They Say They Fight for Small Business. Their Scorecard and Endorsements Tell a Different Story.
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in Nevada touts itself as “advocating on behalf of America’s small business and independent business owners” and claims to be “exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses.”
If only that were true.
Today, NFIB released its Voting Record scorecard for the 2025 session of the Nevada Legislature.
In the state Senate, six legislators received perfect 100% scores, while two others earned 91%. All are Republicans.
In the state Assembly, every Republican legislator got a perfect 100% score except one: Heidi Kasama, who got an 88% score.
Now get this….
In 2024, NFIB endorsed and helped elect Democrat candidates in competitive Assembly races over well-qualified Republican candidates – some of whom were actually small business owners themselves!
In Assembly District 8, NFIB endorsed Democrat incumbent Duy Nguyen (78%) – a “community organizer” – over Republican challenger Kelly Chapman, who is a longtime casino pit boss and owns a small apparel printing company with her mom.
In Assembly District 9, NFIB endorsed Democrat incumbent Steve Yeager (67%), a lawyer, over Republican challenger Erica Neely, a homeschool mom who also owns a small tutoring business.
In Assembly District 21, NFIB endorsed Democrat incumbent Elaine Marzola (67%), an ethics-challenged lawyer, over Republican challenger April Arndt, a retired police officer.
In Assembly District 37, NFIB endorsed Democrat incumbent Shea Backus (67%), yet another lawyer, over Republican challenger David Brog, president of the conservative, pro-business Edmund Burke Foundation.
In Assembly District 41, NFIB endorsed Democrat incumbent Sandra Jauregui (67%), another community organizer and former Harry Reid staffer, over Republican challenger Rafael Arroyo, owner of Smog Plus DMV Services.
As a side note, Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo endorsed all of the above-mentioned GOP candidates in an effort to get Republicans out of their super-majority in the Assembly and protect his veto power.
But NFIB worked to protect the Democrats’ super-majority instead.
I mean, they didn’t even stay neutral in those races. They actively worked to defeat the governor’s endorsed GOP candidates.
Talk about cutting your own throat!
You see, NFIB didn’t back candidates based on whether or not they’d be better for their small business members. They played politics.
They backed Democrat incumbents rather than show some balls by backing challenger candidates who were true small business supporters – if not small business owners themselves.
Profiles in courage they weren’t.
Which brings us to 2026.
Republicans can gain the majority in the state Senate if they flip three seats: SD8, SD9, and SD12.
In SD8, Democrat incumbent Marilyn “Hollywood Handout” Dondero Loop (55%), a retired public school administrator, will square off against Republican small business owner George Harris, who has owned restaurants, souvenir shops, and his own brand of tequila.
In SD9, Democrat incumbent Melanie Scheible (70%) – a defense lawyer who recently argued to lower the penalty for a driver who killed a kid while doing 70-mph in a 30-mph zone near schools and playgrounds – will face Republican Maria Thompson, a former investigative TV journalist.
In SD12, Democrat incumbent Julie Pazina (64%), an advertising executive, will face Republican Rafael Arroyo, who NFIB threw under the bus in his Assembly race last cycle.
Then there’s the state Assembly.
The three best chances for the GOP to flip seats are in AD9, AD37, and AD41.
In AD9, Republican Neely – who NFIB blew off last cycle – is running again, this time for an “open” seat (Yeager chickened out of a re-match) against a recovering “black tar” heroin addict, Ryan Hampton, who moved into the district after he got his clocked cleaned by Republican Assemblywoman Lisa Cole in AD4 last cycle.
In AD37, Republican Jill Douglass – a retired financial services and insurance executive who ran a courageous and strong campaign against Democrat Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (64%) in 2024 – is challenging Backus.
And in AD41, another “open” seat, Republican Kelly Chapman will be squaring off against Democrat Vinny Spotleson – a self-admitted, card-carrying, dues-paying member of the Democrat Socialists of America (DSA).
I wonder who NFIB will be endorsing this time in these six critical races?
But even if they screw up the nerve to endorse these GOP candidates this time, it’s not enough – especially considering the political, anti-small business sins they committed in 2024.
Anything short of their PAC maxing out to each of those Republicans with $10,000 checks won’t even begin to atone for their cowardly performance last cycle.
My advice to Nevada small business owners and supporters: Forget NFIB.
Instead, join me and become a member of a true champion of small businesses, the Keystone Corporation. You can get more information by clicking here.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their 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.
