Ocasio-Cortez rallies Las Vegas voters for Rep. Steven Horsford as early ballots near 400,000 statewide

What happened at the Culinary Academy rally

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., spoke to hundreds of Nevadans on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Sun reported. The event was billed as an “All In 4 NV” early vote rally. It closed out a week in which nine Democratic campaign surrogates came to Nevada ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3.

Most of those visitors focused on the governor's race between Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford and Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo, which the Sun described as tight. Ocasio-Cortez took a different approach and built her remarks around U.S. Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev. The Sun reported that Horsford is favored in his race against Republican challenger Cody Whipple.

Where early voting stands

Nearly 400,000 ballots had been submitted by mail or during early voting, according to Secretary of State data cited by the Sun. Democrats cast 40% of those ballots and Republicans 35%. Independents and other voters made up the remaining 25%.

For background on how ballots that arrive after Election Day are handled, see our explainer on Nevada mail ballot rules. More race coverage is collected on our elections page.

The case for Horsford

A working-class pitch

Ocasio-Cortez urged the crowd to send working-class politicians to office and counted Horsford among them. “How we win matters,” she said, according to the Sun. She added, “When we elect working-class people like Steven Horsford to Congress, then how we legislate changes too.”

The housing law she highlighted

She pointed to several of Horsford's accomplishments, including his help passing the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. According to the Sun, the law targets the housing shortage by speeding up federal environmental reviews and permitting requirements that can delay projects. It also expands and updates several HUD and FHA programs that help communities finance affordable housing.

Horsford's message to voters

Horsford told the crowd not to assume anything about the outcome. “Never take anyone or anything for granted,” he said. “I don’t take your support for granted.”

He also spoke about the struggle to win voting rights and about residents who cannot cast ballots. Horsford said that “here in our community we have people who, because of their status, can’t vote and want to vote,” and asked those who can to “vote on their behalf.”

Ocasio-Cortez and a possible 2028 run

The Sun reported that Ocasio-Cortez is well-liked among Democrats, especially progressives, which the paper said made her a good fit to campaign in Horsford's district. She has also campaigned for progressive candidates in Michigan, Ohio, Maine and California as she tests the waters for a potential presidential run, according to the Sun.

Several people at the rally told the Sun they would back her if she runs. “I will be supporting her in 2028,” said Las Vegas resident Kobe Hopkins.

What to watch next

• Election Day is Nov. 3, following early voting and mail balloting that had drawn nearly 400,000 ballots, according to Secretary of State data cited by the Sun.
• The outcome of the governor's race between Aaron Ford and Gov. Joe Lombardo, which the Sun described as tight.
• Horsford's race against Republican challenger Cody Whipple.
• Whether Ocasio-Cortez moves forward with a potential presidential run.