Legislative Democrats only need to gain one more seat in the Nevada Legislature to secure a veto-proof supermajority, significantly reducing Governor Joe Lombardo's legislative influence.
So, we are highlighting the first Northern Nevada candidate Lombardo puts his weight behind, Diana Sande.
Sande is the Health Communications and Programs Manager for the Black Youth Mental Health Program at the University of Nevada School of Public Health.
"My desire to make a change but also my experience in communications, especially during Covid. I did a lot of the communication for the Latino population for Northern Nevada and the University students, and I got really comfortable and got at being able to have difficult conversations," said Republican candidate for Assembly District 25 Diana Sande.
During the pandemic, Sande was put in a leadership position where she had to find compromise in a highly political and polarizing environment. Her focus is on unifying Nevadans.
"I feel like, for the longest time, I have not been represented, and there are people like me who are also feeling the same way. But, there is this divide that continues to grow within our parties and between our parties as well, and it's dangerous. We need more people willing to have these tough conversations, and my husband said perfectly, you know you're going to bring civility back to politics," said Sande.
Sande is challenging incumbent Democrat Assemblywoman Selena La Rue Hatch, who brings much experience in Nevada politics.
'The biggest challenges are the things that I ran on in the first place, which are education. I'm a public school teacher, and so that's one of my passions to work on. Environment, climate change, wildfires, drought, and housing, of course, because we're having inflation and a record housing crisis. People are struggling to make ends meet. And, I think the last one is abortion care and making sure that we're protecting that right," said (D-Reno) Assemblywoman Selena La Rue Hatch.
While we need to be farther into the campaign cycle for Assemblywoman La Rue Hatch to fully understand her likely challenger's platform, the assemblywoman is concerned by Sande's endorsement by Governor Lombardo.
"I was concerned that she is so closely tied to Governor Lombardo because he had so many extreme vetos last session. He vetoed public safety bills, he vetoed climate bills, he vetoed literally school lunches for children," said Assemblywoman La Rue Hatch.
We spent more time talking with each candidate, and we will be sure to bring you more of the race for Assembly District 25 as we continue covering Campaign 2024.
