Silver State Equality, Nevada’s statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights advocacy nonprofit, today announced the endorsement of five pro-equality candidates for Las Vegas City Council, Nevada State Assembly and the Clark County School District Board of Trustees.

“By electing to office those who will protect the rights of all they serve, including LGBTQ+ people, we are making our voices heard and ensuring a world that is fair, just and fully equal for us and generations to follow,” said André C. Wade, State Director for Silver State Equality. “We deserve lawmakers and leaders who will continue to lead the charge in the ongoing fight for full, lived equality. Members of the LGBTQ+ community and our pro-equality allies are showing up in competitive races for seats in the legislature, on school boards, and on city councils. Silver State Equality is proud to stand behind these candidates, and we look forward to supporting a strong slate of pro-equality candidates heading into the June primary and November general elections.”

Silver State Equality is proud to endorse:

Ryan Hampton
Nevada State Assembly District 4*

Ryan Hampton is a fierce bipartisan advocate, author and nonprofit organizer, who works to end toxic politics and to find solutions that “make real change for Nevada’s hard-working middle class.” Following years of working on the national level as an addiction recovery advocate, and a person in long-term recovery himself, Hampton founded a Nevada-based nonprofit that assists people with addiction and mental health challenges. If elected to the State Assembly, he will work on behalf of all Nevadans for affordable healthcare, job creation, better education, individual liberties, reproductive freedom, and LGBTQ+ rights. Hampton, who lives with his husband Sean in Southern Nevada’s District 4, will be an important voice for equality in the Nevada State Assembly.

Mishon Mongomery
Nevada State Assembly District 17*

If elected, Mishon Mongomery will be the first Black out LGBTQ+ woman to serve in the Nevada State Assembly. A wife, mother, US Air Force veteran with 20 years’ service, and a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) professional, Mongomery is committed to bringing forward legislation to support veterans, empower the LGBTQ+ community, lower healthcare costs and protect the fundamental freedoms of our democracy. She holds a Master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in public policy and governance, and she maintains DEI certifications from Cornell University and Coach Diversity Institute. Following her military service, she partnered with numerous organizations to produce effective, culture-changing strategies and to motivate leaders to meet the demands of a rapidly diversifying workplace and community. Mongomery is a Silver State Equality board member.

Brian Knudsen
Las Vegas City Council Ward 1*

Brian Knudsen will continue to be an important voice for equality on the Las Vegas City Council. Elected to the City Council representing Ward 1 in 2019, Knudsen was named Mayor Pro Tem in 2022, serving on boards and committees that directly impact the growth and infrastructure of Las Vegas. He serves as a member of the Regional Transportation Commission, Southern Nevada Health District, Southern Nevada Community Health Center, Springs Preserve, National League of Cities Large City Council and LGBTQ Council, Network Adequacy Advisory Council, Commission on Nuclear Projects and Regional Flood Control District. Knudsen is continuing his work to build a community that ensures equal opportunity, has great schools, provides strong public safety, preserves our neighborhoods and strives to be world class. Knudsen, who will be honored at Silver State Equality’s 2024 Equality Awards, is married. He and his husband have two children.

Kamilah Bywaters
Clark County School District School Board Trustee District E

In a time when school boards are under attack, Kamilah Bywaters will be a fearless advocate for all students. A graduate of Rancho High School and the daughter of a lifelong teacher who taught her the value of an education, Bywaters is a licensed special education teacher who taught for several years in the school district, a community activist and a doctoral student. She currently serves as the president of the Las Vegas Alliance of Black School Educators; education chair of the National Action Network, Las Vegas Chapter, and a Subcommittee Member of the Nevada Office of Minority Health and Equity, Black Leadership Advisory Council. Her experiences in the field, the classroom and leadership have well-prepared her for a role as Trustee. As Clark County continues to grow and change, the school district needs optimistic, goal-oriented leaders willing to work tirelessly to ensure every child receives a quality public education, and Bywaters is that leader.

Matthew Tramp
Clark County School District Board of Trustees District E*

As school boards are quickly becoming the front lines for the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, Matthew Tramp will use his experience as chairman of the Clark County School District Attendance Zone Advisory Commission and as vice chair of the City of Las Vegas Neighborhood Partners Fund to fight for students and teachers. An involved member of the community, Tramp will bring his commitment to community engagement, unity and consensus building to the CCSD Board of Trustees to attract the highest quality teachers and to prioritize improving student academic outcomes, school safety and fiscal responsibility.

Kamilah Bywaters and Matthew Tramp will participate in the June 11, 2024 primary election. Ryan Hampton, Mishon Mongomery and Brian Knudsen have secured their ballot positions for the November 5, 2024, general election.

*Indicates out LGBTQ+ candidates.

For a complete list of Silver State Equality’s endorsements and endorsement process and guidelines please visit: silverstateequality.org/elections.

As Nevada’s statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization, Silver State Equality brings the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in Nevada and throughout the U.S. Silver State Equality strives to create a world that is healthy, just and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. Silver State Equality is a Nevada-based program affiliated with and supported by Equality California and Equality California Institute, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. More information at SilverStateEquality.org.

Silver State Equality endorses and supports 100% pro-equality candidates — up and down the ballot — fighting for LGBTQ+ civil rights, reproductive freedom and social justice.

PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT:
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

U.S. SENATE:
Jacky Rosen

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Congressional District 1: Dina Titus
Congressional District 3: Susie Lee
Congressional District 4: Steven Horsford

NEVADA STATE SENATE:
Rochelle Nguyen: Senate District 3
Dina Neal: Senate District 4
Nicole Cannizzaro: Senate District 6
Roberta Lange: Senate District 7
Dallas Harris: Senate District 11

NEVADA STATE ASSEMBLY:
Daniele Monroe-Moreno: District 1
Selena Torres: District 3
Ryan Hampton: District 4
Brittney Miller: District 5
Duy Nguyen: District 8
Steve Yeager: District 9
Max Carter: District 12
Erica Mosca: District 14
Howard Watts: District 15
Cecelia Gonzalez: District 16
Mishon Montgomery: District 17
Venicia Considine: District 18
David Orentlicher: District 20
Elaine Marzola: District 21
Selena La Rue Hatch: District 25
Reuben D’Silva: District 28
Natha Anderson: District 30
Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod: District 34
Shea Backus: District 37
Sandra Jauregui: District 41
Tracy Brown-May: District 42

LOCAL OFFICES:
Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod: Clark County Commission, District C (dual endorsement)
Hunter Cain: Clark County Commission, District C (dual endorsement)
Karl Catarata: Clark County School District Board of Trustees, District A (dual endorsement)
Mercedes McKinley: Clark County School District Board of Trustees, District A (dual endorsement)
Kamilah Bywaters: Clark County School District Board of Trustees, District E
Brian Knudsen: Las Vegas City Council, Ward 1
Devon Reese: Reno City Council, Ward 5
Alexis Hill: Washoe County Commission, District 1

VOTE BY MAIL
All registered, active voters will receive a ballot in the mail this year. Simply fill out your ballot (you don’t need to vote for every office), seal it in its included pre-paid postage envelope, SIGN THE ENVELOPE on the outside, and drop it in the mailbox.

Please check your residential and mailing address listed on your voter registration information to be sure it is accurate. Or, contact your local Elections Department at (702) 455-8683 for Clark County or (775) 328-3670 for Washoe County.

The deadline for receiving mail-in ballots returned via the post office for the primary election is June 15th at 5 p.m. You can also fill out your mail-in ballot and drop it off. Instead of mailing your ballot, fill it out, as described above, SIGN THE ENVELOPE, and drop it off at any early voting site or Election Day vote center of your choice.

This article was originally published in the 2024 PRIDE Month Issue of Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine, and can be read in its original format here.