Two Democrats with distinct backgrounds are competing in Nevada’s Assembly District 9 primary following the announcement that Democratic Speaker Steve Yeager will not seek re-election. Ryan Hampton, an author and co-founder of the nonprofit Mobilize Recovery, is running against Maria Teresa Hank, a shop steward with Transport Workers Union Local 556 and a flight attendant.
Hampton previously ran in Assembly District 4 in 2024 but lost the general election. After the loss, his family relocated to AD 9 following a rent increase. Following President Trump’s inauguration and resulting healthcare funding cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency, Hampton reconsidered running for state office. His nonprofit faced a half-million-dollar funding cancellation, prompting him to focus on protecting Medicaid, which he credits with supporting his recovery from homelessness and substance use disorder.
Hampton emphasizes Nevada’s revenue structure as crucial to addressing healthcare and housing crises. He has raised $83,000 through March 31 and is leading in fundraising compared to Hank, who raised $30,000. Both candidates received endorsements from the Culinary Union and AFL-CIO, though other groups split their support.
Hank cites her union experience and legislative work as inspiration for her candidacy. She presented Assembly Bill 112 alongside Assemblymember Duy Nguyen in the 2025 legislative session; the bill would have allowed workers covered by collective bargaining agreements to use accrued leave for sick children or elderly parent care, but was vetoed by Governor Joe Lombardo. Hank hopes to reintroduce it if elected.
Both candidates address rising healthcare costs. Hank noted paying $50 monthly for an inhaler with good union insurance while a constituent pays nearly $400 for the same medication. Democrats comprise 30% of the district’s 16,000 registered voters, with Republicans at 26% of 14,000, and nonpartisans representing 37% of over 20,000 voters.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://elkodaily.com/news/state-regional/nevada/article_d21be4c4-7a0a-5947-8aba-1c09a6252c6b.html