The Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce, one of the biggest players in the Southern Nevada business community, has thrown its support behind 28 candidates in legislative and Clark County Commission races — including some Democrats.

The chamber, known for its hesitance to support new taxes, embraced even some liberal Democratic incumbents in districts that lean blue. The selections are based on candidates’ voting records, if one exists, their stated positions on business policies and their willingness to work with the Chamber.

“Nothing is more important to the health of our state than having a business and regulatory climate that helps our economy grow and spurs job creation,” said Hugh Anderson, chairman of the group’s Government Affairs Committee. “The Las Vegas Metro Chamber takes its endorsement responsibility very seriously and recommends those candidates who truly understand issues that impact businesses and will stand up for our state’s employers and small businesses.”

Chamber leaders spent three days interviewing nearly 60 candidates before making endorsements. More endorsements are expected this summer in legislative and county commission races, as well as races for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, the Board of Regents, the Clark County School Board and the state Supreme Court.

There are 42 Assembly seats and 11 Senate seats up for grabs this year. The group hasn’t yet endorsed in some swing districts that are expected to be highly competitive, such as Senate Districts 8 and 9, which were held by nonpartisan Patricia Farley and Republican Becky Harris, respectively, last session.

The Henderson Chamber of Commerce also announced endorsements on Monday.

“There is considerable strength in numbers," said Matt Engle, the chairman of the Henderson chamber's PAC, "and as the voice for businesses in the second largest city in the state, it’s imperative we are politically engaged to ensure we are not only supporting existing businesses, but also supporting legislators who will create an environment that makes us competitive with other markets.”

Endorsements include:

Assembly Districts:

AD 1 Danielle Monroe-Moreno, a Democratic incumbent who has no opponents (Henderson and Las Vegas chambers)

AD 2 John Hambrick, a Republican incumbent (Henderson and Las Vegas chambers)

AD 3 Selena Torres, a Democratic political newcomer who’s running for the seat held by Nelson Araujo. He’s not seeking re-election and instead is running for secretary of state. (Las Vegas chamber only)

AD 7 Dina Neal, a Democratic incumbent who has no opponents (Las Vegas chamber only)

AD 8 Jason Frierson, a Democratic incumbent and Assembly speaker (Henderson and Las Vegas chambers)

AD 9 Steve Yeager, a Democratic incumbent (Henderson and Las Vegas chambers)

AD 10 Chris Brooks, a Democratic incumbent (Las Vegas chamber only)

AD 11 Olivia Diaz, a Democratic incumbent (Las Vegas chamber only)

AD 13 Tom Roberts, a Republican political newcomer who is assistant sheriff at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and seeks to replace Republican Leader Paul Anderson, who resigned to lead the state economic development department (Las Vegas chamber only)

AD 14 Maggie Carlton, a Democratic incumbent who has no opponents (Las Vegas chamber only)

AD 15 Howard Watts III, a Democrat who’s seeking his first elected office after incumbent Democrat Elliot Anderson announced he wouldn’t seek re-election (Las Vegas chamber only)

AD 17 Tyrone Thompson, a Democratic incumbent (Henderson and Las Vegas chambers)

AD 19 Chris Edwards, a Republican incumbent who has no opponents (Henderson and Las Vegas chambers)

AD 20 Ellen Spiegel, a Democratic incumbent (Las Vegas chamber only)

AD 21 Ozzie Fumo, a Democratic incumbent (Las Vegas chamber only)

AD 22 Melissa Hardy, a Republican (Las Vegas chamber only)

AD 23 Matthew McCarthy, a Republican (Las Vegas chamber only)

AD 25 Jill Tolles, a Republican incumbent (Henderson and Las Vegas chambers)

AD 27 Teresa Benitez-Thompson, a Democratic incumbent (Henderson chamber only)

AD 31 Jill Dickman, a Republican former officeholder who’s seeking to reclaim her old seat from Democratic incumbent Skip Daly (Henderson and Las Vegas chambers)

AD 33 John Ellison, a Republican incumbent (Henderson chamber only)

AD 35 David Schoen, a Republican political newcomer seeking the seat held by Democrat Justin Watkins, who’s not seeking re-election. (Las Vegas chamber only)

AD 36 James Oscarson, a Republican incumbent in a tough race against brothel owner Dennis Hof (Henderson and Las Vegas chambers)

AD 39 Jim Wheeler, an incumbent and the current Republican Assembly leader (Henderson chamber only)

Senate Districts:

SD 2 Mo Denis, an incumbent Democrat (Las Vegas chamber only)

SD 10 Yvanna Cancela, an incumbent Democrat (Las Vegas chamber only)

SD 12 Joe Hardy, an incumbent Republican (Henderson chamber only)

SD 13 Julia Ratti, an incumbent Democrat (Las Vegas chamber only)

SD 16 Ben Kieckhefer, a Republican incumbent (Henderson and Las Vegas chambers)

SD 17 James Settelmeyer, a Republican incumbent (Henderson and Las Vegas chambers)

SD 20 Keith Pickard, a Republican Assembly member who’s seeking the Senate seat of Republican leader Michael Roberson, who’s running for lieutenant governor (Henderson and Las Vegas chambers)

SD 21 James Ohrenschall, a termed-out Democratic Assembly member seeking the Senate seat previously held by Mark Manendo, who resigned following a sexual harassment investigation. (Henderson chamber only)

Clark County Commission:

District E Marco Hernandez, a Democratic political newcomer who’s in a race against state Sen. Tick Segerblom (Las Vegas chamber only)

District G James Gibson, a Democratic incumbent

Disclosure: Howard Watts III has donated to The Nevada Independent. You can see a full list of donors here.

This post was updated at 6:55 p.m. on April 16, 2018 to add endorsements from the Henderson Chamber of Commerce.