Nevada candidates got millions in campaign donations in 2026. Who is backing them?

Tens of millions of dollars poured into Nevada political campaigns from January through March, providing candidates up and down the ballot with the dollars needed to get their name out to the public ahead of the June primary.

The reports released last week are the last look at campaign finances before the primary in all non-congressional races; the next report covering April, May and June will be out in July, after the primary.

Last week, we took a look at some of the highlights and notable takeaways for major state-level candidates, including those running for governor, attorney general and other offices. You can read that story here. 

Read below for a look at the numbers in the key races we're following. You can click the links below to scroll to a particular section.

Congress

State Senate

State Assembly

Clark County teachers' union

Southern Nevada local government

Reno mayor, Washoe DA

Power fundraisers distinguish themselves in battleground House races

In the state's most competitive House seat, Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) raised more than $1 million in her re-election bid for the 3rd Congressional District, setting the state record for first quarter fundraising. She had a war chest surpassing $3 million.

One of her Democratic primary opponents, Dr. James Lally, loaned his campaign $500,000 over the first three months of the year and reported spending $506,000, with $350,000 going to TV ad reservations. 

On the Republican side of the race, Trump-endorsed video game composer Marty O'Donnell (R) did not give his campaign another cash infusion last quarter, bringing in just about $72,000, but he didn't need to — he still has $2.7 million in the bank thanks to his earlier loans.

None of O'Donnell's GOP opponents outraised him. Former Ambassador to Iceland Jeff Gunter (R) filed a campaign finance report showing he paid himself back most of the $750,000 he loaned his campaign last quarter; the campaign did not respond to a question as to why. He also paid former state Sen. Elizabeth Helgelien (R-Las Vegas) $2,000 for "social media management." 

In the 1st Congressional District, state Sen. Carrie Buck (R-Henderson) outraised incumbent Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) for the second quarter in a row, thrilling national Republicans (Buck earned Trump's endorsement last week). She remains the only challenger in Nevada — and one of a tiny number across the country — who did so without relying on significant self-funding.

Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) once again posted respectable fundraising ($618,000) in the 4th Congressional District and has more than $1 million in the bank. He and Lee received donations from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, whose workers are still affected by the partial government shutdown. 

Across the aisle, lawyer Ronda Kennedy (R), loaned her campaign $350,000, while small-business owner Cody K. Whipple (R) loaned himself $200,000 and received nearly $100,000 in contributions in the first three months of the year. 

Film tax credit opposition spurs fundraising in state Senate seat

One state Senate race saw a primary challenger outraise the incumbent — and he got a lot of help from some notable Las Vegas unions.

North Las Vegas City Councilman Isaac Barrón reported raising almost $63,000 from January through March, though $15,000 was a transfer from his own PAC. PACs are only allowed to give $10,000 to a campaign per cycle, and Barrón ended up refunding $5,000 back to his PAC account, making the total contribution $10,000.

He's challenging state Sen. Edgar Flores (D-Las Vegas) in the Democratic primary for state Senate District 2; Flores posted a fundraising haul of about $40,000.

Barrón received $20,000 from several PACs affiliated with the Laborers Local 872 construction union, which is opposing Flores after he voted against the special session proposal to massively expand film tax credits. Barrón also brought in $5,000 from the Clark County Education Association, which supported the film tax credit expansion.

However, Flores has a nearly $200,000 cash on hand advantage thanks to his $160,000 fundraising haul last year.

State Senate District 8 in Las Vegas is an opportunity for a Republican flip, and lots of money is going into the primary. 

Laz Chavez, an assistant sheriff under Gov. Joe Lombardo while he was Clark County sheriff, received about $74,000 in direct donations, but that slightly trailed the $77,000 raised by GOP primary opponent George Harris, the former chair of the Clark County Republican Party.

Still, both candidates trail significantly behind incumbent Sen. Marilyn Dondero Loop (D-Las Vegas), who raised $146,000 — the only state Senate candidate raking in six figures during the quarter.

First-term assemblymember faces fundraising deficit, open seats see significant dollars

There's also one sitting assemblymember who raised less money than his primary opponent: Assm. Jovan Jackson (D-North Las Vegas).

Jackson, who was first elected in 2024 and voted against the film tax credit expansion, raised about $25,000 from January through March, several thousand less than his primary opponent, union carpenter Douglas Candido, who raised about $31,000 — much of it from various Southern Nevada unions that were behind the film tax credit proposal.

Notably, Candido also has a slight cash on hand advantage.

Another closely watched race involves Assm. Howard Watts (D-Las Vegas), who is facing a primary challenge from union-backed Miguel Davila. However, Watts' haul of $54,000 was about four times as much as Davila, and he has a significant advantage in cash on hand.

Clark County teachers union spends big

The PAC tied to the Clark County Education Association made high-dollar donations to several PACs affiliated with top state lawmakers.

Strategic Horizons made a $500,000 contribution to a PAC run by Sen. Rochelle Nguyen (D-Las Vegas) and another $300,000 to a group led by Assm. Elaine Marzola (D-Las Vegas). They also donated $100,000 to a new PAC led by Assm. Lisa Cole (R-Las Vegas) and $50,000 to a group led by Sen. John Steinbeck (R-Las Vegas).

All of those lawmakers could be in line for leadership positions in the next legislative session.

By funneling money to lawmakers' PACs, the teachers' union is able to also indirectly support candidates beyond the $10,000 contribution limit. For example, Nguyen's PAC gave money to three lawmakers — Dondero Loop and Sens. James Ohrenschall (D-Las Vegas) and Julie Pazina (D-Las Vegas) — who later received the maximum contribution directly from the teachers' union.

Big spending for open Clark County Commission seat

In the open race for Clark County Commission District F, Albert Mack (R) is outspending his opponents. 

Mack outspent his only Republican primary opponent, Assm. Heidi Kasama (R-Las Vegas), by nearly $80,000 during the quarter, and has nearly $300,000 more in cash on hand.

The grandson of a casino magnate, Mack brought in donations from several major casino companies including $10,000 from Marnell Gaming Management, $5,000 each from South Point, Boyd Gaming and Circa Resorts CEO Derek Stevens, and $2,500 from Station Casinos.

Minddie Lloyd (D), a former Republican, raised $117,000 in her bid for the seat against six Democratic primary opponents, while the nonpartisan former Sen. Becky Harris raised $110,000. 

Incumbent Commissioners Tick Segerblom and Jim Gibson, both Democrats, outraised their likely general election opponents.

The open race for North Las Vegas mayor is getting expensive. 

Two of the five candidates for the nonpartisan position — Assm. Daniele Monroe-Moreno and Councilman Scott Black — raised more than six figures in the quarter ($202,000 for Monroe-Moreno, $307,000 for Black). Both reported spending around $106,000 in the first quarter, but Black has substantially more in the bank ($800,000) compared to Monroe-Moreno ($288,000).

Black also set up a legal defense fund earlier this month — he is facing a lawsuit that argues he is ineligible to run for mayor based on a term limit law. None of the other candidates in the race have raised more than $20,000. 

Incumbent Henderson City Councilwoman Carrie Cox, facing two challengers, raised just $1,600 this round, most of which came via a loan she made to her campaign. She reported more $200,000 in the bank. 

Annette Dawson Owens, endorsed by every other member of the Henderson City Council, has around $97,000 in the bank and raised roughly $59,000. Jennifer Atlas, the only Democrat running in the nonpartisan race, has raised a little more than $25,000 and has more than $20,000 to spend. 

Another expensive Southern Nevada local government race is the City of Las Vegas Ward 6 seat. 

Incumbent Nancy Brune, who raised $110,000 in the quarter and has more than half a million dollars on hand, is facing well-funded challenges from Las Vegas Police Protection Association President Steve Grammas and addiction recovery activist David Marlon. Grammas reported raising around $123,000 this cycle and has almost $200,000 to spend. Marlon has around $115,000 in the bank and raised around $68,000 this cycle. 

Close numbers in Reno mayor race; Washoe County DA contest sees fundraising gap

The fundraising battle for Reno's first open mayoral election in a dozen years appears to be a three-candidate race.

City Council Members Kathleen Taylor and Devon Reese raised the most money from January through March, notching about $81,000 and $74,000 in direct donations, respectively. Taylor received a significant amount of money from various development companies.

However, both candidates have significant cash on hand deficits relative to Kate Marshall, the state's former treasurer and lieutenant governor. The Democrat raised $66,000 in the first three months of 2026 but has more than $220,000 in cash on hand.

Second in cash on hand is Eddie Lorton, a frequent mayoral candidate and owner of a carpet cleaning company, who has about $167,000 in the bank. But Lorton was fourth in fundraising, trailing the three leaders and Timothy Ross, a former Washoe County police sergeant.

Incumbent Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks (R) is facing a challenger for the first time since taking office a dozen years ago. He raised about $127,000 in the quarter, which was much more than Sparks City Attorney Wes Duncan (R), who posted about $47,000 in donations.

Duncan's initial campaign finance report listed no donations — instead noting $47,000 in written commitments of donations — but that was later changed. Despite the large fundraising gap so far this year, Duncan has a cash on hand advantage of more than $70,000.

Some donors to Duncan's campaign for Sparks city attorney asked for their money to be returned (and not used on his DA bid), but Duncan called it a "cheap political stunt" orchestrated by Hicks.

Because the only candidates in the race are Republicans, the winner of the June primary will automatically win the general election.