Ted Pappageorge, Culinary’s secretary-treasurer, said in an interview that “we don’t worry about” outside perception of political influence and that their support for Hughes is based on not wanting more “attorneys and developers” in the Legislature.
“Somebody [who] has to punch a time clock is going to do a much better job for Nevadans,” Pappageorge said.
So far, both campaigns are focused on Culinary.
Hughes’ challenge to Nguyen centers around her support of SB441, a bill that received bipartisan support (and Culinary’s opposition) to remove the pandemic-imposed requirement to clean all hotel rooms daily.
In an interview, Hughes said the legislation (which was eventually rendered moot in Las Vegas hotels with union contracts because new contracts reinstated the requirement) hurt “some of the hardest working people of our state.”
“She showed very clearly who she sided with — that was big industry,” Hughes said.
The gaming industry is expected to contribute heavily to Nguyen. Her supporters also comprise of an alliance of groups that often don’t agree, including the gaming industry and the trial lawyers, both of which contributed to Nguyen during the first quarter.