How a Clark County GOP primary became the ugliest race in Nevada

The decision by incumbent Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones (D) to not run for re-election has given Republicans a rare opportunity — a chance to flip a seat on the most powerful local government board in Southern Nevada that historically has been dominated by Democrats.

The high stakes underscore why, with less than a month until mail-in ballots are sent out, the Republican contest for the seat between businessman Albert Mack and Assm. Heidi Kasama (R-Las Vegas) has turned as personal and as ugly as any race in the state. 

Thanks in part to six- and seven-figure loans the candidates have made to their own campaigns, Mack and Kasama have raised sizable funds and each attracted major endorsements — Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) for Kasama, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill for Mack. 

In the pre-primary crunch time, attack websites have sprung up, ethics complaints have been filed, accusations of fraud made and a years-old video of Mack on a party boat along with bikini-clad women on a stripper pole prompted legal threats.

Outside the personal attacks, the two have fairly similar conservative policy positions, though they have different backgrounds — Mack, the scion of a longtime Las Vegas family whose surname adorns UNLV's Thomas & Mack center, is a businessman without elected experience. Kasama is a three-term legislator and longtime real estate professional. 

Republicans are confident in flipping the seat given the absence of Jones — who won his 2022 bid for the seat by 336 votes out of more than 117,000 cast but then faced a mounting controversy over a development at Red Rock. There are also relatively close voter registration totals between Republicans and Democrats in the district covering western and southwestern parts of the Las Vegas Valley.

Whoever wins will face the winner of the seven-way Democratic primary for the seat between Minddie Lloyd (backed by several Democratic county commissioners), Lenna Hovanessian (D), Sebastian Crawford (D), Serena Kumar (D), Justin Lieberknecht (D), Robert Michael Wall (D) and Minja Yan (D).

Two nonpartisan candidates (Brian Baron and former state Sen. Becky Harris) will also appear on the general election ballot.

The Nevada Independent sat down with Kasama and Mack to discuss their backgrounds, how they see the race and the issues facing Clark County voters. 

The mudslinging

Kasama's campaign has seized on what it calls Mack's lacking Republican credentials — including donations to Democratic politicians and old social media posts critical of President Donald Trump and one calling Hillary Clinton "the next POTUS!!!"

Her campaign recently posted an ad on X depicting an AI-altered Mack wearing a Clinton 2016 campaign "I'm With Her" shirt, and has put up campaign signs with the image in District F. In an Instagram video, Mack said the signs were fake "just like Heidi," and put up his own altered campaign sign featuring himself hanging out with an alien and Elvis Presley. 

Raised in a Democratic family, Mack said he used to identify with the party but switched to Republican because it more closely aligned with his values. 

"I think it's sad that someone, an opponent, just to try to win, would condemn someone for changing parties," Mack said, pointing out that running as a Republican in a mostly Democratic city shows where his values lie. "If I wanted an easier victory, I wouldn't have changed parties." 

For his part, Mack has focused his attacks on Kasama's voting record, including her support for a special session bill that would have massively expanded film tax credits. He also cited her vote last session for AB530 as evidence of her support for higher taxes. The bill allows the county commission to renew an existing tax on gas (by a two-thirds vote) that increases with inflation and time. The tax would have otherwise expired at the end of 2026. 

When asked about the film tax credit vote, Kasama said she supported Gov. Joe Lombardo in the "creation of thousands of jobs." On the gas tax bill, she said the bill was not a mandate, but allowed local jurisdictions to decide. 

He's also accused her of financial impropriety. 

His campaign has brought attention to four complaints filed to the secretary of state's office against Kasama, saying she did properly disclose her business holdings on her campaign finance disclosure forms. 

In a statement, the Kasama campaign said it was a "non-issue" and that she stepped in to take over some business holdings when her husband was diagnosed with cancer.

"Heidi filed the paperwork, made no income from her accounting services to these entities, and is doing everything by the book," Kasama campaign spokesperson Jeremy Hughes said in a statement. 

'A private social gathering aboard a boat'

The race took a new turn earlier this month after attorneys for Mack sent a cease and desist letter to Kasama's campaign, alleging that they had circulated a salacious seven-second YouTube clip of Mack on a party boat in 2022. 

The clip, which has since been taken down, showed a shirtless Mack walking past two bikini-clad women dancing on a pole on the deck of a boat and making a swiping motion with his hand towards one of them. 

The attorney representing Mack accused Kasama's campaign of a distributing a "video depicting images of Mr. Mack and others in attendance at a private social gathering aboard a boat and that you have characterized those images to third parties as evidence of such marital infidelity on the part of Mr. Mack and intend to continue to do so."

The letter accuses the campaign of trying to use the video as "evidence of marital infidelity," adding that the allegations caused "deep emotional damage to his ex-wife," with whom he still has a good relationship, as well as their four children.

"At the time of the creation of the video, Mr. Mack and his ex-wife had been separated and were well into the process of negotiating a settlement agreement and filing an uncontested, stipulated divorce action," the letter states. "Neither hid from the other their social activities. Your allegations of marital infidelity necessarily involve accusing my client of serious sexual misconduct and are defamatory per se in Nevada."

In a text message statement, Kasama denied making any allegations about Mack's marital status and said the video was a reflection of Mack's character. Her campaign has otherwise not publicly mentioned the video.

"I will treat the office with the dignity it deserves and continue to instill pride in public service," Kasama told The Nevada Independent. 

In an interview this week with The Indy, Mack predicted that voters would care more about Kasama's voting history than a party that took place years ago. 

"It was adults, fun on the lake," Mack said. "I think they care less about a private citizen four years ago who never thought he was going to go into politics."

The candidates 

Kasama, 67, is a second-generation Norwegian immigrant who was born in New York City and raised in the Seattle area where she met her husband, Japanese-American businessman Peter Kasama. She moved with her family to Las Vegas in 2002. 

Kasama was a certified public accountant and a real estate agent — at one point, she owned her own real estate firm that employed roughly 80 agents. 

A three-term assemblywoman, Kasama touted serving on the Commerce and Labor Committee for her entire legislative tenure as part of what makes her the most qualified candidate. 

"I think people will look for that," Kasama said. "They want it to be run well." 

She previously ran for Congress against Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) in District 3, but dropped out after speaking with her family, constituents and Lombardo, saying she realized she was needed in the Legislature. 

She's been endorsed by Lombardo, as well as a slew of legislators and local officials including state Sen. Carrie Buck (R-Henderson), Assm. Lisa Cole (R-Las Vegas), Clark County Commissioner April Becker (a fellow Republican) and longtime former Commissioner Bruce Woodbury. 

Mack, 44, comes from a storied Las Vegas family. His great grandfather moved to the city during the Great Depression and took part in helping build the Hoover Dam with a tow-trucking company. His grandfather, the late Jerome Mack, was the owner of Bank of Las Vegas, one of the few banks in the area that at the time would finance casinos. Mack cites his grandfather — a key figure in shaping the Strip — as a role model and an inspiration. 

Mack's background is in real estate. After selling the Bank of Las Vegas in 1992, Mack said his family became involved in commercial real estate and development, according to Mack. As an adult, he worked for Wynn properties in Las Vegas before starting a small private equity firm with a partner that's focused on helping small businesses in the valley. 

Among others, he's been endorsed by McMahill, Laborers Union Local 872, Las Vegas Police Protective Union Association president Steve Grammas and Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony (R). 

"I am truly thankful for the endorsements I have, especially as a newcomer and not a career politician establishment person," Mack said.

The issues

Both candidates have emphasized the importance of conservative values, fiscal responsibility, supporting law enforcement, promoting development and fostering economic diversification. 

Their differences, though subtle, do exist. 

On election security, Kasama has a firm answer — "no" — on whether or not federal forces should be involved in local elections. Mack said election security was important, but that invoking the possibility of federal interference in state elections would be something he "wouldn't even entertain" as it was something he did not have "a vote or say in." 

President Donald Trump, in 2022, posted on his Truth Social account that "Clark County, Nevada has a corrupt voting system." He has also said he wishes he would have used the National Guard to seize election boxes. 

On immigration, Kasama said there has been a crisis at the border and she believes in upholding federal laws. However, as a child of immigrants who is married to an immigrant, Kasama said newcomers have made this country better. She said she supports streamlining the immigration process to ensure families are not torn apart. 

Mack said he would look to Nevada's senators and to the governor to work on immigration issues. He said he was more focused on making life more affordable for working class people and improving the county's fiscal health. 

Clark County largely funds the Clark County Detention Center, which is run by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and maintains a 287(g) partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

On public safety and fiscal responsibility, the two are aligned — they both support law enforcement and want a balanced budget. Mack said he was especially equipped given his business experience. 

Mack said if elected, he would want to sit on the commission's audit committee to watch where wasteful spending could be cut. Kasama said she used to audit business and nonprofits and is good at catching where programs can be combined or streamlined. 

Mack, who has served on Las Vegas Metro Police Department's Use of Force Review Board, said he thought that the police were doing a good job of keeping Clark County safe. He said clearing up budget inefficiencies could allow the county to pay police officers better to ensure they have a living wage. If elected, Kasama said she would like to have regular meetings with law enforcement to understand what their issues were and how the county could support them. 

Kasama said improving the number of medical facilities in the region is a big concern —  her husband has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. She said she appreciated the "amazing" medical care in Clark County but knows that there needs to be better access. 

Clark County oversees University Medical Center, a public hospital. 

Mack also mentioned he would like to see federal land freed up to allow for new development.

Clark County commissioners have historically backed the Clark County lands bill, which would add conservation protections to certain lands while allowing others to be sold for development.