The Nevada Democratic Party can’t jeopardize this race with an unqualified establishment candidate.

Richard McArthur is the most extreme Republican member of the Nevada Assembly. McArthur has served three terms in the Assembly without accomplishing a single thing for the people of Assembly District 4. It is clear he has to go. Yet establishment forces in the Nevada Democratic Party are pushing a candidate that has barely lived in Nevada to oppose McArthur, jeopardizing a chance to pick up a seat in the Assembly.

I was born and raised in Las Vegas. I attended our public schools, colleges, and universities. I have worked retail on Fremont Street, living paycheck-to-paycheck, as well as for the Nevada DMV as a technician. I have been involved in progressive politics in Nevada since my college years when I helped register voters with the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada leading up to the 2006 election. I have volunteered with local nonprofits to help plant community gardens and have provided pro bono legal services to the community as an attorney.

However, establishment forces in the Nevada Democratic Party have placed their support behind our opponent, Connie Munk, in the Democratic primary. Our opponent has only resided in Las Vegas for 3 years, moving here for her retirement. While I have taken firm stands on the issues, including calling for a living wage and debt-free higher education, my opponent has refused to say where she stands and speaks only in broad generalities. Further, our campaign is voluntarily capping contributions to remain independent of wealthy donors while my opponent has no such qualms about large donations.

It is crucial to remember that Nevada’s Assembly District 4 is nearly evenly split between registered Democrats and registered Republicans, with 20% registered nonpartisans. The key to unseating McArthur is to increase enthusiasm and turnout among registered nonpartisans. Nonpartisans have been responding very positively to our campaign’s bold stand on the issues and clear steps to remain independent of wealthy donors. Further, as there is no place on earth like Las Vegas, my deep ties to our one-of-a-kind community have allowed me to connect with voters. The Democratic Party is jeopardizing the ability to win this seat if they continue to back a newcomer to our community that refuses to take firm stands on the issues.

Our opponent in the Democratic Primary claims to be a “New Voice for Change.” Check out our video and you decide who the real voice for change is in the race for Nevada’s Assembly District 4.