Where do Nevada lieutenant governor candidates stand on the issues?

High-ranking Assm. Sandra Jauregui (D-Las Vegas) is facing off with Republican incumbent Stavros Anthony for the lieutenant governor seat in a race that includes promises to increase rural tourism but also some more polarizing plans.

The lieutenant governor is first in line to lead the state if a sitting governor can't fulfill their duties. They also preside over the state Senate, where they perform largely ceremonial duties but can cast tie-breaking votes, and sit on the board of several state commissions, including serving as the chair of the Nevada Commission on Tourism and vice chair of the Board of Transportation.

The office is paid as a part-time role, but Jauregui and Anthony say they will treat it more as a "full-time" position. Stavros said in a 2024 interview  he was "turning it into a full-time job," and Jauregui recently told The Indy she would "100 percent" take it on in a full-time capacity. 

Anthony did not respond to multiple requests for an interview. His policy positions were taken from public statements and media appearances.

Read more below about the candidate's policy stances.

Bipartisanship

Tourism

Data Centers

Transportation

Policy priorities

If the elected governor is of a different party, how will you collaborate with his office?

Jauregui: Jauregui said she had a good working relationship with Gov. Joe Lombardo — who has vetoed several of her bills. She pointed to several bipartisan bills she worked on with the governor, such as her film tax credit proposal. But part of the reason she wanted to run for lieutenant governor, she said, is that after seeing her bills be repeatedly vetoed, she wanted to "see a change in the executive branch."

Anthony: Anthony did not answer an interview request and has not publicly expressed any views on how he would collaborate with Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford if he is elected. He endorsed Lombardo this cycle and has a track record of working with the Republican governor in his previous role as Las Vegas city councilman and a veteran of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, which Lombardo led as sheriff. 

The lieutenant governor serves as the chair of the Nevada Commission on Tourism. Any strategies to increase tourism numbers in the state?

Jauregui: Jauregui wants to work on private-public partnerships with resorts to get people out to "other parts of Nevada," such as Great Basin National Park or the Cowboy Poetry gathering in Elko. Jauregui said she met with the Outdoor Business Coalition and discussed various ideas on how to encourage people to extend their stays in areas such as Reno by exploring nearby lakes. 

Anthony: Anthony's website touts that he "helped lead a remarkable, post-pandemic rebound in our state's leading economic industry." He has said that he has worked on increasing rural Nevada tourism. A Nevada Independent analysis from 2024 found that the lieutenant governor's travel budget was significantly higher in Anthony's first year as lieutenant governor than in any previous years, which he attributed in part to his heightened efforts to promote tourism to Nevada. 

The lieutenant governor is one of 11 voting members on the Governor's Office of Economic Development.  Would you support tax abatements for data centers?

Jauregui: No. Jauregui said that she "firmly believe[s] that no public dollars should be spent on data centers" and they have the responsibility to pay for infrastructure needs, including roads and transmission lines. 

Anthony: Anthony has not specified a viewpoint on abatements specifically but has lauded data centers. At a gathering in Lovelock in April, he said he wanted to collaborate so for "data centers that want to come here, we're providing them with what they need, and that mining is supported all over the state of Nevada." On his Linkedin last year, he also lauded Apple's continued commitment to building data center capacity in Nevada.

The lieutenant governor serves as the vice chair of the Board of Transportation. Any projects you would like to prioritize under that role?

Jauregui: Jauregui said she would focus on funding projects that create jobs. "When I think of infrastructure investments, I think of jobs," she said. "I think that's one of the things we have to look at heavily when we look at projects."

Stavros: Anthony has worked toward eliminating high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes as LG. Last year, he helped launch a two-year study with the federal government to see if it would be possible to eliminate HOV lanes in certain parts of Las Vegas, and in 2023, he also helped implement shorter carpool lane hours. 

The lieutenant governor has the power to introduce legislation and can cast tie-breaking votes. Are there any other projects or initiatives that you would like to prioritize under this role?

Jauregui: Jauregui wants to stop criminals from purchasing firearms. As a survivor of the October 1 mass shooting, she announced last month that if elected, she would create a new office, dubbed the "PACT Office," dedicated to the cause. She also said she would work on reforming firearm dealer licensing and hopes to implement background checks and age requirements before someone is hired as a dealer. Nevada does not license firearm dealers, although the federal government does. 

Anthony: Anthony has made a Task Force to Protect Women's Sports a centerpiece of his office. Established in 2025, he said the group is aimed at preventing "awards and titles taken away" by transgender female athletes and blocking their participation in women's sports. Earlier this month, he sued the Nevada Commission on Ethics over their ruling that he inappropriately used state resources for the task force.