(Chuck Muth) – Don’t look now, but the 2024 campaign cycle is in full swing.
For the last few months, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo has been endorsing solid GOP legislative candidates who hopefully will protect his veto power next November. And over the past couple of weeks, the Dems have been trotting out their own endorsed candidates.
One of them this week was Ryan Hampton for Assembly District 4 (Clark), currently represented by term-limited conservative Republican Richard McArthur. So this will be an “open” seat that Republicans desperately need to hold to have any chance of getting out of its super-minority in the lower house.
Gov. Lombardo has endorsed Republican candidate Lisa Cole for the seat. But to start, let’s focus on Mr. Hampton.
As noted in Muth’s Truths PLUS+ on Monday, Mr. Hampton is already talking out of both sides of his mouth – telling people he’s a recovering addict from prescribed painkillers without mentioning that he was also a heroin junkie for more than 10 years.
The mark of a true politician.
Hampton also describes himself as a “fierce bipartisan advocate.” But according to a detailed exposé by the Nevada Globe this week…
“Hampton’s public record indicates a strong, partisan alignment with Democratic politicians, controversial public statements, and outward support of left-of-center policies that do not align with his campaign’s claims.”
He is a former staffer in the Clinton administration and continues to have close ties to Bill and Hillary through their scandal-plagued Clinton Global Initiative.
His non-profit “has evolved into an organization that trains community organizers, with a focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).”
And back in June, he defended the homeless crisis in San Francisco, writing that the solution was to “dismantle the system of social oppression.”
Yep, definitely a hard-core partisan “woke” warrior.
Hampton also supports the “decriminalization of drugs” – including possession of “small” amounts of heroin and fentanyl – “and removing the box on job applications that asks potential employees about criminal records before an interview.”
Because why should an employer need to know in advance if an applicant has a record of stealing from previous employers, right?
Hampton told the Globe that “people with addiction who have not committed crimes need treatment, not jail.”
If they haven’t committed any crimes – or, at least, haven’t yet been caught – why would they need jail? Duh.
And back in 2019 he inked an op-ed for USA Today in which he wrote that “we don’t need to stop immigrants at our border.” As per the Dem playbook, he neglected to use the word “illegal.”
As summarized by John Burk of Better Nevada PAC…
“Ryan Hampton is a radical liberal whose open border views put him on the fringes of even his own party. While his backers in the Democrat establishment and his Clintonian allies will try to fool voters, they can’t hide the fact that Hampton is simply too radical to represent Nevada families.”
What he said.
On the other hand…
Lisa Cole “started her first small business in 2010” and “helps businessmen and women cut through government red tape to get their projects up and running.”
Lisa has also been “an integral part of virtually every aspect of the 10,000+ acre Apex Industrial Park in Southern Nevada and the thousands of jobs it will bring to the valley.”
That’s the development everyone – back at the time – said was impossible and wouldn’t work. But thanks to Lisa’s efforts, as well as the vision by then-North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee, AIP is a booming success.
In other words, she gets sh*t done. No wonder Gov. Lombardo endorsed her.
In 2019 – when Hampton was arguing against tighter border security – Lisa decided to also pursue a law degree and passed the bar exam earlier this year – developing skills and knowledge that will prove invaluable as a legislator.
Remember, the #1 issue for Nevada Republicans in 2024 is…getting elected!
Lisa will be challenged in the GOP primary by one or more far-less-accomplished opponents. Especially with the governor’s endorsement, she has the best chance to win the general election and hold this seat next November.
Many of you have written asking which candidates I think are the best investment – in time and/or money – to protect the governor’s veto. I’d say start with this race – which is critical in the effort to get Republicans out of their super-minority status in the Assembly.
So before you spend all your Christmas money on that left-wing uncle or niece who plans to vote for Biden next year, please consider helping Lisa get off on the “right” foot by sending a few shekels – $100, $50, $25, $10, whatever – her way.
* CLICK HERE
I’ll continue to give you additional donation recommendations in races where the GOP is trying to flip a blue seat red in the coming weeks as I get to know the candidates and races better.
But for now, let’s show Lisa a little luv. Merry Christmas!!!
LAUGHTER IS STILL THE BEST MEDICINE
Last night my wife yelled from another room and asked, “Do you ever get a shooting pain across your body, like someone’s got a voodoo doll of you and they’re stabbing it?” I said, “No.” She yelled back, “How about now?”
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
“A small businesswoman, a job creator, and a conservative, @LisaColeNV understands the challenges entrepreneurs face because she has dealt with and overcome them throughout her career. She has firsthand experience creating jobs and promoting economic diversification, which is a top priority for ensuring Nevada’s continued prosperity. Lisa has my full endorsement, and I can’t wait for her to join our State Assembly!” – Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo
Mr. Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, publisher of Nevada News & Views, and founder of CampaignDoctor.com. You can sign up for his conservative, Nevada-focused e-newsletter at MuthsTruths.com. His views are his own.
