The 2022 midterm elections were a bit of a mixed bag for Republicans and Democrats in Nevada. While Democrats lost the governor's mansion, they picked up legislature seats.
Some say part of the reason was due to discord between mainstream and more progressive wings of the state Democratic party. That animosity came to a head earlier this year when party members ousted the entire leadership team, including Progressive Chairwoman Judith Whidmore.
In their place, Democrats selected Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno to lead a unity slate as chair of the state party.
She said Nevada Democrats will focus on electing their best to office.
"I ran, and the people that ran with me on the unity slate ran for one reason, to get us back to the basics of what it takes to win," she told KNPR's State of Nevada. "Raising money, identifying great candidates, giving those candidates the resources they need to be successful, coming up with a plan that encompasses all 17 counties within the state, and not leaving anyone out."
Monroe-Moreno also serves as an assemblywoman for District 1 in North Las Vegas. She also chairs Ways and Means, the powerful finance committee.
This year, lawmakers could have more than $11 billion, an unprecedented amount, in tax revenues to fund state government over the next two years.
Republican Governor Joe Lombardo, in his State of the State address earlier this year, called for most of that new money, more than $2 billion, to go to public education.
For Monroe-Moreno, it's a good use of the state's tax revenue, but it still won't address all of Nevada's needs.
"We can handle the $2 billion easily right now. But there are other needs within the state that we have to address with that small pool of dollars," she said. "That we have $2 billion sounds like a lot until you look at my budget. I never thought I would say that, but there's a lot of needs."
Lawmakers have until June 5 to craft a new two-year state budget which will take effect July 1.
Guest: Daniele Monroe-Moreno, assemblywoman
