When Clark County commissioners voted 6-0 to appoint Jason Patchett to the Nevada Assembly’s District 19 seat, they filled a vacancy — but did they fill it with the right kind of Republican?
District 19, which stretches across Henderson and parts of rural Clark County, isn’t purple or even light red. It’s one of the most solidly Republican districts in Nevada, with conservatives holding a commanding majority of registered voters.
That means voters there aren’t looking for a centrist to “get along” in Carson City.
They’re looking for someone who will stand up and fight for conservative values — not just go along with the establishment.
Patchett, a Henderson resident, replaces outgoing Assemblyman Toby Yurek – who resigned a few weeks ago and had one of the worst conservative voting records of all GOP legislators in his first and only session earlier this year.
Patchett has worked in the Clark County District Attorney’s Civil Division and first became known statewide after the tragic 2022 death of his 13-year-old son Rex.
That tragedy led him to champion “Rex’s Law,” which increased penalties for drivers who kill someone while speeding more than 50 mph over the limit.
That cause earned him bipartisan praise — and surely helped pave the way for his appointment.
But experience matters.
Patchett has never served in elected office. He’s never run a campaign, knocked on doors, or faced voters directly.
That’s not a disqualifier, but it does matter.
Legislating isn’t just about writing policy or arguing cases — it’s about representing real people and standing firm under pressure.
And for a district as deeply Republican as AD-19, conservatives expect someone who knows how to fight for limited government, not someone still learning the ropes.
In addition, Nevada’s Legislature is already crowded with attorneys and career bureaucrats. Patchett adds one more to the list.
He’s spent years inside county government as legal counsel — not building businesses or creating jobs in the private sector.
That background gives him insight into how government works, but it also means he’s been on the inside of the machine for a long time.
When you’ve spent your career making government run smoothly, it can be hard to see why it needs shrinking.
Conservatives might rightly ask:
Do we really need another government lawyer writing laws that impact the rest of us? Or would a small-business owner, a parent, or someone who’s had to make payroll bring a better sense of how government policies hit real people?
Commissioner Jim Gibson (D) called Patchett “an extraordinarily talented fellow” who’s given “sound counsel” to Clark County for years.
That’s a nice endorsement — but also a red flag for grassroots conservatives who want to shake up the status quo.
When party insiders praise someone for being reasonable and measured, that’s usually code for “he won’t rock the boat.”
District 19 doesn’t need a go-along-to-get-along Republican.
It needs a boat-rocking conservative who will stand up to spending sprees, fight for school choice, and push back against over-regulation that hurts Nevada families and businesses.
To be fair, Patchett deserves credit for his work on Rex’s Law and for turning personal tragedy into public service. That took courage.
Supporters say he’s thoughtful and compassionate — qualities that matter in public life.
But the concern isn’t about his heart. It’s about his philosophy.
In a district that votes Republican by wide margins, voters have the right to expect a legislator who reflects their values without watering them down.
When you’re in a swing district, you can make the case for a moderate. But when you’re representing a Republican stronghold, you should be pushing the envelope — not blending in.
Jason Patchett’s appointment might please the party insiders and county officials who already know him.
But for the Republican base in District 19 — a district that votes overwhelmingly GOP year after year — it’s fair to ask if this was the right choice.
We don’t need more moderates who play it safe in deep-red districts.
We need conservatives who challenge the system, question bureaucracy, and fight for the values voters keep sending to Carson City — faith, freedom, and fiscal discipline.
Time will tell which side of that line Jason Patchett lands on.
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