Nevada Culinary Union Members Prepare to Host Kamala Harris
As midterm election campaigning heats up, Nevada remains a vital jurisdiction for both parties. Kamala Harris, who has a busy pre-election schedule that will take her to several key states, has scheduled a stop in Las Vegas on 21 October. There, she will meet representatives of the Culinary Union t…
As midterm election campaigning heats up, Nevada remains a vital jurisdiction for both parties. Kamala Harris, who has a busy pre-election schedule that will take her to several key states, has scheduled a stop in Las Vegas on 21 October. There, she will meet representatives of the Culinary Union to endorse Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford in his bid to become the state’s next Governor. Trump’s Economic Policies Face Criticism Culinary Union support could prove pivotal to Ford’s campaign. With roughly 60,000 members from Nevada’s casino and hospitality industry potentially voting Democrat, Harris’ efforts could potentially swing a historically red state. While prediction markets favor a win by current Governor Joe Lombardo, margins are small enough that an upset is possible. Many of the Culinary Union’s grievances with Lombardo stem from what they call the “Trump Slump”. Members cite the President’s unpopular international policies as a key factor alienating tourists from countries like Canada and Mexico. Meanwhile, rising gas and grocery prices are placing additional pressure on workers in a historically underpaid sector. Other unpopular Trump measures include his No Taxes on Tips measure. The Culinary Union argues that this initiative could do more harm than good, as it penalizes certain types of workers, discriminates against immigrants, and even includes a marriage penalty. As the measure is set to expire when Trump leaves office, it may suddenly leave hospitality workers in a precarious position. Governor Lombardo Is Also Unpopular with Union Members Much of the Culinary Union’s discontent was directed at Governor Lombardo. The organization accuses him of turning a blind eye to Station Casinos employees. According to the union, the company illegally fired workers, discriminated against staff looking to unionize, and violated federal labor laws. The Culinary Union had to file a class-action lawsuit against the venue to protect member interests. Lombardo has allegedly received one-third of his 2025 campaign funds from the Fertitta family, which owns Station Casinos. These reportedly include a $1 million donation to a Lombardo-affiliated PAC, with another $1 million donated directly by Station Casinos. The Culinary Union claims the current Governor has done very little to help the people underpinning Nevada’s economy. Culinary Union continues to demand to know why the governor stands with Trump’s harmful economic agenda instead of fighting for the working people who run Nevada’s economy. Culinary Union statement Kamala Harris’ upcoming appearance will be limited to Culinary Union members only as leaders try to rally them behind Ford. Discussions will likely center on ways to improve the well-being of Nevada casino and hospitality sector employees. If these efforts succeed, they may give Democrats a much-needed boost before the upcoming Midterms.