Former Nevada Congresswoman Shelley Berkley wins race for Las Vegas mayor

Berkley ran on a platform of public safety, affordable housing, economic growth, eliminating homelessness, and finally resolving the Badlands golf course dispute.

Former Nevada Congresswoman Shelley Berkley has won the race for Las Vegas Mayor after city councilwoman Victoria Seaman announced on Thursday that she had conceded to Berkley. 

Unofficial results posted by Clark County showed that as of Thursday, Berkley held a 53% to 47% lead over her opponent, a difference of approximately 15,037 votes. 

Though the race for mayor is labeled as nonpartisan, Berkley represented Nevada’s First Congressional District, which includes and surrounds the Las Vegas Strip, as a Democrat while serving in the US House from 1999 to 2013. Seaman will retain her seat on the city council, and her term expires in 2026, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 

In a post to X, formerly Twitter, Seaman thanked her supporters, but said she is looking forward to working alongside Berkley. 

“While the outcome of the Mayor’s race is not what we had hoped, I wholeheartedly congratulate Shelly (sic) Berkley on her election as the next mayor of Las Vegas,” Seaman posted. “I am confident that she will lead our city with dedication, and I stand ready to support and work alongside her as councilwoman of Ward 2 in any way I can to further the interests of all our residents.” 

Berkeley, meanwhile, reciprocated pleasantries.

“I appreciate Councilwoman Seaman’s gracious remarks,” Berkeley said in a statement to The Nevadan. “Running for office is never easy, and I admire the dedication and hard work she brought to this race. As I prepare to take on the responsibilities ahead, I am eager to collaborate with the City Council and our city’s dedicated staff.

“Las Vegas thrives on the dreams and contributions of its incredible residents, from our small business owners to families working toward a brighter future,” Berkeley continued. “As Mayor-Elect, I am honored to serve and committed to partnering with the City Council and community leaders to build a stronger, more united Las Vegas.”

In the city council race for Ward 5, which includes Las Vegas’ Historic West Side, former Democratic assemblywoman Shondra Summers-Armstrong is leading former Democratic assemblyman Cam Miller by 1,656 votes. 

Tuesday’s election also marked a pivotal one for the city’s history, as a term-limited Mayor Carolyn Goodman is set to leave her post after more than a decade, marking the first mayoral election in the city in nearly 20 years without a Goodman running for the office. 

Goodman’s husband, longtime Las Vegas attorney Oscar Goodman, served in the position from 1999-2011, in what the city says is the only known instance in the United States where a spouse has succeeded their spouse as mayor.

Berkley ran on a platform of public safety, affordable housing, economic growth, eliminating homelessness, and finally resolving the Badlands golf course dispute that has already cost taxpayers millions of dollars in legal proceedings.

“It’s time to end the costly finger-pointing and find a path forward,” Berkley said of the Badlands issue in a statement on her website.