Assm. Sandra Jauregui (D-Las Vegas) launched her formal campaign for lieutenant governor on Monday, months after she announced she will not seek re-election in the Legislature. 

Jauregui, who has served in Assembly since 2016 and ends her tenure in the third highest-ranking leadership position as majority floor leader, told The Nevada Independent in an interview that if elected, she would prioritize increasing tourism throughout the state, particularly outside of Las Vegas and Reno, as well as bolstering workforce development. The lieutenant governor is responsible for heading Nevada’s Commission on Tourism and also serves on the State Board of Transportation as well as on the board of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. 

No other high-profile Democrats have announced a bid for the seat. If she clears the primary, she is set to face incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony in the 2026 general election. 

Jauregui — a survivor of the Oct. 1 Las Vegas shooting — said she also plans on establishing an office of community safety to “work hand in hand with law enforcement” if elected. Throughout her tenure in the Assembly, Jauregui has shepherded several gun control bills, such as an effort to ban firearms near election sites, but many have been vetoed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. 

“I'm going to fight like hell to create good paying jobs in Nevada, and I'm going to continue to fight for safer communities,” Jauregui said. 

Jauregui, a 41-year old California native, got her start in politics working for former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), focusing on housing and mortgage issues. Later on, Jauregui took jobs in the nonprofit sector, working with the Financial Guidance Center and as a program director for a housing relief program.

During her tenure, she has championed several high-profile bills, such as efforts to expand Nevada’s film tax credit program and a measure to ban bump stocks, signed into law by former Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak in 2019.  Jauregui said that she believes the anticipated special session of the Legislature “is our only shot” to get film tax measures approved. 

“I do not think the studios and Howard Hughes will continue to wait for the state to approve,” Jauregui told The Indy over text. 

Although she has formally endorsed Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford in the 2026 gubernatorial race, Jauregui contended she would be ready to work with a Republican governor if she was elected alongside someone of the other party. This past session, she championed Lombardo’s attainable housing bill (AB540) and co-sponsored a bill with Assembly Minority Leader P.K O'Neill (R-Carson City) that extends immunity in certain firearm hold agreements.

So far, Jauregui has secured the endorsements of Ford and Nevada Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen. 

“Sandra Jauregui has spent her career fighting for Nevadans, from working to lower prescription drug costs and helping Nevadans afford their homes to supporting law enforcement that keeps our communities safe,” Cortez Masto said in a statement. 

Jauregui also pointed out that she was the sole legislative Democrat to have won a district that President Donald Trump won in the 2024 presidential election — something Jauregui credits her strong legislative track record for. 

Jauregui criticized Anthony’s recently established “Task Force to Protect Women's Sports,” an effort to keep transgender athletes out of women's sports. The state’s ethics commission in August concluded there was enough credible evidence to bring a case to the commission to determine if Anthony violated ethics laws. Anthony’s staff helped with work related to the task force — a potential violation of a law that prohibits public officials from using their positions or government time to advance their personal interests.

“The reality is, what the lieutenant governor did was illegal,” Jauregui said. 

Although Jauregui this summer expressed hesitancy about running for office again, she told The Indy this month that she can’t “sit on the sideline.” 

“There is too much on the lines for Nevada families right now. They are struggling,” she said.