Five Assembly Democrats Won’t Seek Reelection, Two Vie For State Senate

Democratic Assembly members Michelle Gorelow, Lesley Cohen, Sabra Newby, Clara “Claire” Thomas, and Angie Taylor have each announced that they will not be seeking reelection in 2024 for their respective Assembly seats.

Clara Thomas (AD-1) and Angie Taylor (AD-27) recently announced that they will be running for state Senate.

Assemblywoman Thomas announced her bid for Senate District 1 at the 67th Constitutional Convention of the AFL-CIO. The seat is open due to Senator Pat Spearman terming out.

Further proof that @clairethom11 believes in the strength of Nevada’s workers? She just announced her candidacy for Senate District 1 right here in the House of Labor! ✊ https://t.co/E7smrOMOFW

— Nevada State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct (@NVAFLCIO) August 14, 2023

Thomas told The Globe:

“I am looking forward to winning the seat because I would be the most qualified for the seat that is running–that I know of.

My priority will always be education. I opposed certain bills that came about–one in particular permanently expelled children at eight years old.

Veterans and our seniors are also my priority and are my primary constituents.I am on several committees that look at veterans and seniors in our valley. New families are moving into the valley and Las Vegas. My concern will always be about families, children, veterans and seniors.”

Today, the Nevada Assembly Democratic Caucus announced that Assemblywoman Cohen (AD-29) will not be running for re-election in 2024, citing her desire to “take a step back from politics and focus on my private life moving forward…It was truly an honor and a privilege to represent my district,” she said.

Assemblywoman Newby was appointed to District 10 succeeding Democratic Assemblywoman Rochelle Nguyen, who was appointed to the state Senate representing District 3. Newby is resigning her position to be the Deputy City Manager for the City of Las Vegas.

Embattled Assemblywoman Gorelow announced that she will not be seeking re-election in Assembly District 35, a swing district that she narrowly won by 400 votes out of more than 25,000 votes cast.

Her withdrawal from the race comes after the Las Vegas Review-Journal (RJ) reported that Gorelow accepted a job as a director of a nonprofit, Arc of Nevada, about a month after she voted for a “Christmas tree bill” (AB525) that directed $100 million to various Democrat-aligned nonprofits. Arc’s take from the slush fund was $250,000. As reported by the RJ, Gorelow is only one of two employees for the organization.

In light of these announcements and numerous ethics scandals plaguing the state Assembly, Governor Lombardo’s Better Nevada PAC continues to apply pressure on Assembly leader Steve Yeager for fostering a “culture of corruption” in Carson City.

Governor Lombardo has vowed to actively campaign against any Democrat who blocked his legislative priorities and signaled that school choice will be a 2024 campaign centerpiece for GOP candidates as statewide Republicans aim to thwart a Democratic supermajority in the Senate and end the Democratic supermajority in the Assembly.