Dan Shaw Loses Henderson City Council Seat Despite Significant Fundraising Advantage

In a stunning upset, Henderson City Council member Dan Shaw was voted out of office in the Nov. 5 election, despite raising nearly ten times more money than his opponent, Dr. Monica Larson. Larson won by a decisive margin of over 5,400 votes, marking the first time in nearly three decades that an incumbent council member in Henderson lost re-election, according to former Henderson mayor Andy Hafen.

“Money isn’t always important during local races,” said Hafen, now president of the Henderson Historical Society.

Shaw, who had served on the council since 2017 and secured re-election in 2019 with 83% of the vote, faced mounting challenges during his 2024 campaign, including lawsuits related to his loans company, Green Arrow. Allegations of predatory practices, including charging interest rates of over 700%, drew criticism, despite claims from Shaw’s team that he wasn’t directly involved in setting loan terms. One lawsuit, filed in Illinois earlier this year, was settled out of court.

Hafen suggested the controversies likely hurt Shaw’s chances. “Voters have a pulse on what’s going on with their council,” he said.

A Campaign Defined by Contrasts

Shaw’s campaign raised an impressive $506,100 compared to Larson’s $55,859. Yet Larson’s grassroots approach, focusing on face-to-face engagement with voters, proved effective. “Money doesn’t always win,” Larson remarked after the victory.

Shaw received endorsements from prominent groups, including the Local 1883 Henderson Professional Fire Fighters union and several chambers of commerce. Larson, on the other hand, garnered support from the Henderson Police Officer’s Association, the Henderson Police Supervisors Association, and City Councilwoman Carrie Cox.

Larson attributed her win not to Shaw’s controversies but to what she described as his lack of accessibility to constituents. “It’s the people that matter,” Larson said. “They’re looking for change, for somebody in the community that’s engaged.”

A Historic Outcome

Larson’s victory, with 56.5% of the vote, was a landmark moment in Henderson’s political history. The Ward 2 district, which includes Anthem, Inspirada, and parts of west Henderson, now has a representative who promises to focus on community engagement and accessibility.

Efforts to reach Shaw for comment were unsuccessful. His campaign communications director, Elizabeth Trosper, indicated that post-election analyses remain confidential.

Source: Review Journal