You know that friend who always wants to be in charge of everything? Well, Nevada’s got one of those running the Democratic Party. Daniele Monroe-Moreno, who chairs the Nevada Democratic Party, announced she will run for North Las Vegas mayor in 2026 instead of seeking re-election to the Legislature.
This isn’t just any politician making a career move. We’re talking about someone who holds two of the most powerful positions in Nevada Democratic politics. Monroe-Moreno chairs the powerful Assembly budget committee and is the first Black woman to serve in a leadership position in the lower house. Now she wants to add “mayor” to her resume.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
For folks who believe in limited government, this move shows everything wrong with career politicians today. Here’s someone who’s been collecting government paychecks since 2016. Monroe-Moreno has served in the Assembly for the last nine years.
Monroe-Moreno seeks to replace term-limited North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown, who was elected in 2022 and is the city’s first Black mayor.
Though Goynes-Brown is only in her first term as mayor, she cannot run again because she previously served as a city councilwoman for over a decade. Nevada’s term-limit law restricts elected officials to a maximum of 12 years in the same public body, which means Goynes-Brown will hit that limit during her current mayoral term.
Think about it like this. You wouldn’t want the same person running your neighborhood HOA, your kid’s school board, AND the city council all at once. But that’s basically what we’re seeing here. One person holding too much power in too many places.
The timing is telling too. Monroe-Moreno announced her bid during a speech Saturday at a graduation ceremony for Emerge Nevada, an organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for public office. This group exists to put more Democrats in power. It’s like a political machine designed to keep the same people and same ideas in control.
What the Opposition Says
Monroe-Moreno will likely square off against North Las Vegas Councilman Scott Black, who took office in 2017 and announced a mayoral bid in May. While city elections are officially nonpartisan, Black was listed by the Clark County Republican Party as a Republican candidate in 2017.
This gives voters a real choice. On one side, you have Monroe-Moreno, who represents the Democratic establishment. On the other, you have Black, who comes from the business world. At the time of his 2017 run for office, Black was the owner of the graphic design company LogoZoo.
Business owners understand something politicians often forget. Money doesn’t grow on trees. Every dollar spent by government comes from taxpayers’ pockets. When someone has actually run a business and met a payroll, they tend to be more careful with public money.
The Track Record
Let’s look at what Monroe-Moreno brings to the table. In March 2023, Monroe-Moreno, a moderate, was elected chair of the Nevada Democratic Party beating incumbent Judith Whitmer, a Democratic Socialist. That sounds good until you realize what it really means.
The fact that she had to beat a “Democratic Socialist” shows how far left the Nevada Democratic Party has moved. When beating a socialist makes you the “moderate” choice, that tells you everything about where the party stands today.
Monroe-Moreno has been climbing the political ladder for years. In the last session, she served as speaker pro tempore, the second-highest leadership position in the Assembly. This is someone who’s made a career out of accumulating political power.
What’s at Stake
North Las Vegas is Nevada’s fourth-largest city. It’s been through some tough times financially. The city overcame a financial crisis that almost led to a state takeover.
The question is simple. Do you want someone who’s spent nearly a decade in government making more government? Or do you want fresh leadership from someone who understands how the private sector works?
The announcement leaves Monroe-Moreno’s reliably blue Assembly District 1 seat open in the 2026 election. This could be an opportunity for Republicans to pick up a seat. But it also means voters lose representation while she campaigns for her next job.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Let’s talk about Monroe-Moreno’s electoral track record. In her 2024 re-election campaign, Monroe-Moreno defeated Republican challenger Garland Brinkley by more than 12 percentage points. That shows the uphill battle Republicans face in her district.
But mayoral races are different. They’re supposed to be about local issues like fixing roads, managing budgets, and keeping neighborhoods safe. Party politics shouldn’t matter as much. That’s where candidates like Scott Black can make their case based on experience and ideas, not party labels.
Looking Ahead
A formal launch of Monroe-Moreno’s campaign is expected to take place later this summer. That gives voters plenty of time to study both candidates and their records.
For conservatives, this race represents something bigger than just picking a mayor. It’s about whether career politicians can keep jumping from office to office. Or whether voters will choose fresh leadership from the private sector.
What Conservatives Can Do
First, pay attention to this race even if you don’t live in North Las Vegas. What happens there affects the whole state. Career politicians who succeed in one place often use that success to grab more power elsewhere.
Second, support candidates who come from outside the political machine. People who’ve actually built businesses and created jobs understand how the real world works.
Third, remember that local elections matter. These are the races where your vote counts the most. City councils and mayors make decisions that affect your daily life more than most state or federal politicians.
The 2026 race is still more than a year away. But it’s never too early to start paying attention to who wants to represent you and why they want the job.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
