January 19, 2024
Lots of news coming out of a short holiday week in Nevada as Governor Lombardo has endorsed Trump, judicial filing has closed and all of the Supreme Court Justices running for reelection are un-opposed, and Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar has reported an increase of 16,206 active registered voters during the Month of December 2023 as compared to November 2023. In other state and local news, lots of updates on strikes, water usage in Southern Nevada, and the Teachers Union filing an initiative about the right to strike…Read all about it and more below. As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns and have a wonderful weekend!
State and Local Government Updates
300 Culinary Union workers at Waldorf Astoria get 5-year deal | Casinos & Gaming | Business
The Culinary Union has reached an agreement with the Waldorf Astoria on a new five-year contract. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Culinary contracts: Tracking the latest union-resort negotiation progress
The strike date coincides with the nine-month anniversary of when the previous agreements expired. It would also take place on the weekend before Las Vegas begins to host festivities surrounding Super Bowl LVIII. (The Nevada Independent)
Teachers union files initiative to ask legislature, voters to legalize strikes for educators
The Clark County Education Association on Thursday filed with the state a petition to change Nevada law and allow teachers to go on strike. (Nevada Current)
Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar reports an increase of 16,206 active registered voters during the month of December 2023 as compared to November 2023. The total number of active registered voters in Nevada is 1,924,000 an increase of (0.85%). (Secretary of State)
A’s give to lawmakers, Democrats hold cash advantage, campaign finance reports show
The Nevada Independent obtained a report indicating that Major League Baseball’s Oakland A’s collectively donated $88,000 to state lawmakers after legislators approved a $380 million public financing package to help build a proposed Las Vegas stadium in a special session last year. (the Nevada Independent)
Exclusive: Rosen introduces Washoe county lands bill years in the making
The bill would free up new land around Reno and Sparks for development while permanently conserving nearly 1 million acres in the county. (The Nevada Independent)
‘Phenomenal progress’: Water use in Southern Nevada inches toward goal
Water savings in the Las Vegas Valley are soaring despite population growth, largely thanks to a wetter-than-normal 2023 and persistent conservation efforts over the past 20 years. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
CCSD approves dozens of school sites for GOP caucuses
The Clark County School District has approved 25 sites to be used for the upcoming Republican caucuses. Others remain pending. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Lawmakers mum on $310,000 in donations from teachers union amid contract disputes
The Clark County teachers union made donations totaling $310,000 to four members of the Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee (IFC) in days surrounding a Dec. 13 meeting in which the committee deferred on a funding request from the Clark County School District, campaign finance reports show. (The Nevada Independent)
Federal Updates
Horsford: Navy Federal Credit Union less likely to OK Black, Hispanic mortgage applicants
U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto joined several Democratic Senate colleagues on Thursday in asking the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to investigate the racial gaps between white, Black and Hispanic applicants. (Reno Gazette Journal)
U.S. Justice Department sues Nevada over pensions of Guard members who go on active duty
The U.S. Justice Department filed suit Wednesday against the state of Nevada for denying Guard members “proper pension benefits upon their reemployment after military service.” Also being sued is the Nevada Public Employees’ Retirement System and the state attorney general’s office. (Reno Gazette Journal)
Articles of Interest
Unions will soon begin to recruit thousands of workers to build the massive high-speed Brightline rail spanning from Las Vegas to California, and Nevada crews are set to begin their portion of the project by summer. (Fox5 News)
At CES, senators advocate rapid legislative response to AI
As the artificial intelligence revolution takes place at an accelerated pace, policymakers need to be innovating equally as fast to enact laws in response, Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., said Friday during a bipartisan panel on technology at the CES technology expo in Las Vegas. (Las Vegas Sun)
Radon exposure can be deadly. Most Nevadans don’t know how prevalent it is
Radon is an invisible killer, and in Nevada, more than a quarter of houses tested for radon showed higher than safe levels for the odorless gas. (The Nevada Independent)
From the Atari Hotel to Dream Las Vegas, here are projects to watch in 2024
With two casino-resort openings and a Major League Baseball team announcing plans to relocate to Las Vegas in 2023, the new year has some big shoes to fill. But there are many significant projects in the early stages that could move forward in 2024. And, of course, we all want to know if projects such as the Atari Hotel will really happen. (Las Vegas Review Journal)
Election News
Days until:
- Nevada presidential primary: 18
- GOP presidential caucus: 20
- Primary Election Day: 144
- General Election Day: 291
NV Supreme Court seats uncontested in 2024, judicial filing brings expanded info on candidates
This year marks the first that new judicial candidates are required to fill out a questionnaire with information about their legal work and education history. (The Nevada Independent)
Deputy elections official named Washoe County interim registrar
Washoe County commissioners voted 3-2 on Wednesday to appoint Deputy Registrar of Voters Cari-Ann Burgess to the interim registrar role. Commissioners Jeanne Herman and Mike Clark were in opposition. (The Nevada Independent)
Republican former Treasurer Dan Schwartz to challenge Susie Lee in District 3
Former Nevada Treasurer Dan Schwartz on Wednesday announced a campaign for Southern Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, joining the race weeks after presumed Republican front-runner Assemblywoman Heidi Kasama (R-Las Vegas) dropped out in early January. (The Nevada Independent)
Seven Republican candidates for U.S. Senate to debate Thursday in Reno
Confirmed debate participants are Jim Marchant, Jeff Gunter, Tony Grady, Stephanie Phillips, William “Bill” Conrad, Ronda Kennedy, and Barry Lindemann. (Reno Gazette Journal)
Nevada judicial elections see many incumbents unopposed | Nevada | News | Politics and Government
All three Supreme Court justices up for re-election this year drew no challengers in the 2024 primary, meaning they have essentially won re-election. (Reno Gazette Journal)
Why AP called Iowa for Trump: Race call explained
The Associated Press declared the former president the winner based on an analysis of initial returns as well as results of AP VoteCast, a survey of voters who planned to caucus on Monday night. Both showed Trump with an insurmountable lead. (Associated Press)
Senate candidate Sam Brown endorses Trump for president
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sam Brown endorsed Donald Trump’s presidential bid Friday, choosing to embrace the likely Republican presidential candidate amid attacks from primary opponents. (The Nevada Independent)
Lombardo to caucus for Trump, vote “none of the above” in state-run primary
The Republican governor was endorsed by Trump in his gubernatorial bid in 2022, but had opted to stay out of the 2024 presidential race until now. (The Nevada Independent)
Can Nevada Republicans vote in both the presidential primary and caucus?
• Question: Can you legally vote in both Nevada’s Presidential Preference Primary and the Republican Presidential Caucus?
• Short answer: Yes, if you’re a registered Republican.
Focus groups: Nevada swing voters consider flipping back to Trump
Half of Nevada swing voters in our latest Engagious/Sago focus groups said they’d back former President Trump in a general election against President Biden, citing dissatisfaction with the economy. (Axios)
Upcoming Fundraisers
Shelly Cruz-Crawford for State Senate District 1
Thursday, February 15, 2024
5:30-7:30PM
Garagiste Wine Room
197 E California Ave #140
Las Vegas, NV 89104
| The Griffin Company is a full-service public policy and government affairs consulting firm based in Nevada. We believe a complete government affairs practice must be able to effectively navigate all levels of government, both with the laws and regulations, as well as with an understanding of and sensitivity to the politics associated with each issue. The Griffin Company provides clients with the breadth of experience – local, state, and federal – that enables a comprehensive approach, integrating policy and relationships at all levels of government. |
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