaper

: Both served as president of the Nevada Equal Franchise Society

: First Nevada women elected to statewide office (Board of Regents) in 1918

: First woman elected to the Nevada Legislature, also in 1918

 shares some thoughts on five women who deserve to be on a hypothetical Mt. Rushmore of 

The arrival of “Suffs” at the Smith Center got us thinking. Was Nevada ahead of the curve in the suffrage movement — or behind it?

Women and the Right to Vote in Nevada

Suffrage in Nevada: When Women Won the Right to Vote

People, places, and scenes from Las Vegas's past.

Las Vegas History

 proved that Nevada continues to be a complicated state, electing Republican Donald Trump president while choosing to keep Democrat Jacky Rosen in the U.S. Senate. With that in mind, City Cast Las Vegas co-host Dayvid Figler spoke to Sen. Rosen about her record of bipartisanship and how she's reaching across the aisle to support new legislation. The following is an abbreviated segment from the interview, edited for brevity and clarity.

You voted for the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of undocumented migrants who are even just accused of petty crimes like shoplifting. Nevada has the highest percentage of undocumented folks in our workforce, so how is this bill good for us? How do you justify voting for it?

“Well, I can tell you that if you're a criminal, you should be held accountable — period. If you're here, you're undocumented, you've committed a crime, we need to keep Nevada safe. We need to keep our community safe. We do know that at the southern border, people have been taking advantage of transnational gangs, terrorists, and the like.

”We tried very hard to make this bill a better bill … Trump has already been talking about mass deportations in the first … two or three days in office, right? … This is horrific. We do not want to see this anywhere. You can see throughout history, anytime this has been done, a lot of innocent people are hurt and we don't want to see that happen. So I'm going to focus more on Trump's horrific mass deportation executive orders and see what we can do there.”

You’re co-sponsoring the CONSTRUCTS Act (with Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn) that aims to get more people into construction jobs. Is there anything that could be done now to help Las Vegans who are struggling with the cost of housing?

“We have corporate investors who are coming to Nevada, buying up all the homes. Sometimes there's a whole block or two blocks owned by corporate investors. That's fine, but if they try to price gouge people either on a sale or rent, we have a bill, the HOME Act, that holds them accountable. The fine they pay goes back into a bucket for affordable housing.”

Let's talk about the bill you co-sponsored with Republican Senator Ted Cruz. The No Tax On Tips Act. Did you make sure there were some safeguards in there so that CEOs and other people who make lots and lots of money aren’t going to take advantage of this?

“They cannot declare their whole salary as a tip. Elon Musk cannot say his whole salary is a tip … This is about bringing relief for workers, people working hard, getting up every damn day going to work. Their salaries are not guaranteed. One day's a good day, one day's not. You don't know. They need to have that relief and put that money back in their pockets. I saw Elon Musk on that stage (with Donald Trump on Inauguration Day). He should be paying his fair share.”

co-host Dayvid Figler and Sen. Jacky Rosen. 

City Cast Las Vegas Interviews Sen. Jacky Rosen

The Nevada senator discusses a new era of bipartisanship in Congress while representing a deep purple state.

Jacky Rosen defends her vote on the Laken Riley Act

Sen. Jacky Rosen: 'If you're a criminal, you should be held accountable — period'

What Las Vegas celebrities, public figures and key citizens have to say about living here.

3 Questions With Las Vegas Public Figures

3 Questions With

It’s been a week of readjustment. For some, it’s the results of an era-defining election. For all, it’s the autumn ritual of turning back the clock on Daylight Saving Time.

It’s a practice I’ve hated for years. We all seem to agree the summer hours are best — right? — when you can drive home in daylight instead of darkness after a long workday. Why not keep ‘em year-round?

 to do just that. But like everything in Washington, it’s a victim of gridlock. Lawmakers can’t even agree to agree.

Our swing state neighbors in Arizona figured it out years ago, opting to neither “spring forward” nor “fall back” at all. Why doesn’t Nevada join them? Actually, our tourist-driven economy 

. The Golden State would have to do it first — and Californians can’t even decide on vegetables at a farmers market.

So, like many others this week, I chose not to lose my mind over things I can’t change. I’m embracing the winter hours, shifting from night owl to early riser. It’s morning in America again — or at least at Rob’s house, where I got up early this week to walk around a neighborhood park, put together some patio furniture I ordered online weeks ago, and bring my laptop to UnCommons to 

The morning blast of sunshine felt best on Wednesday morning. I was up late on Election Night, watching the results, updating the newsletter, and squeezing in a couple hours of sleep before rising at 5:30 a.m. to make sure the information was still correct before it arrived in your inbox.

That’s when I took a moment to sit in the backyard, sip on some coffee, and decompress. As interim executive producer Layla Muhammad pointed out, absorbing sunlight first thing in the morning helps 

 — setting our bodies up for a productive workday and a night of deep sleep.

Everybody hates to "fall back" and turn back the clocks. I used to be that way too, but I'm embracing it now.

How to Let Go of Daylight Saving Time

Giving In and Letting Go of Daylight Saving Time

Celebrating the offbeat side of Las Vegas. Profiling the people, places, and things that make Vegas unique.

The Las Vegas Appreciation Index

The Appreciation Index

If you’re sick of hearing about the election — the junk mail, texts, TV ads, and everything else that comes with it — welcome the relief of knowing it's almost over. Kinda. At least until the recounts end and the litigation begins.

So don’t be mad or sad. Be glad we’re a democracy and that each of us has a say in who runs the government. And as 

Between mail ballots and early voting, Nevada makes the election process incredibly easy. But today is officially Election Day. Your last chance. Last call. No excuses.

. Just bring your Nevada ID or driver's license to a 

. If you need further assistance to register, the DMV 

 until 6 p.m today. You’ll leave with an interim document to bring to a polling location.

You can vote from anywhere. The days of having one specific polling place for your address are gone. Clark County now has 

. You’ll be allowed to vote at any of ‘em between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

My wife has been a nurse for more than 10 years. She told me that for the first time in her career, a patient asked about voting from a hospital bed. As it turns out, 

And if you have a long shift at work, Nevada law requires employers to 

give employees sufficient time off to vote

 if it’s impractical to do so before or after work. Paid.

You can still fill out your mail ballot at home and either drop it off at a polling station (while skipping the line for in-person voters) or in the mailbox. If you opt for the latter, just know the ballot must be postmarked by today (although there’s wiggle room 

) and received by Clark County by the fourth day after the election.

 (by clicking the “Go Vote” tile in the app) and 

 (using the code VOTE24) are giving 50% discounts (up to $10 off) to help voters reach their polling locations.

. Anyone under 18 accompanied by a registered voter receives a free scoop of ice cream when voting for their favorite ice cream flavor. We’ve been following this story 

 — and it’s come down to Vanilla and Cookies & Cream.

 restaurants in Town Square and Downtown Summerlin are handing out a Huckleberry Lemonade, Twisted Orange Fanta, or another non-alcoholic drink with the purchase of an entree.

Krispy Kreme is giving out one free Original Glazed doughnut to 

 guests on Election Day, whether you provide proof of voting or not. 

Get a free frozen yogurt at IKEA Swedish Bistro with 

Get a free Baconator when spending at least $25 at 

Show an “I Voted” sticker or another proof of voting at 

 and get a free shake with any in-store purchase.

Get a free ExtraMostBestest Pizza when spending at least $25 at 

Get a free SmokeShack cheeseburger with a minimum order of $25 at 

It doesn’t get any more “Vegas” than this: 

 is hosting Dances for Democracy, offering one free lap dance for anyone with an “I Voted” sticker 12 - 8 p.m. today.

 5 - 11 p.m. Admission is free with pizza, beer, and other bites available for purchase. Upgrade tor premium seating and enjoy a VIP buffet (5 - 8 p.m.) There is no political affiliation mentioned in the advertising, but the Ahern is known to host GOP campaign events.

Some of the deals at nationwide chains may be 

take a moment to breathe. It’s been an unprecedented campaign season. We have some 

thoughts, reflections, and last-minute resources

 for voting on Election Day. [Hey Las Vegas ✍️]

Cast your ballot and show your "I Voted" sticker for free stuff on Election Day.

Las Vegas Election Day Freebies 2024

Election Day Freebies and Voting Guide

Tips and tricks for living your best Las Vegas life, by locals, for locals.

Las Vegas Life Hacks

Election Day is almost here. To call it a wild ride would be an understatement. The presidential race is hogging most of the attention — with good reason — but the Las Vegas mayoral race is uniquely historic.

For the first time in more than 25 years, Las Vegas won’t have a mayor named Goodman in office. With that in mind, we reached out to all the registered candidates in this year’s race — and the vast majority 

responded to our questionnaires and joined our podcast

 to explain their respective visions for the city.

“I would like to sincerely thank City Cast for giving our campaign a platform to reach locals,” former candidate Kara Jenkins told us. “Since making the top five in the primary election and not advancing to the general election, my platform has been used to strongly encourage city residents to vote on or before November 5.”

The race is now down to former congresswoman Shelley Berkley and City Council member Victoria Seaman. Third-place finisher Cedric Crear 

. Eric Medlin was the only other former candidate to share an endorsement with us. He's going with Berkley too.

“She was the only candidate who came up and talked to me after a veterans event we attended with the other candidates,” Medlin recalls. “She said, ‘You're funny — in a good way,' and gave me her number if I needed anything. I appreciated that. Shelley, if you read this, I need a job. You took the one I wanted.”

Eric added an “lol” after that last sentence before adding that he'd be eager to work with a new administration to help veterans or the unhoused.

With just one day to go until the election, we look back on our Mayoral Mondays series and other pivotal Nevada races.

elections

Local Primary Races to Watch in Southern Nevada

2026 Primary Races to Watch in Nevada

Looking Ahead to … 2028?

Latest articles

Local Primary Races to Watch in Southern Nevada

2026 Primary Races to Watch in Nevada

Looking Ahead to … 2028?

Suffrage in Nevada: When Women Won the Right to Vote

Sen. Jacky Rosen: 'If you're a criminal, you should be held accountable — period'

Giving In and Letting Go of Daylight Saving Time

Election Day Freebies and Voting Guide

Latest articles

Suffrage in Nevada: When Women Won the Right to Vote

Sen. Jacky Rosen: 'If you're a criminal, you should be held accountable — period'

Giving In and Letting Go of Daylight Saving Time

Election Day Freebies and Voting Guide

Election Reflection

Breaking Down the U.S. House and Senate Races for Nevada

Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar on Election Security