Voter Guide: 2020 General Election
This Voter Guide and the recommendations made within were produced collaboratively and democratically by members of the 2020 General Election Working Group under the direction and on behalf of the Las Vegas Democratic Socialists of America’s Electoral Committee. The Working Group was established on Saturday, July 18, 2020 by a vote of the members during a Monthly Electoral Committee Meeting. The primary objective of the Working Group was to produce a 2020 General Election Voter Guide, building on our prior research and experience from the 2020 Primary Election Voter Guide Working Group.
Members of the Working Group approached this process through the lens of our shared socialist values with an eye towards the reality of Nevada Politics. The Working Group was composed of various members of the Electoral Committee, who drew upon their collective experiences and backgrounds, including but not limited to: law, labor organizing, labor lobbying, Democratic Party politics, and Nevada Politics in general.
In order to make this Voter Guide as useful as possible—and based on feedback we received about our previous guide—the Working Group has included summaries of our research and decision making regarding our recommendations (or, in certain cases, the lack thereof), which are not to be interpreted as endorsements, either from the Committee or the chapter at-large. The ballot in Clark County, NV this cycle includes a large number of non-partisan judicial and education races, including for several newly created District and Family Court Departments. With so many candidates on the ballot, and so little information accessible or available about them, the Working Group felt it was especially important to create an information rich guide, even for certain key races where we have not made any candidate recommendations.
Formal Las Vegas DSA endorsements must be made at the chapter level by a vote of the full membership. In addition to producing this Voter Guide and these recommendations, the Working Group has submitted recommendations for votes for full chapter endorsement for four (4) candidates for public office and positions on two (2) statewide ballot questions, to be voted upon by members at the October 15th Regular Monthly Meeting.
Finally, in addition to including extended summaries of our decision making process, the Working Group would also like to note that not all candidates who were recommended by the Committee during the Primary Election have retained our recommendation in the General Election.
We have not consulted with any candidates about inclusion in this guide unless they are recommended for full endorsement.
Nevada Supreme Court | |
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Nevada Supreme Court Justices are directly elected by Nevadans in the form of statewide non-partisan elections, although candidates often have personal partisan political affiliations. While not overly partisan, and with no open socialists on the ballot, the Electoral Committee maintains that the outcome of these races matter, and will have far-reaching effects across Nevada and for Nevadans’ lived and material experiences. | |
Seat D | Ozzie FumoOn the ballot for Seat E to replace retiring Justice Mark Gibbons is Democratic Assemblyman Ozzie Fumo (AD-21) and Republican prosecutor and Eighth District Court Judge Douglas Herndon (Department III). The two candidates have radically different judicial views and backgrounds. Ozzie Fumo is a long-time public defender and has lead efforts as a lawmaker in Carson City to reform our criminal justice system, including the elimination of the death penalty and limiting the use of cash-bail. He’s also shown a willingness, at times, to buck the Democratic Party Establishment in favor of taking bold positions in alignment with progressive labor unions and policy priorities. While not an open socialist or member of DSA, Fumo has sought actively to engage with our organization and has treated the Left as a critical part of his winning coalition. Fumo notably attended one of Las Vegas DSA’s September Poolside Chats as a featured guest, where he fielded a number of questions about his candidacy from our members. Las Vegas DSA’s Electoral Committee recommends members—and voters across our state—vote for Ozzie Fumo for Nevada Supreme Court, Seat E. |
Nevada Court of Appeals | |
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Like with the Nevada Supreme Court, Nevadans directly elect the judges of the Nevada Court of Appeals by statewide non-partisan elections. The Nevada Court of Appeals has an incredible amount of power. Like the Nevada Supreme Court, the Nevada Court of Appeals has the power to issue legal opinions that affect the rights of everyone living in Nevada. There are only three judges on the Nevada Court of Appeals, so it only takes two judges to vote together on any case to determine what the law is for the entire state. Therefore, the race for Department 3 of the Nevada Court of Appeals is important. | |
Dept. 3 | Susan BushCandidate Susan Bush is challenging incumbent Judge Bonnie Bulla for Department 3. Judge Bulla was selected for this position by the governor and is running to retain her seat. Before taking the bench, Judge Bulla worked as a private lawyer (see her bio here). Her challenger, Susan Bush, is currently a chief deputy public defender for the Clark County Special Public Defender’s office, defending marginalized Nevadans from state prosecution and prison (see her bio here). We recommend voting for Susan Bush because it is critical that we fight to fill these important judicial positions with people who have an understanding and proven record of fighting for people who have come into contact with the police, prosecutors, and the prison system. |
Nevada State Senate | |
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In 2018, Nevada Democrats secured a supermajority in the State Assembly and fell just one seat shy of doing the same in the State Senate. While many elected Democrats in Nevada maintain strong loyalties to the Party Establishment and their corporate donors in the real estate and gaming industries—something that was on clear display in the 2019 Legislative Session when leadership consistently cited the lack of a supermajority in both houses as a road block to some of the truly progressive and transformative legislative priorities that were attempted. While the Electoral Committee fully believes that leadership will continue to find reason to block progress in Carson City, even with a supermajority, we also believe in the political value of calling their bluff. | |
District 5 | No RecommendationIn light of new information after the original publication of this guide, the Democratic nominee has been attacked for being a socialist. Although they are far from being a socialist and in no way meet our standards for any type of endorsement, and in light of their desire not to be recommended, we no longer find it appropriate to recommend them and want to respect their request. We no longer have a recommendation in this race. |
District 11 | Dallas HarrisDemocratic State Senator Dallas Harris was appointed to District 11 in January of 2019 ahead of the Legislative Session for the remainder of the term in order to fill a vacancy created when Democratic Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford was elected and sworn in as Nevada Attorney General. The openly gay, Black attorney is now seeking to be elected to the Las Vegas-based seat outright in 2020. Harris is one of the youngest and most progressive members of the legislature. Harris ultimately endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president ahead of the Nevada Caucus. If elected, the Electoral Committee believes Sen. Harris would be a strong potential ally for Las Vegas DSA in the upcoming 2021 Legislative Session. |
District 18 | Elizabeth "Liz" BeckerThis cycle, District 18 represents one of the few remaining competitive opportunities for Democrats to gain that final seat for a veto-proof majority in both houses of the legislature. Progressive Democrat Liz Becker is challenging the incumbent fairly moderate Republican Scott Hammond. Much like Kristee Watson, Becker stands to be a potential ally for our organization—and the broader coalition work we may engage in—in the upcoming Legislative Session. As such, the Electoral Committee recommends voting for Liz Becker for State Senate District 18. |
Nevada State Assembly | |
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With an existing supermajority in the Assembly, Nevada Democrats are mostly on defense this cycle. While there remain opportunities to further expand the majority, many of the General Election recommendations the Electoral Committee has made are with an eye towards relationship and coalition building. The majority of our recommendations are for incumbent members of the Assembly in strong “blue” districts (however we are recommending one candidate running to flip a “red” seat for a vote for full chapter endorsement). In total, these recommendation represent some of the most outspoken progressive members of the caucus and our community, and we we believe we can best advance our future policy priorities at the state level by actively cultivating relationships with these key members when the opportunities to do so present themselves. | |
District 2 | Radhika "RPK" Kunnel EndorsedSeeking retiring incumbent Republican Assemblyman John Hambrick’s Summerlin-based 2nd District seat is Democrat and Las Vegas DSA member Radhika “RPK” Kunnel. This district represent’s one of the Assembly Democratic Caucus’s few pick-up opportunities, but prevailing with little formal support from the Party in one of the “redder” districts within Clark County remains a challenge. Kunnel has been active in our chapter work, especially during our coalition work on behald of Sen. Sanders’ campaign ahead of the 2020 Nevada Caucus. She’s been particularly active with our comrades at Muslims for Bernie, and is running on a progressive platform. Despite the seemingly long odds Kunnel faces, the Electoral Committee believes her populist and progressive platform will appeal to voters who have long rejected more mainstream and moderate Democrats in ways that previous candidates’ campaigns fell short. We strongly recommend a vote for Kunnel in Assembly District 2. |
District 10 | Rochelle NguyenDemocrat Rochelle Nguyen was appointed in January of 2019 to fill the vacancy created in Assembly District 10 when the incumbent Assemblyman, Democrat Chris Brooks, was himself appointed to fill a vacancy in the State Senate (when comrade Tick Segerblom was sworn in mid-term to Seat E of the Clark County Commission). After the legislative musical chairs were settled and the 2019 Session began, Nguyen distinguished herself as a willing ally and supporter of many of the broader progressive goals advanced, particularly related to labor and education. Upon being appointed, Nguyen became the first Asian American to serve Nevadans in Carson City, and now in 2020, she is seeking to be elected outright to her seat. As a potential ally for many of our future policy endeavors, the Electoral Committee recommends a vote for Rochelle Nguyen in Assemnly District 10. |
District 15 | Howard WattsHoward Watts, first elected to the Assembly in 2018, is a young, progressive Democrat and a reliable ally of the broader progressive movement in Carson City. Running for re-election in the “deep blue” Winchester-based 15th District, Watts’ re-election is likely, which (in the absence of any open ideological socialists running) is a good thing for his constituents and Las Vegas DSA’s legislative ambitions in Carson City and beyond. With a background in environmental activism, the Electoral Committee believes, in particular, that Watts stands to be a strong ally of our efforts to create a sustainable and equity future via a Green New Deal and other transformative reforms that we may pursue at the State level. As such, we recommend Howard Watts for Assembly District 15. |
District 16 | Cecelia GonzálezDemocrat Cecilia González prevailed in a competitive primary (with the Committees recommendation) in June for a chance to be elected to the “deep blue” Assembly District 16, which includes UNLV and much of the Las Vegas Strip, following the sudden resignation of former Democratic Assemblywoman and UNLV professor Heidi Swank. While Swank, who endorsed Elizabeth Warren ahead of the 2020 Nevada Caucus, had real progressive accomplishments, on many issues, she was painfully moderate, seeking compromise with her Republican colleagues not as a necessary political reality but as a positive indicator of successful legislation. González, a longtime and active member of the community, has a strong relationship with many in Las Vegas DSA, and the committee is hopeful that her election will represent a leftward shift for the Democratic Assembly Caucus as a whole. As such, we recommend Cecelia González for Assembly District 16. |
District 28 | Edgar FloresIncumbent Democrat Edgar Flores is a born and raised Las Vegan, first-generation Mexican American, and local immigration attorney. He represents “deep blue” District 28 in East Las Vegas. Flores has a strong relationship with Las Vegas DSA and has been a featured guest at several DSA events. While Flores ultimately did not make any endorsements in the 2020 presidential primary following Julian Castro’s exit from the race, he did develop a strong relationship with the Sanders campaign and led several canvasses on the east side alongside groups of his students and mentees. The Electoral Committee believes Assemblyman Flores stands to be a critical ally for our organization and a leader within the legislature for our and our coalition’s policy priorities in 2021 and beyond. |
District 37 | No RecommendationIn light of new information after the original publication of this guide, the Democratic nominee has been attacked for being a socialist. Although they are far from being a socialist and in no way meet our standards for any type of endorsement, and in light of their desire not to be recommended, we no longer find it appropriate to recommend them and want to respect their request. We no longer have a recommendation in this race. |
Clark County Commission | |
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With the majority of the residents of Clark County living outside of the municipal jurisdictions of the Cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, or Boulder City, the Clark County Commission has outsized power in not only the county, but across the entire state of Nevada. With direct oversight of most of the Las Vegas Strip, UNLV, McCarran Airport, and more, the decisions our commissioners make have a direct and meaningful impact on hundreds of thousands of Nevadans’s lives. One of Las Vegas DSA’s few members to hold elected office is former State Senator and current Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom. While Commissioner Segerblom is not on the ballot this cycle, the Electoral Committee sees value in weighing into commission races in order to build further relationships with the elected officials who will wield such power over our lives in Clark County. The Clark County Commission is composed of seven commissioners via districted, partisan elections. Four of the seven seats are up for election in 2020. | |
District D | William McCurdy, IIWilliam McCurdy, II, is the incumbent Assemblyman in District 6, the former Political Director for SEIU Local 1107, and the current Chair of the Nevada State Democratic Party. Given his role as a Party leader, McCurdy, Las Vegas DSA, and our allies have often been at odds. We have opposed McCurdy in various intraparty policy and leadership fights, but the Electoral Committee also recognizes that he has been one of our more progressive elected Democrats in Carson City. The young, so-called rising star, has lead efforts in Carson City around cannabis policy reforms, reigning in pay day lenders, and other areas of racial justice and criminal justice reform. While far from an open socialist, McCurdy is the most progressive incoming County Commissioner (District E has a very strong Democratic advantage and will likely not be a competitive General Election race). While we anticipate continuing to oppose McCurdy in many Party-related matters, we also feel there is room to build a relationship with him on the Commission and that, together with Commissioner Segerblom, we can work together to accomplish many of our priorities at the county level. |
CCSD Board of Trustees | |
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The Clark County School District Board of Trustees oversees the largest school district in Nevada and the 5th largest nationwide. The district includes dense, urban-core neighborhoods, the suburbs, and several small rural communities, and faces perennial funding crises, largely due to perpetual inaction by lawmakers in Carson City. The district services hundreds of thousands of students, and its 18,000 classroom educators and other licensed professionals are represented by the Clark County Education Association. CCEA became the largest independent teachers union in the nation after disaffiliating from the Nevada State (NSEA) and National Education Association (NEA) in the spring of 2018. Since then, CCEA has flexed its political muscle and demonstrated both its progressive and anti-establishment bona fides. As one of the latest—and largest—locals to disaffiliate from the NEA, CCEA has faced a cynical and narrowly self-interested attack from NSEA and their remaining local bargaining units across the county and state despite the fact that rank and file union members in Clark County voted democratically for their independence in order to more effectively use their dues monies and resources for political and professional advocacy driven at the local level. CCEA played in integral part during the 2019 Legislative Session in securing more than $100 million in additional education funding on top of what was initially allocated by the Governor. They then proceeded to hold an illegal, unprecedented, and highly successful strike authorization vote to ensure that the District made good on its obligations to use those funds to give educators a raise and prevent cuts from being made to the classroom. In addition to their recent legislative and contractual successes, CCEA was also the only union in Nevada to endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential bid, and played a critical role in the campaign’s success in the Nevada Caucus. Through our shared work on that coordinated effort, as well as via direct educator and strike support during a 2019 funding fight and contractual showdown with the district, Las Vegas DSA has cultivated a strong relationship with the union. Moreover, many of our chapter members and leaders belong to or work for the Association. As such, the Electoral Committee’s recommendations in all four CCSD Board of Trustees elections this cycle are in alignment with CCEA’s endorsements. | |
District A | Liberty LeavittThe seven trustees in CCSD are elected in districted non-partisan elections. In District A, incumbent trustee, Deanna Wright, is term-limited, and the open seat is being contested by Liberty Leavitt—a lifelong public educator and education equity advocate—and Lisa Guzman, the executive director of the NEA-associated union representing the district’s support staff. Leavitt is a strong ally of CCEA’s and in a district rife with dysfunction and grandstanding, our students deserve stable leadership, and our educators need allies of their bargaining unit in place to ensure that the right decisions are made. The Electoral Committee recommends Liberty Leavitt for CCSD Trustee in District A. |
District B | Jeff ProffittDemocrat Jeff Proffitt is running for trustee in the open District B seat with the support of a broad coalition of Democratic and progressive organizations. This race is particularly notable for members of DSA, as Proffitt is running against Katie “Socialism Sucks” Williams—a candidate sraight out of PragerU’s laboratory. Katie has leveraged social media to tout her anti-socialist views, promote QAnon conspiracies, and the notion that COVID-19 is some sort of deep state, liberal “hoax.” The Electoral Committee has resolved to recommend CCEA’s endorsed candidates for school board in all four races this cycle, but we are, in particular, looking forward (and feel it’s critically important for our movement) to soundly defeat a candidate as odious as Williams. |
District C | Tameka HenryReigstered Democrat Tameka Henry is running for the third and final open seat this cycle on the CCSD Board of Trustees. Endorsed by CCEA, the Clark County Black Caucus, and other Las Vegas DSA allies across the valley, Henry pledges to fight for education equity, especially for students across District C. She is a parent, educator, member of her School Organizational Team (SOT), and she’s been involved in the community serving children, students, women, those with food insecurities, and more. The Electoral Committee believes Henry’s leadership will best serve our students and educators across CCSD, and we recommend you vote for her for CCSD Trustee in District A. |
District E | Lola Brooks EndorsedLola Brooks is a data analyst, social worker, and current President of the CCSD Board of Trustees. First elected in 2016, President Brooks was one of only three elected officials across the state of Nevada to proudly endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential bid. She is a strong progressive voice on the board and a close ally of CCEA. She has a level head, a steady hand, and the skills and proven leadership to manage CCSD’s $4 billion budget and lead a Board that often finds itself mired conflict due to the destructive actions of too many trustees. Brooks was notably a driving force on the Board of Trustees in 2017 in favor of trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming students across CCSD when they came under attack by a well-funded and organized right-wing special interests groups. Lola Brooks is a member of Las Vegas DSA who has always had a strong and close relationship with our chapter and members. As such, the Electoral Committee strongly recommends voters chose Trustee Lola Brooks on Nov 3rd. |
Clark County District Court Judge | |
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The Eighth Judicial District Court for Clark County is made up of judges who are directly elected by county-wide non-partisan elections. This is an important court with countywide jurisdiction over a variety of cases, including criminal prosecutions, civil lawsuits, family disputes, and much more. For the court’s criminal cases, which judge we elect to sit on the bench can be all the difference in someone’s life, impacting whether they are sent to prison or given a chance on parole. For some, it can literally make the difference between life and death by state-ordered execution. For the family division, the choice of judge can determine whether a parent loses their parental rights or who gets custody of their children in a divorce dispute. The choice of judge for these races is important. In fact, the judicial elections this year are especially critical because there is a large group of public defenders running. We believe it is important to support them. Traditionally, judicial roles are more commonly filled by former prosecutors. However, the public defenders running have proven their willingness to oppose state oppression and violence against our marginalized communities. As a result, we believe it is important to support them. For several races, we do not make any recommendation because we did not find either candidate’s background or expressed values to warrant recommendation or because we could not find enough information on the candidates. | |
Dept. 1 | Bita YeagerThis is one of the many races between a public defender and prosecutor. Bita Yeager is a former career public defender who has proven her willingness to oppose state oppression and violence against members of our marginalized communities by doing exactly that for most of her career. In addition to dedicating her career to defending the rights and dignity of the accused, she volunteered teaching a community class on sealing criminal records. Her opponent, Jacob Villani, is a career prosecutor who built his career doing the exact opposite. He is the candidate preferred by the Nevada Republican Club. We need more people on the bench with a proven willingness to stand against state oppression of the marginalized. We recommend voting for Bita Yeager in this important race for Department 1. |
Dept. 2 | Carli Lynn KiernyThis is another race for the bench involving a public defender, Carli Lynn Kierny. Kierny earned impressive educational credentials before choosing to spend her talents in a career as a public defender. She is endorsed by several labor and progressive organizations. Her opponent, Judge Richard Scotti, has a questionable record on the bench. He created a controversy about his own judicial temperament when he threw the United States Constitution against the wall during a trial. More importantly, Judge Scotti is heavily endorsed by law enforcement organizations. Right now, we don’t need any more people on the bench that the police believe will be better for them in court. Instead, we need judges with a proven willingness to stand against state oppression of the marginalized. We recommend voting for Carli Lynn Kierny for Department 2. |
Dept. 3 | Monica TrujilloThis is another race for the bench involving a public defender, Monica Trujillo. Trujillo is a respected public defender who demonstrates progressive, compassionate values in her approach to criminal legal issues. Like any career public defender, Trujillo has proven her willingness to oppose state oppression and violence against members of our marginalized communities by doing exactly that for her career. In contrast, her opponent, Adam Ganz, is a career private attorney who has promised to be “tough on crime” and describes himself a “strict constructionist,” which is a phrase commonly criticized as a conservative judicial philosophy designed to achieve conservative results. Adam Ganz is endorsed by law enforcement and Steve Wolfson, the lead Clark County prosecutor himself. Right now, we don’t need any more people on the bench that the police believe will be better for them in court. Instead, we need judges with a proven willingness to stand against state oppression of the marginalized. We recommend voting for Monica Trujillo for Department 3. |
Dept. 5 | No RecommendationWe do not have a recommendation for how to vote on this race but will still provide you information to help you make your decision. Veronica Barisich has a background in civil and family law and is endorsed by various labor and progessive identity-based organizations. However, her website says she’s endorsed by “members” of the police, but because she does not display an official endorsement badge, we could not verify this information. Her opponent, Terry Coffing, made his legal career practicing in the area of civil defense, which typically involves defending corporate interests in lawsuits. He is a named partner in a very large local firm, Marquis Aurbach Coffing, which tends to represent conservative political interests. Also, Coffing’s website is dominated by law enforcement endorsements, apparently trying to promote himself as the pro-police candidate in this race. We do not support Coffing’s candidacy, but we could not find enough positive information about Veronica Barisich to confidently recommend her as a better option. We hope this information helps you decide. |
Dept. 6 | Todd LevanthalJudge Jacqueline Bluth is running to retain her seat against a challenge from a private criminal defense attorney. Judge Bluth, a former DA, recently accepted the “sweetheart” guilty plea of billionaire Henry Nichols, the chief proponent of the controversial Marsy’s Law. While Judge Bluth was still a prosecutor in Steve Wolfson’s office, Wolfson himself starred in a commercial for Marsy’s Law. Because we need more people on the bench who will stand up to State overreach, and not bow to their interests, the Electoral Commitee recommends voting for Todd Leventhal. |
Dept. 17 | Anna Albertson EndorsedAnna Albertson is challenging incumbent Judge Michael Villani. Albertson comes from a working class background, working in the food and beverage industry and as a teacher. Now a lawyer working in a private law firm, she is endorsed by the Clark County Black Caucus and a member of Las Vegas DSA. Her opponent, incumbent Judge Michael Villani, is a former career prosecutor. He does not have the worst reputation among former prosecutors, but he is nonetheless endorsed by many law enforcement organizations, which Judge Villani displays prominently at the top of the endorsement page of his website, above his endorsements by several local labor organizations and other interest-group organizations. It is time we move away from putting police-endorsed former prosecutors on the bench. Further, Judge Villani boasted that he applies a “race-neutral” approach to his cases by not looking at the names or races of defendants, while Albertson argued this was the wrong approach because, as she told the Las Vegas Review Journal, we all “have biases and prejudices and we need to learn about them, we need to explore them and we need to acknowledge that we have them.” We believe Anna Albertson represents the progressive choice in this race and we recommend voting for her. |
Dept. 18 | John HuntFormer DA Judge Mary Kay Holthus is running to retain her seat against a challenge from the former Chair of the Nevada Democratic Party, John Hunt. Mr. Hunt has the support of Democratic leaders and progressive groups, while Judge Holthus has the heavy support of law enforcement. Consistent with other Electoral Committee recommendations, we recommend you vote out those beholden to state interests, and vote in John Hunt. |
Dept. 19 | Crystal EllerJudge William Kephart is running to retain his seat despite having one of the worst ethical track records of any Nevada jurist. Due to this egregious record of misconduct, both as a prosecutor and on the bench, the Electoral Committee recommends you vote against Judge Kephart by casting a ballot for his opponent Crystal Eller. The most well-documented instance of Judge Kephart’s misconduct can be found in Vanity Fair and ProPublica’s in-depth coverage on the unjust prosecution of Fred Steese. Due to the actions of Judge Kephart and his co-counsel Judge Douglas Herndon (also pursuing his own race for the Nevada Supreme Court), Mr. Steese spent over 20 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Despite Mr. Steese receiving a full pardon in 2017, Judge Kephart continues to publicly insist on Mr. Steese’s guilt. Judge Kephart made these comments despite being previously reprimanded for commenting on another murder case he prosecuted that has since been overturned. Unfortunately, these are not the only miscarriages of justice associated with Judge Kephart; as a prosecutor, Judge Kephart was called out by the Nevada Supreme Court for five additional instances of misconduct. Notably, the Court recognized William Kephart’s actions of physcially choking a defendant on the stand as “well beyond the accepted bounds of permissable advocacy.” In short, the Electoral Committee believes that allowing Judge Kephart to remain on the bench would be an affront to justice. We are not recommending Eller for a full endorsement, but this video almost changed our minds. |
Dept. 20 | No RecommendationThe Electoral committee does not support Eric Johnson’s candidacy, who is running to retain his seat on the bench. While Johnson’s website boasts an impressive list of endorsements by local labor organizations, he also is a former career federal prosecutor, previously serving as the lead federal prosecutor in Nevada. As a result, he is heavily endorsed by law enforcement organizations and is the recommended vote by the Nevada Republican Club. We do not recommend you vote for Eric Johnson. However, we could not find enough positive information about his opponent, Dawn Hooker, to recommend you vote for Hooker. Hooker is not running an active campaign and does not have a campaign website. While we urge you not to vote for Johnson, we have truly no information to provide a recommendation as to whether you should cast a vote for Hooker. |
Dept. 21 | No RecommendationWe do not have a recommendation for how to vote on this race but will still provide you information to help you make your decision. Jacob Renyold’s website highlights his commitment to his Church, and he has a varied mix of endorsements. Tara Clark Newberry’s website highlights her commitment to her wife and children, but reveals no endorsements. Both have civil litigation backgrounds. |
Dept. 22 | Ben NadigJudge Susan Johnson is running to retain her seat against a challenge from a private defense attorney, Ben Nadig. Judge Johnson has been on the bench since 2007. In 2017, Judge Johnson made the news for repeatedly suggesting that defendants vote for Trump. The Nevada Commission for Judicial Discipline ultimately found that the comments were not inappropriate, but the Electoral Committee nevertheless recommends you vote for her opponent, Ben Nadig. As a defense attorney, Ben Nadig is willing to fight state overreach, and lists bail reform as one of his top issues on his website. |
Dept. 23 | Jasmin Lilly-SpellsThis is another important race in which a public defender, Jasmin Lilly-Spells, is running for the bench. Lilly-Spells is endorsed by several labor organizations, the Clark County Black Caucus, Independent Black Voter, Hispanics in Politics, Las Vegas Spectrum, and other progressive organizations. Lilly-Spells is familiar with the way law enforcement can affect our community. Beyond her work as a public defender, Lilly-Spells learned at age 16 that police shot and killed her cousin. According to an opinion article about her, this “personal tragedy sparked her interest in the criminal justice system and its effect on families and communities at large. She decided to go to law school, not just for herself, but for her family, her community, and to be an agent of change.” We believe Lilly-Spells is the progressive choice for this election. Lilly-Spells’s opponent, Karl Armstrong, was a public defender at the start of his career for about three years, but after, he spent his career as a private attorney defending insurance companies and as an attorney for the state (called a Deputy Attorney General). As a state attorney, he counseled the Nevada Department of Corrections and opposed prisoners in their civil rights lawsuits and post-conviction proceedings. Therefore, despite his brief background as a public defender, Armstrong spent a significant amount of his career working against these interest of our imprisoned population and advancing the power of the prison/carceral state. The Nevada Republican Club recommends its members vote for Karl Armstrong. We do not. We recommend voting for Jasmin Lilly-Spells. |
Dept. 24 | Erika D. Ballou EndorsedThis race is one of the few in which we are recommending a candidate for the Las Vegas DSA’s full endorsesment. This is another important race in which a public defender, Erika D. Ballou, is running. Erika Ballou has a proven track record as a fierce advocate for members of marginalized communities accused of crimes in Clark County and for progressive political issues. She has been involved in progressive organizing and is a DSA member. Ballou also gained national attention several years ago when she insisted she had a right to keep wearing her Black Lives Matter button in the coutroom after the judge (Judge Herndon, who is running to keep his seat this year) told her to take it off while in his courtroom. The Las Vegas Sun has endorsed Ballou. We agree. Ballou has proven her willingness to stand up against state oppression and violence against our marginalized communities and will bring an invaluable perspective to the bench. Ballou’s opponent, Dan Gilliam, is a former prosecutor who now practices as a private criminal defense attorney. He is endorsed by many law enforcement organizations as well as several labor organizations. Despite our support for labor, we cannot support Gilliam’s candidacy because his extensive background as a prosecutor and the apparent belief by many police organizations that he will best support their interests in court. Erika Ballou, as a public defender and DSA member, represents a far better ally for our organization’s mission and values. We recommend voting for Erika Ballou. |
Dept. 29 | David López-NegreteThis is another race involving a public defender, David López-Negrete, challenging an incumbent judge for his seat on the bench. López-Negrete is a career public defender who describes his role as defending the “working class” and least fortunate among us, and he has put in the work to prove it. López-Negrete was born in Mexico City, grew up in the United States, and is a naturalized United States citizen. He has earned an impressive educational record and record working with hispanic community organizations. He has volunteered answering legal questions for the homeless and offering mentorship to law students. We believe López-Negrete will bring a valuable perspective to the bench. His opponent is incumbent Judge David Jones. As a career private attorney before taking the bench, he has tried dozens of highly complex and public trials, including personal injury cases, medical malpractice, and premises liability. The Nevada Republican Club supports his candidacy; he appears to represent the conservative choice for the bench. Jones has also been endorsed by unions including the Nevada State AFL-CIO, the International Association of Firefighters, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Southern Nevada Building Trades Unions. While DSA stands in solidarity with labor organizations, we disagree with these endorsements. We believe López-Negrete has demonstrated, through action, his commitment to standing up for the working class. We also believe this is a critical time in our nation’s history in the area of criminal injustice, and having a career public defender on the bench will be important for our community. We recommend voting for López-Negrete. |
Dept. 32 | Christy CraigThis is a critical race involving a well respected, long-time leader in the public defender community, Chief Deputy Public Defender Christy Craig, running for the bench. Christy Craig has proven her willingness to stand up against state oppression and violence against marginalized communities through her long career as a public defender. Beyond her day job, she also helped create a diversionary program for criminal cases for those suffering mental illness. She is endorsed by the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, Las Vegas Spectrum, the Culinary Union, and SEIU Nevada. We believe her proven willingness to stand up for the marginalized will be an invaluable perspective to bring to the bench. Her opponent, Bob Rare, is the preferred candidate of the Nevada Republican Club. He is a former military (JAG) lawyer and is heavily endorsed by many law enforcement organizations and by the leading prosecutor in Clark County, Steve Wolfson, himself. Christy Craig has a proven track record of fighting for the marginalized and Bob Rare is the preferred candidate of Republicans and the police. We recommend voting for Christy Craig. |
Clark County Family Court Judge | |
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The family division of the Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County handles all domestic family-related cases including divorce proceedings, child support issues, child custody determinations, guardianship proceedings, juvenile delinquency proceedings, and more. This court affects the lives of our friends and family more than most: these judges have power over our family lives, whether we will keep our children, whether children will be safe from abusers, how much alimony will be required after a divorce, whether you can obtain a temporary restraining order, and much more. It is especially critical that the judges in the family court have a compassionate and holistic outlook on their position. The judges in this court are selected by county-wide non-partisan direct elections. | |
Dept. E | No RecommendationWe do not have a recommendation for this race in part because we have a lack of information, in part because we do not have a strong preference based on what we do know. Hoskin has practiced family law for 18 years. He is the recommended vote by the Progressive Leadership Alliance Network (PLAN) and various labor organizations. However, he is also recommended by law enforcement organizations. Kurtz worked as a hearing master in family court, meaning he has experience in a judicial role in family court cases. He is endorsed by The Vegas Voice, a senior newspaper. |
Dept. I | No RecommendationWe do not make a recommendation in this case but will provide you with our research to help you make a decision. This race is between Soonhee “Sunny” Bailey and Michelle O. Tobler. Tobler’s campaign website gives a little information about her background. She has been an attorney in Las Vegas for 24 years. She has volunteered for cases representing foster children in family-court proceedings. She has worked as a hearing master in family court, meaning she has experience relevant to this position, and her slogan is “justice with compassion.” Her opponent, Sunny Bailey, is also a well known figure in the legal community. Her campaign website says she started her career as a criminal prosecutor in Seattle, Washington. After her child was diagnosed with autism, she moved to Las Vegas to participate in a great program for autism here. In Las Vegas, she became a public defender. During this time, she co-authored the Nevada Courtroom Handbook on Evidence. She then became an attorney at a private law firm praciting civil law. Her website describes her experience with a child with autism at length and it is clearly a topic she is passionate about. In April of 2018, Bailey created the Detention Alternative for Autistic Youth (D.A.A.Y. Court), a diversion court aimed to address the issues of youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder. D.A.A.Y. Court is the first program in the nation to address the issues of youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Bailey has an impressive history in her advocacy and empathy for mental disability issues and this must be weighed heavily in her favor. Yet she is also the preferred candidate of the Nevada Republican Club and is heavily endorsed by law enforcement organizations for this position, which she displays prominently on her website, above her endorsements by labor organizations and several progressive organizations such as the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN). We make no recommendation on who deserves your vote in this race, if anyone. |
Dept. J | Dedree "Dee" ButlerThis is another race between a public defender, Dedree “Dee” Butler, and former prosecutor, J. Scott MacDonald. Dee Butler is a public defender who is affiliated with the NAACP and a local organization of criminal defense lawyers and public defenders called the Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice. Butler is endorsed by several labor unions and progressive organizations. She is also endorsed by the Black Caucus, Independent Black Voter, Hispanics in Politics, and Nevada Spectrum (full endorsements here). While she is recommended by the Nevada Republican Club, she is also endorsed by the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. Her opponent, MacDonald, is a former prosecutor for three years and long-time private civil attorney. He is endorsed by law enforcement organizations and several labor unions. Despite our solidarity with labor organizations, we disagree with their endorsement. MacDonald is a candidate who the police believe will be better for them in court, where Dee Butler is a public defender who has proven her willingness to stand up for the marginalized members of our community. We believe Butler will bring a valuable perspective to the bench. We recommend voting for Butler. |
Dept. M | No RecommendationWe have no recommendation for this race. Hughes is the candidate recommended by the Nevada Republican Club. Hughes explains on his website, “I have been an attorney in Las Vegas for 23 years. I have limited my practice to family law, guardianship, probates, estates, helping clients in anyway I can. I have been a pro-tem judge in Clark County for 18 years. This includes adult and minor guardianships, abuse/neglect, civil commitments, small claims and traffic courts. I have learned how to handle cases as a judge and help litigants.” He is endorsed by the Nevada Veterans Association and the Nevada Political Action for Animals. His opponent, Mastin, is a former prosecutor and private-practice attorney. She has personal experience in family-court proceedings and has been working in the family court in a judicial role. She is endorsed by labor organizations, law enforcement organizations, and the lead prosecutor in Clark County, Steve Wolfson himself. The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada does not make a recommendation or endorsement for this race. Neither do we. |
Dept. P | No RecommendationSara Dayani is a long-time family law attorney who has extensive experience. She has done work in the area of school truancy, which she explained was an effort to help prevent future crime by addressing one of its underlying causes. Another project she worked on, however, aimed at recruiting Clark County children into the military. The program was called project S.O.A.R (“seeking opportunity and accepting responsibility”). She explains on her website that S.O.A.R. “was a collaborative effort with the courts, CCSD and the Nevada National Guard who provided a mini boot camp for the children and showed them that they had the option of joining the military after high school. The last day of Project S.O.A.R was a tour of Creech Air Force Base where the children and I got to see the predator.” According to a 2004 article by the Las Vegas Sun, this SOAR program was “designed to get low-level teen offenders out of trouble without using the court system.” But not “using the court system,” apparently, meant “showing them they had the option of joining the military after high school,” according to Dayani. According to the Sun, one of the children in the program was only 13 years old and 80 pounds. It seems this program, posing as a crime-prevention diversionary program, sought to recruit marginalized children into the military. Dayani’s boasting about this program on her website raises a host of serious concerns about her values. Still, she is endorsed by several labor organizations, one law enforcement organization, and the Women’s Democratic Club of Clark County, Nevada. She is endorsed by the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. Her opponent, Mary Perry, is an Air Force veteran and family law attorney. Perry also has experience working in the area of truancy for about two years. We could not find much significant information about Perry. She is the candidate preferred by the Nevada Republican Club. While Sara Dayani’s endorsements are preferred to Mary Perry’s endorsements, we are not confident enough in either candidate to make a recommendation. |
Dept. T | No RecommendationWe do not have a recommendation for this race. Nadin Cutter’s campaign website can be seen here. She is a private business and family-law attorney. She is multi-lingual (English, Spanish, and German) and has accrued several recognitions in her career. She is heavily endorsed by law enforcement organizations, which she displays prominently at the top of her endorsements page, above her endorsements by labor organizations and several progressive identity-based organizations. Her opponent, Jason Stoffel, is the candidate preferred by the Nevada Republican Club. His campaign website can be seen here. He has been a Nevada attorney since 2005 and a managing partner of a private family law firm. He is endorsed by several labor organizations and one law enforcement organization. |
Dept. U | Dawn ThroneWe recommend voting for Dawn Throne in this race in order to vote against Bill Gonzalez. Throne is an experienced family-law attorney who is endorsed by the Las Vegas Review Journal and Nevada Veteran’s Council. While she does have some experience as a criminal prosecutor, she appears to be the better option between the two candidates. Throne’s opponent, Bill Gonzalez, is a former judge who lost his election in 2014. He is endorsed by the lead prosecutor for Clark County, Steve Wolfson, the Sherrif of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Joseph Lombardo, and is the candidate preferred by the Nevada Republican Club. He boasts his personalized letter from Steve Wolfson prominently on his website. He is also endorsed by various law enforcement organizations and several labor unions. He is now a family court attorney. Has represented children in juvenile justice proceedings. While he has experience working on behalf of the accused, law enforcement’s belief that he will best support their interests in court is cause for great concern for those interested in transformative change in the way we approach policing and prisons. This is especially important in family court because even though this judge will not be directly handling criminal matters, they will be making decisions about people’s lives who have interacted with the police-and-prison system, and the judge’s outlook on those issues will influence their decision-making toward that individual in family court. We do not need more people on the bench who see the world in a way prosecutors and police support. We need something different. In this race, neither candidate seems ideal. We recommend voting against Bill Gonzalez, the preferred candidate of the police and prosecutors, by casting a vote for Dawn Throne. |
Dept. Z | No RecommendationWe do not have a recommendation for this race. Both candidates show a strong background in family law. They have a mix of endorsements, some with organizations that share several of DSA’s values, some that don’t. Both candidates are endorsed by different labor organizations as well as law enforcement organizations. Please see Romeo Perez’s campaign website here and Shell Mercer’s campaign website here. The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada recommends voting for Romeo Perez. The Nevada Republican Club recommends voting for Shell Mercer. While this alone may give a slight edge to Romeo Perez in this race, we are not confident in recommending a vote for him because the mixed endorsements of each candidate, including labor and police support for both. |
Ballot Questions | |
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Question 1 | Yes |
Question 2 | Yes EndorsedIt goes without saying that marriage equality is consistent with DSA values. We should update our laws to reflect our values. We also should update this law because in 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled that refusing the right to marry based on sex or gener preference is unconstitutional. Therefore, Nevada law as currently written violates the federal constitution. For both reasons, we should vote to amend state law to recognize the right to same-sex marriage. We recommend voting “yes” on this question. The only potentially objectionable portion of this ballot question is part 3, which would establish a right for religious organizations and clergy members to refuse to perform a same-sex marriage and will provide that no person is entitled to make a claim against them for exercising that right. The members of the LVDSA electoral committee do not believe the right to discriminate against people on religious grounds is more important than the fundamental right of same-sex couples to marry. Our opinion on this may make little practical difference, however, because in 2018, the United States Supreme Court held that a member of the clergy who objects to same sex marriage on moral and religious grounds cannot be compelled to perform same-sex marriages (for more information, please see your voter guide). This means, according to the voter guide, that this portion of the ballot measure would simply bring Nevada law in line with current federal law, as held by the United States Supreme Court. One of many problems with enshrining in state law this right of clergy to discriminate against same-sex marriages, however, is that if we ever succeeded in changing federal law on this issue, we might still be stuck with this problematic state law. But that does not appear to be a possibilty in the near future, with the current composition of the United States Supreme Court and the recency of their 2018 decision on this issue. We hope, going forward, that we can get to a place where no religious community chooses to discriminate based on sexual or gender preferences for such an important fundamental right that should be enjoyed equally by all. We still recommend “yes” on this question because recognizing the right to same-sex marriages under state law is critical to show our solidarity with those who have fought for that right for so long. |
Question 3 | Yes EndorsedThis is a straightforward issue and we recommend voting “yes.” Voting yes will require the pardons board to meet more often, will allow any member of the board to make proposals, and will allow the board to issue pardons without the governor’s approval (making pardons easier to issue to a deserving person). There is no justification to voting no, making it harder for the convicted to be pardoned. Voting yes will expand the ability of our government to give a pardon or commutation without political interference from the governor, and will ensure that these proceedings take place more often. This bill will marginally improve the possibility of our prison community to receive relief from their convictions and imprisonment, and, hopefully will help reduce the overcrowded prison population. |
Question 4 | Yes EndorsedAs members of the Democratic Socialists of America, we believe in and fight for expanding democratic voting rights to all. We believe that if the People had true control over our own political life, we would live in a better world. This ballot measure would amend the Nevada Constitution to expand voting rights and enshrine certain rights above all other laws in our state. While the propositions are not as far as we would like to see our state go at this time – we need much more radical changes to our electoral system than this – voting for this ballot measure will hopefully marginally expand our ability to assert our voting rights and protect us against voter suppression efforts by the ruling class. This ballot measure is consistent with our values. |
Question 6 | YesBallot Question 6, also know as the Renewable Energy Promotion Initiative, proposes an amendment to the Nevada Constitution that would require every energy provider in Nevada to generate or acquire at least half its power from renewable sources by 2030. As a constitutional amendment, the measure must be voted on twice by voters. Question 6 first appeared on the ballot in 2018 and was approved with a resounding 60% of votes. While we believe this to be an unambitious goal given that Nevada has the most solar power potential in the nation and more than a quarter of Nevada’s energy is already generated from renewable sources, we see no harm in passing this measure, with the understanding that we will continue to push for a larger commitment to clean energy. |