Democrats Are Cherry-Picking Nevada’s Economy for Political Gain
If you only listened to Nevada Democrats lately, you’d think the state economy was on the verge of collapse.
That’s the story they want voters to believe heading into election season. But when you look at the full picture, the facts tell a very different story.
Nevada’s economy is doing something it struggled to do for decades: growing beyond just tourism and casinos. That matters.
According to state employment data, Nevada now has more than 1.6 million jobs – the first time in state history. That’s a record.
Nevada has also led the nation in job growth for nine straight months. Those aren’t Republican talking points. Those are real numbers.
The state ranks first in post-pandemic small business growth, according to UNLV’s Center for Business and Economic Research. And the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says Nevada leads the country in hourly wage growth.
Those aren’t signs of an economy in free fall.
Now, to be fair, Nevada still carries the highest unemployment rate in the country, and tourism has softened in recent months. But context matters.
Nevada was hit harder than almost any other state during COVID thanks largely to the Sisolak-Ford shutdowns.
Because our economy depends so heavily on tourism, when Las Vegas went dark, hundreds of thousands of Nevadans lost their jobs almost overnight.
That kind of damage doesn’t heal overnight either.
Nevada is still climbing out of one of the deepest economic holes in the country. Which makes today’s job growth and wage gains all the more impressive.
Blaming President Trump or Gov. Lombardo for problems rooted in the disastrous policies of Steve Sisolak and Aaron Ford isn’t analysis. It’s dishonest politics.
And that’s really what this comes down to: cherry-picking.
Democrats point to one soft tourism quarter while ignoring record employment. They highlight unemployment without mentioning wage growth. They cry economic doom while conveniently overlooking the fact that Nevada is finally diversifying after decades of near-total dependence on gaming and tourism.
Gaming revenue once made up roughly 40 percent of state revenue. Today it’s closer to 25 percent. That’s a massive structural shift – and it’s a good thing.
Nevada is adding jobs in healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, technology, and small business development. That kind of diversification builds long-term strength and stability.
Gov. Lombardo deserves credit for helping create a business climate where that growth can continue.
Could he do more? Absolutely. But it’s hard to drive meaningful reform through Carson City when Democrats still control the Legislature and spend most of their time blocking, delaying, or watering down Republican proposals.
That’s the part many voters never hear about.
A governor can only do so much when legislative leaders are more focused on scoring political points than solving problems.
Nevadans are smart. They know you don’t grow jobs by attacking businesses. They know endless regulations make it harder to hire. And they know government doesn’t create prosperity by spending money it doesn’t have.
Families balance budgets every month. Businesses do too. Government should work the same way.
The good news? Nevada is moving in the right direction. Record job growth. Rising wages. Expanding industries. More small businesses opening their doors.
That progress didn’t happen by accident.
But if we want Nevada to keep growing, Gov. Lombardo needs allies in Carson City – not political roadblocks blocking progress every session.
That’s one reason I’m running for State Assembly.
Nevada doesn’t need more politicians manufacturing economic panic for campaign ads. We need leaders focused on making sure working families, small businesses, and taxpayers can actually succeed.
And that starts with telling the truth about where Nevada really stands today.
The opinions expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
