Nevada’s Latin business group picked mostly GOP candidates for the Legislature, and that could matter in a close year.
A Business Group Picks Its Team
The Latin Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas has released its endorsements for 2026. The chamber turns 50 this year, and Peter Guzman has led it for the past decade. Its focus is helping small businesses across Southern Nevada.
The list is long. It is also telling. Of the 22 legislative candidates the chamber picked, 17 are Republicans.
The Full List
Statewide: Governor Joe Lombardo (R), Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar (D) and Andy Matthews (R) for controller.
Law enforcement: Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill.
Local: Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero, Scott Black for North Las Vegas mayor, Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson (District G), Heidi Kasama for County Commission (District F), North Las Vegas Councilwoman Esmeralda Villeda and Luke McCarthy for City Council Ward 2.
Schools: Moises Dennis for the Board of Regents and Irene Bustamante Adams for the CCSD Board (District F).
State Senate: Rafael Arroyo (R, SD12), Lisa Krasner (R, SD16), Robin Titus (R, SD17) and Danielle Gallant (R, SD20).
Assembly: Selena Torres-Fossett (D, AD3), Lisa Cole (R, AD4), Erica Neely (R, AD9), Cinthia Moore (D, AD11), Brian Hibbetts (R, AD13), Erica Mosca (D, AD14), Venicia Considine (D, AD18), Jason Patchett (R, AD19), Elaine Marzola (D, AD21), Melissa Hardy (R, AD22), Denise Fanning (R, AD23), Rich DeLong (R, AD26), Jill Dickman (R, AD31), Rebecca Edgeworth (R, AD35), Gregory Hafen (R, AD36), Jill Douglass (R, AD37), Gregory Koenig (R, AD38) and Kelly Chapman (R, AD41).
Why This Is a Big Deal
This is a win for Governor Lombardo.
Latinos make up about one in five Nevada voters, and Lombardo is working hard to earn their trust. His side has spent more than $1 million on Spanish-language ads.
Guzman, a longtime Lombardo supporter, even appears in one.
“Everything costs more, but Joe Lombardo gets it,” he says.
The Latin Chamber isn’t alone. Lombardo’s campaign says the Vegas Chamber and the Asian Chamber of Commerce are also backing him.
“Nevada’s business community is firmly behind Governor Lombardo,” his campaign said.
It matters for the Legislature, too.
Democrats hold 27 of 42 Assembly seats. That is one short of a two-thirds supermajority. A supermajority can pass tax hikes without a single Republican vote and override a governor’s veto.
Lombardo set a state record for vetoes in 2023. His veto pen has been a wall against bills that would raise costs on families and small businesses. Electing the chamber’s Republican picks would keep that wall standing.
Races to Watch
Three picks stand out. In Senate District 12, the chamber chose Republican Rafael Arroyo, a small business owner, over Democratic Sen. Julie Pazina. This has been billed as the most competitive Senate race this cycle.
In Assembly District 37, it backed Republican Jill Douglass against Democrat Shea Backus. Backus won that seat by just 135 votes in 2018.
In open Assembly District 9, it went with Republican Erica Neely.
In all three races, the Vegas Chamber backed the Democrat instead.
What Comes Next
Early voting starts Saturday, October 17. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Mail ballots are already landing in mailboxes across the state.
The chamber has placed its bet on Lombardo and a heavily Republican Slate. Now it’s up to the voters.
Full Latin Chamber of Commerce endorsement list: LCC2026EndorsementsMediaRelease2
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.
