LAS VEGAS – Nevada Assembly Majority Whip Sandra Jauregui announced her candidacy for lieutenant governor, entering the Democratic primary race alongside current Lieutenant governor Stavros Anthony. Jauregui, the No. 3 Democrat in the Assembly, frames her decision as a necessary step too advocate for Nevada families facing economic hardship.
Jauregui emphasized the urgency of passing key legislation, specifically citing the need for an expansion of Nevada’s film tax credit programme and measures to ban bump stocks – a law signed by former Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak in 2019. She believes an anticipated special session of the Legislature represents “our only shot” to secure approval for film tax measures, warning that studios and Howard Hughes may not wait indefinitely for state action.
Despite formally endorsing Democratic Attorney General aaron Ford in the 2026 gubernatorial race, Jauregui stated her willingness to collaborate with a Republican governor if elected. She demonstrated bipartisan cooperation during the recent legislative session by championing Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo’s attainable housing bill (AB540) and co-sponsoring a firearm hold agreement immunity bill with Assembly Minority Leader P.K. O’Neill (R-Carson City).
Jauregui has secured endorsements from Ford,and U.S. Senators Catherine cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen. Cortez Masto lauded Jauregui’s career dedicated to Nevadans, highlighting her work on lowering prescription drug costs, affordable housing, and support for law enforcement.
Jauregui noted she was the only legislative Democrat to win a district carried by President donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, attributing her success to a strong legislative record.
She sharply criticized Anthony’s “Task Force to Protect Women’s Sports,” aimed at restricting transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports. The state’s ethics commission found sufficient evidence in August to investigate potential ethics violations related to Anthony’s use of staff for task force work, which could violate laws prohibiting the use of public resources for personal interests. “The reality is, what the lieutenant governor did was illegal,” Jauregui stated.
jauregui, who previously expressed reservations about seeking further office this summer, explained her change of heart, stating she could not “sit on the sideline” given the challenges facing Nevada families. “There is too much on the lines for Nevada families right now. They are struggling,” she said.
