Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill officially launched his 2026 re-election campaign Monday night at Worre Studios, joined by Gov. Joe Lombardo, Mayor Shelley Berkley, and a few hundred supporters – plus dozens more watching online.
“I have this great, great honor to lead the finest police department on this planet,” McMahill told the crowd, speaking with the confidence of a man who’s spent 35 years inside Metro.
A Record He’s Proud Of
When he first ran in 2022, McMahill promised to crack down on crime, protect officers, and make Metro the most technologically advanced department in the nation.
“We’ve done all of those things,” he said – and he’s got numbers to back it up.
Under his leadership, Metro reports a double-digit drop in overall crime, a more than 30 percent decline in homicides so far this year, and a 98 percent solve rate for non-fatal shootings, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
McMahill credited teamwork and data-driven policing.
“We built a centralized system that brings every unit together,” he said. “It’s working.”
Even as crime trends improve across other major cities, Metro’s pace stands out.
That matters here in Southern Nevada, where violent crime and street racing have long been sore spots for residents.
Behind the Badge
McMahill also highlighted something most folks don’t see: the emotional toll on officers.
He spoke about the department’s new Wellness Bureau, which helps the 6,300 Metro employees – about 4,000 of them officers – deal with trauma and stress.
Each month, about 450 employees visit the wellness center for counseling or peer support.
The idea, he said, grew from what he and his wife, retired Deputy Chief Kelly McMahill, experienced firsthand after responding to the October 1, 2017, mass shooting on the Strip.
“It’s not just about fighting crime,” he said. “It’s about taking care of the people who protect us.”
Road Safety and Accountability
If there was one issue that drew real passion from the sheriff, it was traffic deaths.
After a recent scooter crash killed one child and injured another, McMahill said the constant carnage on local roads has become personal.
He’s been pushing for red-light and speed cameras, arguing they can save lives. But during this year’s legislative session in Carson City, lawmakers refused to pass the bill.
“I was literally laughed out of the building,” he recalled.
Still, he’s not giving up.
“This isn’t a partisan issue,” McMahill said. “It’s about human beings. If you take the life of another person, you should be held accountable.”
Nevada saw more than 400 traffic fatalities statewide in 2024, with Clark County leading the state, according to the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety.
McMahill wants to change that, calling safer roads a “big, big part” of his next term.
Innovation on Wheels
The sheriff also gave a peek at Metro’s newest fleet upgrade: Tesla Cybertrucks outfitted as police vehicles, donated by local supporters.
He said they’ll be safer, better equipped, and, in his words, “probably the coolest police car on the planet.”
Critics on social media called the purchase flashy, but supporters say the trucks will cut fuel costs and fit the department’s focus on technology and efficiency.
“They’re tactically more safe for our cops,” McMahill said, adding that every feature serves a purpose in the field.
Looking Ahead
So far, no challenger has stepped forward to run against McMahill, though official filing won’t open until March.
For now, he’s focusing less on politics and more on policing.
“Running the police department and running a campaign is hard,” he said with a smile. “But running the department matters most.”
In a county of roughly 2.3 million residents – where everything from major tourist events to local safety concerns falls under Metro’s reach – voters would likely agree.
McMahill’s re-election message is simple: less crime, safer roads, and stronger cops.
For many Nevadans, that’s a pitch that’s hard to argue with.
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