Steve Sisolak
About a week after he received a nod from former President Barack Obama, Nevada gubernatorial candidate Steve Sisolak on Thursday picked up another high-profile endorsement.
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced his support before a roundtable discussion on criminal justice in Las Vegas attended by Sisolak, who is the chairman of the Clark County Commission, and other community leaders, the candidate’s campaign announced.
Holder, who served under Obama from 2009 to 2015, cited public education, health care and immigration as reasons why he thinks Sisolak should be governor.
“This fall, the people of Nevada face a choice about their future,” said Holder in a news release. “Steve Sisolak will ensure public schools have the funding they need for our kids to succeed, expand access to affordable health care, and protect (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients) by standing up to the current administration’s inhumane immigration policy.”
Sisolak, a Democrat, will face Republican state Attorney General Adam Laxalt in the race to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval.
Sisolak said Thursday that if elected governor, he also wants to address Nevada's cash bail system, high rates of incarcerated women and erasing misdemeanor convictions for marijuana that occurred before the state legalized recreational use of the drug in 2017.
“It’s an honor and privilege to receive Attorney General Holder’s endorsement,” Sisolak said in the release. “Mr. Holder’s leadership during six years atop the Department of Justice was second to none, and I am grateful to receive the strong support of someone of his stature in the law enforcement community.”
Sisolak continued: “Additionally, I commend his efforts since to elect Democrats across this country with the aim of making sure our next redistricting process is fair and democratic.”
President Donald Trump in June threw his support behind Laxalt. “Adam is smart, works hard, and knows how to win. He will be a great Governor. Also, will fight hard to lower your taxes and is tough on crime!” he wrote on Twitter.
Nevada voters have not elected a Democratic governor since Bob Miller won the 1988 election.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.