Fiore trailing in re-election bid for Pahrump judge seat; Clark County judicial results taking shape

Suspended Nye County Justice of the Peace Michele Fiore, whom President Donald Trump pardoned after she was convicted of federal fraud charges, was trailing two opponents Wednesday morning in a four-person race despite spending more than six figures to retain the seat.

Retired towing company owner Michael Foley, appointed by the Nye County Commission more than a year ago to serve as Fiore's temporary replacement, was the leading vote-getter with more than 40.7 percent as of Tuesday night. Occupational therapist Scott Oakley was in second place with 26 percent. Fiore had 23 percent, trailing Oakley by more than 350 votes. 

Nonpartisan judicial races can be decided in the primary if a candidate receives more than 50 percent of the overall vote.

However, Nye County spokesman Arnold Knightly said roughly 3,000 votes — a combination of mail ballots and drop-off ballots — have still not been counted for the nonpartisan seat. Knightly said the county would update the vote totals on Wednesday.

In a text message Wednesday morning, Fiore wrote, "Until the votes are counted, I don't have a comment."

Pahrump's voters are reliably red, with 14,000 registered Republicans and 12,000 nonpartisan voters outnumbering the county's 5,000 Democrats. According to Nye County, turnout for the primary was just under 22 percent.

Fiore, a former Republican state lawmaker and Las Vegas city councilwoman, had been banned from her courtroom by the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline for nearly two years after her 2024 conviction on federal wire fraud charges. The indictment said she used $70,000 she raised for a fallen Las Vegas police officer's memorial for her own personal gain, including her rent, plastic surgery and her daughter's wedding.

She was facing 20 years in federal prison on each count until an April 2025 pardon from Trump — who gave no reason for the pardon — allowed her to jump-start a 2026 re-election effort. 

Fiore plastered Nye County's largest community with bright red signage touting her endorsement from Trump while running all the trappings of a small-town judicial campaign, attending community events, sending out volunteers to campaign door-to-door and delivering baked goods to area businesses.

In April, she reported raising nearly $125,000 in campaign contributions through the first three months of 2026, largely thanks to a $95,000 loan she made to her campaign. 

Nevada does not require a law degree for rural justices of the peace in counties with fewer than 100,000 residents. The Pahrump judgeship pays $85,500 a year. 

Foley, 63, became a pro-tem judge in 2007, sitting intermittently over the years when a judge was away. He attended classes at the National Judicial College in Reno to better understand the role.  

Oakley, 54, who grew up in Las Vegas and moved to Pahrump more than a decade ago, has only seen a courtroom through his experiences and certifications as a licensed therapist in multiple fields, including marriage and family counseling.

He said in a previous interview that local governments don't do enough for their residents in the areas of mental health, drug and alcohol addiction and domestic violence.

Incumbent Pete Thunell trailing in a Clark County District Court race

Clark County District Judge Pete Thunell, who was appointed to the Department 26 seat this year by Gov. Joe Lombardo in April, was trailing Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Jessica Goodey after initial vote totals were revealed Tuesday. She has almost 63 percent of the vote by Wednesday morning.

Thunell, a former chief deputy in the Clark County District Attorney's Office, was trailing Goodey by double digits. State Bar Counsel Daniel Hooge was a distant third. Thunell filed for the seat after it was vacated by Judge Gloria Sturman, who chose not to run and retired.  

In the open Department 13 civil-criminal judicial seat, hearing master Adam Ganz had a sizable lead over public defender Christopher Howell, who had the second most votes, and attorney Robert Kurth.

Also, in the Department R family court seat, incumbent Judge Bill Henderson was trailing attorney Mary Caston by 18,000 votes and the two are headed to the November run-off election. 

This story will be updated.