Good news came out of Las Vegas this week for conservatives who have been watching Nevada’s political landscape closely. Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony has been named Chair of the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association (RLGA) for the 2026 election cycle.
The RLGA is the national organization that works to elect and support Republican lieutenant governors across the country. With 31 lieutenant governor races on the ballot in 2026, including many competitive and open-seat contests, Anthony will help lead national strategy, support candidate recruitment and fundraising, and shape the messaging Republicans use in these races.
In short, Nevada’s number two is now calling the plays for Republicans in some of the most important down-ballot races in the country.
Why Anthony?
Anthony earned this role the old-fashioned way. He won.
In 2022, he was the only Republican in the entire nation to flip a lieutenant governor seat from Democrat to Republican. He did it in Nevada, one of the most competitive battleground states in the country. That kind of track record gets you noticed.
“I’m honored to lead the RLGA as we prepare for a highly competitive election cycle,” Anthony said.
“Lieutenant governors play a critical role in state leadership, and Republicans have a real opportunity in 2026 to win tough races and deliver results for voters.”
He knows what it takes. He’s already proven it once.
Why Lieutenant Governor Races Matter
In Nevada, the lieutenant governor chairs the Commission on Tourism, sits on the State Board of Transportation, and steps in as governor when the elected governor leaves the state. Anthony himself has used that platform to fight for women’s sports protections and push back on government overreach.
Multiply that across 31 states, and you start to see the picture. Lieutenant governors often become governors. They shape state policy. They control what issues get attention and which ones get buried.
In a closely divided country, flipping even a handful of these seats can change the direction of state government for years.
The Race Is Already On at Home
Of course, Anthony isn’t just fighting for Republicans in other states. He has a race of his own to win.
As we noted yesterday, Nevada Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui is running to unseat him. And she’s calling in reinforcements.
“Mayor” Pete Buttigieg — the former Biden Transportation Secretary whose tenure was marked by flight cancellation disasters, a slow response to the East Palestine train derailment, and billions in EV charging money with very little to show for it — is headed to Las Vegas to campaign by her side.
Read our prior coverage here:
Democrat Running for Lt. Governor Taps Biden’s Transportation Disaster Chief to Boost Her Campaign
It’s a revealing choice. Jauregui’s campaign is betting that a big national name will move Nevada voters. But it also tells you something about the kind of leadership she’d bring to the office: more federal-style big government, more spending, and more looking to Washington for answers.
Anthony’s record points the other way. He’s built coalitions, won a tough race on his own, and now earned a national leadership role because of results, not celebrity endorsements.
When Nevada conservatives back a winner who then helps Republicans across the country, that builds the kind of coalition that can hold the line against big-government expansion from coast to coast.
Nevada sent a message in 2022. In 2026, Anthony is hoping to help Republicans send that same message in 31 more states.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
