The Clark County Commission District F race is experiencing a new dynamic with a strong nonpartisan candidate, Harris, supported by a prominent union. This candidate's political experience and notable endorsements set her apart from typical independent contenders, posing a significant challenge in the contest. Harris's decision to run as nonpartisan stems from her identity as "an independent thinker" and her belief that it "represents me the best," as stated to KTNV. This approach could shift the political composition of the seven-member commission, which currently includes only one Republican.
Harris has secured high-profile endorsements from groups and individuals, including the Culinary union, known nationally for its grassroots organizing, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Hispanics in Politics, and Ironworkers Local 433. Further bolstering her campaign are endorsements from former state legislators from both political parties. Her public service includes being elected to the Nevada State Senate in 2014, where she represented her district for two legislative sessions. She later resigned in January 2018 to assume the role of chair of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. During her tenure at the Board, significant events included sexual misconduct allegations that led to the downfall of casino titan Steve Wynn, the legalization of marijuana, and the expansion of sports wagering.
Yan, the Democratic candidate in District F, brings a background in commercial real estate, specializing in urban and infield redevelopment and community revitalization. Her experience also extends to public transit issues through various public committees. She serves on the board of The Mob Museum and delivered a TEDx Talk in Las Vegas focusing on redeveloping Chinatowns across the United States. Yan's endorsements include SEIU Local 1107, Teamsters Nevada, Make The Road Action Nevada, and the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter. She emerged from a competitive Democratic primary, defeating six other candidates, including Minddie Lloyd, who had support from outgoing incumbent Commissioner Justin Jones, and Lenna Hovanessian, endorsed by U.S. Rep. Dina Titus. Yan has publicly committed to not accepting donations from corporations or their political action committees.
Kasama, the Republican candidate, currently represents Nevada State Assembly District 2, a position she has held since 2020. She also faced a competitive primary, defeating private equity firm CEO Albert Mack. Governor Joe Lombardo has endorsed Kasama, and she receives backing from the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, the Board of REALTORS® PAC, and at least two chambers of commerce. Earlier, she explored a run for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District in 2024 with Lombardo’s endorsement but ultimately chose to seek re-election in the Assembly instead. During her time in the Legislature, Kasama concentrated on ethics reform and sponsored legislation that ended a predatory title scheme.
Campaign finance reports, which are collected quarterly, provide insight into the financial standing of the candidates through the end of June. As of July 1, Kasama reported nearly $444,000 on hand, with top contributors during the second quarter including South Point Hotel and Casino, Western Elite, and the Lombardo-affiliated Nevada Way PAC. Harris reported $139,000 on hand by July 1. Her major contributors this year include Penta Building Group, M Resort-operator Penn Entertainment, and esports betting company Oddin.gg. Yan, consistent with her pledge, reported just under $4,000 on hand as of July 1. She had received $87,000 in donations and in-kind contributions during the first half of the year but spent the majority of it. Her top contributors were identified as Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom’s campaign and Maryland state legislator Chao Wu’s campaign.
Beyond District F, two additional Clark County Commission seats are contested in this election cycle, though their outcomes are anticipated to be less competitive. In District E, Democratic Commissioner Tick Segerblom is running against Republican Manny Hess. Segerblom, a longtime politician, represents a heavily Democratic area and won his last two commission races by margins of 15.7 and 25.2 percentage points. Similarly, in District G, Democratic Commissioner Jim Gibson, also a seasoned politician, faces Republican Jonathan Maxham. Gibson secured his previous two elections by 9.2 and 13.8 percentage points. The broader implication of the District F race is a potential shift in the Clark County Commission's political makeup; currently, only one of the seven members, April Becker, is a Republican, having been elected in 2024, with the remaining commissioners being Democrats.
