In district held by top Assembly leader, recovery advocate faces off with union organizer – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Southwest Las Vegas voters will decide a closely watched Democratic primary this June for the Assembly seat long held by Speaker Steve Yeager. The contest pits Ryan Hampton, a national figure in addiction recovery, against Maria Teresa Hank, a longtime union steward and flight attendant. Both candidates have centered their campaigns on healthcare access and household costs in a district where nonpartisan voters make up nearly 40 percent of the electorate. The winner will face either Christhian Orozco or Erica Neely in the general election.
A District in Transition
Assembly District 9 stretches across a large portion of southwest Las Vegas and has shifted politically over the past decade. It was once held by a Republican and remains one of the more competitive seats in the state. Democrats hold a modest edge in registration, yet the large share of unaffiliated voters means the June primary could shape the fall contest.
Yeager’s decision not to seek re-election opened the race. Hampton secured the speaker’s endorsement, while Hank has drawn support from more than 20 unions, including the Service Employees International Union and the Las Vegas Police Protective Association. Fundraising shows Hampton ahead with more than $70,000 raised this year compared with roughly $22,000 for Hank.
Healthcare Access Tops Both Agendas
Medicaid changes scheduled for 2027 are expected to remove coverage for more than 100,000 Nevadans and add roughly $60 million in state costs. Hampton has made raising reimbursement rates a priority, arguing that current payments contribute to the state’s shortage of 2,500 physicians and leave large areas without adequate care. He also supports expanding medical residency slots to keep more providers in Nevada.
Hank has focused on protecting existing Medicaid funding and expanding telehealth and community clinics so residents avoid emergency rooms for routine needs. Both candidates have highlighted the state’s poor national ranking on mental health outcomes and the need for stronger behavioral health services.
Jobs, Wages, and Economic Growth
Hank has pushed for stronger enforcement of prevailing wage laws and collective bargaining rights. She has also proposed raising the state minimum wage while weighing impacts on small businesses, noting that many families already juggle multiple jobs. Hampton has backed expanded union apprenticeships through partnerships with state colleges and greater inclusion of apprentices in project labor agreements.
The two differ on the film tax credit program. Hampton has expressed general support for incentives that could attract production work, while Hank has raised concerns about potential budget shortfalls. Both have stressed the importance of creating pathways for local workers rather than relying on out-of-state talent.
Housing Costs and Education Funding
Hampton and Hank agree that corporate homebuyers should face limits and that rent increases should not outpace inflation or wage growth. Hampton has described moving into the district after being priced out of another area and supports more high-density housing to ease supply shortages. Hank has called for rent caps aimed at seniors and veterans and favors building upward instead of continued sprawl.
On education, both candidates want higher per-pupil spending, which currently ranks near the bottom nationally. They have expressed caution about raising property taxes and instead point to broader tax-structure reviews or ensuring larger commercial properties contribute fairly. Teacher recruitment and smaller class sizes remain shared priorities given ongoing shortages in Clark County schools.
“We already know that’s not good for us. We need representation,” recovery advocate Robert Banghart said of decisions made without input from those who have lived through addiction.
The June primary will test whether Hampton’s personal story and national profile can overcome Hank’s deep union roots and organizing experience. Whoever advances will carry these issues into a general election that could help determine control of the Assembly.
