Just 1 Nevada lawmaker lost re-election this primary cycle. He blames a 'dark money smear.'
Assemblyman Howard Watts (D-Las Vegas), known for his efforts to regulate data center water and energy usage, lost his re-election primary bid. His defeat was influenced by a PAC funded partly by NV Energy and unions, which sent negative mailers against him. Watts attributes his loss to this "dark money smear" campaign and his stance on holding data center companies accountable.
Nevada Assemblyman Howard Watts, a Democrat representing Las Vegas, narrowly lost his bid for a fifth term in the June 9 primary to challenger Miguel Dávila. Watts, 38, who chaired the influential Assembly Growth and Infrastructure Committee, stated he does not regret decisions that alienated unions and NV Energy, which he believes contributed to his defeat. Dávila, 34, a senior urban planner and union member, secured the win by fewer than 50 votes, marking the first time a Democratic legislator was ousted by a primary challenger since 2012.
The article highlights that Watts' political standing was damaged after disputes with unions over issues like autonomous vehicle bills and film tax credits. Notably, Watts had also sought to hold data center companies accountable for their water and energy consumption, pressing executives on these issues. Ironically, negative campaign mailers, partially funded by NV Energy and assisted by unions representing electrical workers, accused Watts of being bankrolled by data center companies. Watts stated these claims were false and found it perplexing given his efforts to limit data center impacts.
Financial records indicate Watts had received donations from data center companies Switch and Lumen in the past. Watts historically clashed with NV Energy, even negotiating a bill in 2023 to expand in-state energy resources that the utility opposed. Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, expressed regret over Watts' loss, citing his strong record on water and energy issues, including bills to recycle water and ban decorative turf irrigation. Dávila, however, a former Sierra Club member, has assured voters of his commitment to environmental issues through urban planning policies.