Keystone Nevada’s annual dinner brought together some of the state’s most prominent Republican leaders Thursday night.
The pro-business group moved its annual dinner to South Point Hotel & Casino this year, and the new venue delivered.
After last year’s 30th-anniversary dinner at Red Rock, the move south could have felt like a gamble. Instead, South Point proved to be a natural home for one of Nevada’s longest-running gatherings of business and political leadership.
From the reception through the final keynote, the property gave Keystone room to put on a polished, genuinely Las Vegas event – complete with free parking!
And there was plenty for them to handle.
Honorees and Speeches
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. and former CCRP chairman David Gibbs applauds as Don Ahern accepts the 2026 Monte Miller Economic Freedom Award (Photo: Keystone Instagram)
Las Vegas businessman Don Ahern received Keystone’s 2026 Monte Miller Economic Freedom Award.
The organization recognized Ahern for his business career, contributions to Nevada’s economy, political involvement and charitable work through the Dana Lynn Ahern Foundation.
Ahern used his acceptance speech to praise Nevada’s business climate while warning that maintaining it would require continued political involvement.
“This state just keeps getting further to the left,” Ahern said. “We’ve got some work to do. We’ve got to get out and vote.”
John Tsarpalas, president emeritus of the Nevada Policy Research Institute, was also recognized on Thursday for his work promoting free enterprise and helping build the coalition that defeated ranked-choice voting.
Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony presents John Tsarpalas with a proclamation naming September 17, 2026 as John Tsarpalas Day in Nevada. (Photo: Keystone Instagram)
Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony presented Tsarpalas with a proclamation from Lombardo declaring September 17, 2026, as a day in his honor, and a certificate of recognition from his own office.
The dinner’s featured speaker was former White House Press Secretary and current Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany.
McEnany recounted receiving the telephone call from President Donald Trump offering her the press secretary position during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also described preparing Trump for one of his coronavirus briefings during her first day at the White House.
Gov. Joe Lombardo, Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony, State Controller Andy Matthews, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill, and Republican leaders from across Nevada were among those recognized from the stage.
And the evening was more substantial than just awards and speeches.
By the time the fundraising portion ended, Keystone announced that it had raised $255,000 to support conservative, pro-business candidates in the November election.
The organization already knows where much of that money is going.
Keystone President Brett Sutton said the group plans to focus on Nevada Senate Districts 8, 9 and 12 – the three races Republicans believe could determine control of the chamber.
“We’re targeting Senate 8, 9 and 12 because those are the best districts to flip,” Sutton told the crowd. “If those flip, Republicans control the Senate.”
Those races feature Republican candidates George Harris in District 8, Maria Thompson in District 9 and Rafael Arroyo in District 12.
The three candidates are challenging Democratic incumbents Marilyn Dondero Loop, Melanie Scheible and Julie Pazina.
Republicans currently hold eight of the Nevada Senate’s 21 seats. Winning all three targeted races would give the party an 11-seat majority.
Keystone also plans to participate in several competitive Assembly races. Sutton said an additional $20,000 or $30,000 in the right district could make the difference between winning and losing.
Mack PAC Steps In With $60,000 Match
One of the night’s largest commitments came from Las Vegas businessman Albert Mack.
Mack announced that his recently formed Mack PAC would match as much as $60,000 contributed to Keystone during the fundraiser.
“We have the opportunity to give our incredible governor an ability for four years to make law and not just have to veto bad law,” Mack said.
Donors pledged money at levels ranging from $50,000 to $500 as the running total climbed throughout the night. When it was over, the fundraiser announced that the evening had generated $255,000.
The contribution expands Mack PAC’s role in the same three Senate contests.
Mack formed the PAC after his 2026 Republican primary campaign for Clark County Commission. He has said its purpose is to concentrate money and organizational support in the handful of races most likely to change the balance of power in Carson City.
Lombardo Urges Republicans to Turn Out
Gov. Joe Lombardo used his remarks to highlight his administration’s record and warn supporters against becoming complacent.
Lombardo credited his administration with more than $6 billion in economic expansion, the repeal of more than 900 regulations, and reductions in violent and property crime.
He also pointed to education funding, affordable housing legislation and the planned Intermountain Children’s Hospital as evidence of progress during his first term.
But the governor said none of those accomplishments would matter if Republican voters stayed home in November.
“We are dealing with a sense of apathy, both as a party and as a community, in this election cycle,” Lombardo said.
He urged attendees to talk with their friends, relatives, coworkers and employees about participating in the election.
“We are a purple state, and every vote matters,” Lombardo said.
“The graveyard is full of candidates that have lost by less than 10 votes in the state of Nevada.”
Lombardo also encouraged attendees to financially support Keystone and its election efforts.
“I’m going to leave you with this,” Lombardo said at the end of speech, “Some of you will get it. Some of you won’t.”
He paused.
“I’m Joe Lombardo.”
Judging by the room's reaction, everyone was in on the joke. If you don't get it by now, come on, man!
Voter ID Remains a Major Priority
Question 7, Nevada’s proposed voter identification constitutional amendment, was another recurring subject throughout the evening.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. and former CCRP chairman David Gibbs, a Keystone board member who helped lead the ballot effort, urged attendees to support the measure.
Nevada voters approved the voter ID proposal in 2024. Because it would amend the state Constitution, voters must approve it a second time in 2026 before it can take effect.
Sutton credited Gibbs, Gov. Lombardo, and Senate candidate George Harris with helping place the measure before voters.
He also applauded Keystone’s role in defeating the ranked-choice voting proposal that appeared on Nevada’s 2024 ballot.
Money Headed Toward November
Keystone has spent more than three decades bringing Nevada business leaders together around lower taxes, reduced regulation and free-enterprise policies.
Thursday night demonstrated how the organization intends to translate those principles into election activity.
The $255,000 announced at the dinner will now be directed toward the governor’s race, voter ID and the legislative contests that could decide whether Lombardo spends another four years vetoing bills from a Democratic-controlled Legislature – or governing with Republican control of at least one chamber.
Keystone is organized, funded and focused on November – and it believes three Senate races could change everything.
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