Upsets, surprises abound in Clark County 2026 primary elections

There are more than 1.5 million registered voters in Clark County.

Yet many important municipal and local government races throughout the county were decided in Tuesday's low-turnout primary, which saw only about 250,600 people vote either by mail, early vote or in-person on Election Day.

Several races — such as a Las Vegas City Council seat, a North Las Vegas council seat, and the Henderson mayor's race — were decided in the primary, under laws that allow certain contests to be decided in the primary if a candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote. 

Yet the primary shone more light on who will run in other high-profile Southern Nevada general election races, including three seats on the Clark County Commission, several county offices such as county assessor and recorder, and several city council seats in Henderson, Las Vegas and North Las Vegas.

Here are the results, and the people who will likely go on to the November general election. 

Clark County 

There will be at least one new face next year on the Clark County Commission, the most powerful governing body in Southern Nevada that has three seats open this election cycle.

In the contentious open race for the District F seat, Assm. Heidi Kasama (R-Las Vegas) defeated Republican primary opponent Albert Mack in what had become one of the ugliest races in the state. 

Democrat Minja Yan, a progressive and commercial real estate professional, won the seven-candidate Democratic District F primary in an upset over favorite Minddie Lloyd, who was backed by two sitting county commissioners and the current holder of the office, Commissioner Justin Jones (D). 

Kasama told The Indy that she was happy that voters had recognized her years of representing the community despite Mack outspending her. 

As for her November match-up against Yan, she said, "I'm going to win." She said having another Republican commissioner would "bring some balance" to the commission and disrupt a sense of "complacency." 

Mack declined to speak with The Indy before publication but posted a statement online congratulating Kasama, thanked voters for their support and said he wasn't "going anywhere." 

Yan, in a Wednesday phone interview, said she was focused on the issues facing Clark County voters, such as a lack of public transit and affordable housing. When asked about her stature as a progressive nominee facing a Republican challenger, Yan said issues facing the county are nonpartisan. 

"It's focusing on nonpartisan or bipartisan policies on housing, water, infrastructure, fixing potholes, creating more parks and community spaces for local residents," Yan said. 

On her newcomer status to politics, she said voters are looking for change. 

"They're excited to see fresh energy," Yan said. 

Republicans are eagerly eyeing the purple district after Jones narrowly won in 2022. If Kasama wins, she would join Commissioner April Becker as the second Republican on the commission.

One potential wild card is nonpartisan candidate Becky Harris, a former state senator and gaming regulator who will be on the general election ballot this November. 

Commissioner Tick Segerblom (D) won his primary against Marco Hernandez, a union organizer who lost his third race against Segerblom since 2018. He'll face Republican Manny Kess, who won the seat's GOP primary. 

Commissioner Jim Gibson also won his Democratic primary against a progressive challenger, Christian Solomon, and will face Republican Jonathan Maxham in November. 

Henderson

In an upset, Jennifer Atlas, a newcomer to the municipal political scene, got the most votes in the Ward 3 council race against controversial incumbent Carrie Cox and Annette Dawson, who was endorsed by the rest of the city council.

In a call with The Indy, Atlas said even though she was "outspent" by her opponents, she was glad Henderson voters heard her message. Atlas — who now works for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and ran for a state Senate seat in 2024 as a Democrat — said she knocked on more than 3,500 doors and walked more than 100 miles during her campaign. 

Atlas and Cox, the two candidates with the most votes in the primary, will advance to the November general election since neither won more than 50 percent of the vote. 

Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero easily dispatched primary challenges from Hollie Chadwick, a former Henderson police chief who was ousted during Romero's previous term, and Adam Price, a challenger with connections to the Henderson Democratic party.

As of Wednesday, Romero had slightly more than 50 percent of the vote. If that percentage holds, she will win the race for mayor outright. 

North Las Vegas

The open race for mayor of North Las Vegas will continue on to the general election as neither Assm. Daniele Monroe-Moreno (D-North Las Vegas) nor City Councilmember Scott Black broke the 50 percent needed to win the race outright. 

Monroe-Moreno, a long-time assemblymember and head of the Nevada State Democratic Party, was recently endorsed by former Vice President Kamala Harris. Results as of Wednesday showed her leading Black by just under 1,000 votes. 

In a press statement, Monroe-Moreno said she was grateful to have the support of the city to advance to the general election, and that her vision for the city was "bold." 

Black's connections are more local and many of his endorsements are from a variety of local unions, including the police union and Laborers International Local 872. He was also endorsed by current Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown. 

In a statement to The Indy, Black said he was grateful to voters for sending him to the general, and will be working hard in the coming months to win the mayoral seat. 

In the city's open Ward 3 seat, real estate agent Esmerelda Villeda and Sherry Strothers will advance to the general election. 

In Ward 1, planning commissioner Ida Zeiler took more than 60 percent of the vote against her opponent, William E. Robinson, winning the election outright. 

Las Vegas 

Winning more than 50 percent of the vote means Ward 6 Las Vegas City Councilmember Nancy Brune will skip the general election and automatically win another four-year term. She was challenged by Las Vegas Police Protective Association head Steve Grammas and addiction advocate Dave Marlon. In a text message to The Indy, Brune said she was feeling "great" about the results. 

In Ward 2, veteran firefighter Luke McCarthy and attorney Shannon Nordstrom will advance to the general election. 

Clark County public administrator

Stephanie Itkin-Goodman, an attorney and a Nevada deputy attorney general, took home more than 60 percent of the vote against her challengers in the Democratic primary race for Clark County public administrator.

Michael Murphy, the former Clark County coroner and a former police officer, won more than 60 percent of the vote in the Republican primary. Itkin-Goodman and Murphy will face off in the general election this November. 

The position of public administrator, which is responsible for managing the estates of residents who have died without a will, has a recent dark history. Robert Telles, the former public administrator, murdered journalist Jeff German in 2022 after German exposed Telles' inappropriate behavior in office. 

Murphy had served as the interim public administrator for more than a year after Telles was removed from office. 

Clark County recorder 

Assm. Tanya Flanagan (D-Las Vegas) defeated Skye Berry Burress and Anna Perez with more than 50 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary for Clark County recorder. 

Flanagan, who has extensive experience in the recorder's office, was endorsed by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1107, and the Culinary Workers Union Local 226. She was also endorsed by the previous recorder, Debbie Conway. 

A county recorder's office maintains and records public documents, including deeds, mortgages, liens and military discharge records.

She will go on to face the Republican primary winner, Bill Young, who has the same name as a former Clark County sheriff but is not the same person. They do not appear to be related. 

Clark County assessor

Melissa Martinet and Tamicka Washington were locked in a tight race for the Democratic primary nomination, with Martinet leading by just under 500 votes out of more than 111,000 cast.

Martinet was endorsed by the current assessor, Democrat Briana Johnson, as well as the assessor before her. She has worked in the assessor's office since 2003. 

Washington also has more than two decades of experience in the assessor's office. She was endorsed by the SEIU Local 1107, as well as the Culinary Union. 

Whoever wins the primary will go on to face the tentative Republican primary winner, Judy Joe, an activist with experience in finance.