North Las Vegas Council Veteran Challenges State Senator in Latino District Primary

The film tax credit's collapse in the 2025 special session has ignited one of the cycle's most competitive Democratic primaries.

Isaac Barron, a longtime North Las Vegas city councilman and former high school teacher, is challenging incumbent state Sen. Edgar Flores in a Democratic primary race that both candidates say was triggered by Flores' vote against a proposed expansion of Nevada's film tax credit program. The contest, set for a June primary, pits two prominent Latino community figures against each other in a majority-Latino district that covers parts of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas.

Two Community Fixtures Square Off in Senate District Primary

Barron, 56, spent 13 years on the North Las Vegas City Council and taught at Rancho High School for nearly 30 years. Term-limited from the council, he is now seeking the state Senate seat currently held by Flores, 39, who works as an immigration lawyer. The district skews Democratic, meaning the winner of the June primary is widely expected to win the general election in the fall.

Both candidates carry deep roots in the community. Flores made national headlines in 2020 when he hosted a well-publicized horseback riding parade to rally Latinos in support of Joe Biden. Barron was the first Latino elected to the North Las Vegas City Council and received an award in 2019 for promoting democracy in Nevada. Both come from immigrant backgrounds and have family ties to the Culinary Union — a significant connection in a district where roughly a third of residents work in the service industry.

Film Tax Credit Vote Becomes the Flashpoint

The race has been cast in large part as a consequence of the collapse of a proposed expansion of Nevada's film tax credit program during the 2025 special session. The bill was heavily backed by labor unions, which argued it would boost construction jobs and pre-K funding. Critics warned it would push the state into a budget deficit. When Flores voted against the measure, Laborers Local 872 — a key backer of the proposal — rescinded its endorsement of Flores and several other lawmakers.

Flores acknowledged the connection directly. When asked whether the primary was tied to his film tax vote, he responded, 'Absolutely,' and suggested that some people were trying to 'capitalize' on the death of the film tax bill. Barron, for his part, said the bill's failure was the 'final straw' in his decision to enter the race, arguing that the community is 'drastically underserved' and that the legislation could have boosted economic opportunities in the district. 'He darn well knew just how important that this bill was for people on our side of town,' Barron said of Flores' vote.

Broader Tensions Over North Las Vegas Representation

The film tax credit dispute is not the only source of friction between the two men. Barron has argued that Flores, who chaired the Assembly Government Affairs Committee — which handles issues involving local governments — has not adequately stood up for North Las Vegas. He pointed specifically to a proposal sponsored by Flores that would have increased the number of wards and city council members in North Las Vegas, a measure that was never endorsed by the city itself.

Barron also noted that the district lacks robust healthcare facilities, framing the film tax bill as a missed opportunity for economic development on what he described as his 'side of town.' Barron grew up in the district, and his name recognition among residents was evident during a recent canvassing effort, when nearly a dozen volunteers walked door-to-door and encountered voters who recognized him from his years on the council and in the classroom.

Canvassing Underway as Candidates Mobilize

On a recent Saturday morning, volunteers for Barron fanned out across the district, where residents raised concerns about the rising cost of living, housing, and education. Donna Gonzales, a North Las Vegas resident and former Clark County School District teacher, told canvassers she was already committed to Barron when she heard his name at the door.

Barron's campaign is leaning on his three decades of community presence, while Flores continues to campaign actively. The race is expected to be among the most competitive primary contests this cycle, with both candidates drawing on deep networks in a district where the Latino community and organized labor carry significant political weight.

A Pattern of Intraparty Conflict in the Region

The Barron-Flores matchup is not the first sign of intraparty tension in the area. In 2024, Barron joined North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown and North Las Vegas City Councilman Scott Black in launching a PAC against Sen. Dina Neal, a Democrat representing North Las Vegas, alleging she had been 'soft-on-crime for decades.' The move signaled a willingness among some local officials to challenge Democratic incumbents they view as insufficiently responsive to the community's needs.

The current primary reflects similar dynamics — a challenger arguing that the incumbent has failed to deliver for a working-class, majority-Latino district, and an incumbent defending his record while attributing the challenge to political fallout from a single legislative vote.

What we know

• Isaac Barron, 56, served 13 years on the North Las Vegas City Council and taught at Rancho High School for nearly 30 years before becoming term-limited.
• Incumbent Sen. Edgar Flores, 39, is a Democrat who works as an immigration lawyer and represents a district covering parts of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas.
• Flores voted against the proposed expansion of Nevada's film tax credit program during the 2025 special session, after which Laborers Local 872 rescinded its endorsement of him.
• The district is majority Latino, and approximately one-third of residents work in the service industry.
• Barron was the first Latino elected to the North Las Vegas City Council and received an award in 2019 for promoting democracy in Nevada.
• In 2024, Barron, Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown, and Councilman Scott Black launched a PAC against Sen. Dina Neal, alleging she had been 'soft-on-crime for decades.'
• The June primary winner is expected to win the general election in the fall, given the district's Democratic lean.

Why it matters

The Barron-Flores primary is one of the most closely watched races of the current cycle in the Las Vegas metro area. The outcome will determine representation for a majority-Latino, working-class district where a third of residents are employed in the service industry. The race also signals how the collapse of the film tax credit bill during the 2025 special session is reshaping Democratic politics in Nevada, with organized labor actively withdrawing support from incumbents who voted against the measure.

What’s next

The primary election is scheduled for June, with the general election to follow in the fall. Both Barron and Flores are actively canvassing and campaigning throughout the district. The winner of the June primary is expected to be the heavy favorite in the general election given the district's Democratic lean.

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