The Culinary Workers Union 226 has un-endorsed every sitting legislator who voted in favor of a 2023 resort-backed bill removing pandemic-imposed requirements placed on the casino industry, including the daily cleaning of hotel rooms.
The Tuesday announcement means the union has decided to not endorse 18 Democratic lawmakers who are running in 2024 that the union previously endorsed in 2022, including Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas) and Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager (D-Las Vegas).
Aside from backing challengers against a few incumbents so far, it marks the most public split yet between legislative Democrats and the union widely considered to be one of the most politically powerful in Nevada, which has been credited for helping national and state Democrats win contentious races in past election cycles through its widespread canvassing efforts and political operation.
“During the 2023 Nevada Legislature, a number of state legislative Democrats joined all Republicans and voted to repeal daily room cleaning,” the press release stated. “SB441 was signed into law by Governor Lombardo and hurt guest room attendants and our jobs.”
The press release added that the union will “re-evaluate all endorsements ahead of the November general election.”