Democrats Minja Yan and Daniele Monroe-Moreno win local races as Henderson reelects Romero and Ward 2 stays close

What happened

Democratic gains in Nevada carried into Clark County's local races, according to The Nevada Independent. Several Democrats beat Republican or former Republican opponents, even in contests that are officially nonpartisan. The first batch of results was released around midnight after Election Day.

Clark County Registrar of Voters Lorena Portilla told reporters that turnout in 2026 was higher than in 2022, a comparable midterm with a governor's race. Roughly 677,000 voters had cast ballots in the county so far, the outlet reported.

Long lines and a long ballot

Some voters waited in line for four and a half hours after polls closed, The Nevada Independent reported. Portilla said many residents chose to vote in person and that several large polling sites had no lines. She pointed to an unusually long ballot, with 142 contests and 254 candidates on two cards, as a reason for the wait at Clark County polling sites.

"We strongly encourage the public to take advantage of early voting and mail ballots as alternatives to in-person Election Day wait times," Portilla said in a statement.

Clark County Commission District F

Yan wins while being outspent

Progressive Democrat Minja Yan defeated Assemblywoman Heidi Kasama, a Las Vegas Republican, and nonpartisan candidate Becky Harris, a former state senator. By Wednesday afternoon Yan led Kasama by at least 14 points, and Harris had roughly 7 percent of the vote, according to The Nevada Independent.

Yan, who did not take corporate donations, raised around $133,500, spent roughly $110,200 and ended with $5,399 in the bank. Harris raised more than $410,000 and spent over $450,000, while Kasama raised around $330,500 and spent around $557,000. Yan's platform focused on light rail in Southern Nevada, affordable housing and growth that protects land and water in the valley.

Harris told the outlet that national politics shaped her loss. "This is an example of larger federal politics and policies impacting local races," she said. Kasama did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

North Las Vegas and Henderson results

Monroe-Moreno elected North Las Vegas mayor

Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno, a North Las Vegas Democrat and chair of the Nevada Democratic Party, defeated Councilmember Scott Black, The Nevada Independent reported. Black, a former registered Republican, was endorsed by outgoing Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown, the Vegas Chamber and several law enforcement groups. Black spent $1 million, while Monroe-Moreno spent around $500,000. In the Ward 1 council race, planning commissioner Esmeralda Villeda defeated Sherry Strothers.

Romero reelected, Atlas unseats Cox in Henderson

Henderson Mayor Michelle Romero led former police chief Hollie Chadwick by more than 20 percentage points as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the outlet. Chadwick was fired in early 2025 under Romero's leadership, a dispute that surfaced in attack ads during the Henderson mayor race. Both are registered Republicans.

In Ward 3, newcomer Jennifer Atlas beat Councilmember Carrie Cox. Atlas, a registered Democrat, will be the only Democrat on the council. Romero, who has had a contentious relationship with Cox, said Atlas "will bring a new energy and I'm excited to work with her."

Las Vegas Ward 2 remains close

Attorney Shannon Nordstrom held a 144-vote lead over firefighter Luke McCarthy in the Ward 2 council race as of Wednesday afternoon, The Nevada Independent reported. Tens of thousands of mail ballots still had to be counted, so the result could change.

Nevada does not have an automatic recount threshold, the outlet noted, but candidates may demand a recount within three days of an election. Neither candidate responded to a request for comment in time for publication.

What to watch next

• Counting of the remaining tens of thousands of mail ballots, which could change the Las Vegas Ward 2 result.
• Whether either Ward 2 candidate demands a recount within the three-day window Nevada allows.
• Yan's meetings with fellow commissioners and her work building a District F team.
• Monroe-Moreno's term as state Democratic Party chair ends in March 2027, and she said she will not seek reelection to that post.