Henderson City Councilwoman Carrie Cox has declared her intent to retain her seat in Ward 3 during the next election cycle, her candidacy for 2026's contest follows closely on the heels of Mayor Michelle Romero's own campaign announcement, as reported by 8 News Now. Focusing on transparency and resident engagement, Cox's first term as an elected official was not without its frictions, often finding herself at odds with other city leaders, including the mayor herself.
In a political landscape where endorsements can be as fleeting as promises, Cox faced the loss of support from the Henderson Police unions which had previously backed her in 2022, but she remains unfazed, asserting that her merits as a councilwoman will carry her through, "I think what’s important is that I proved myself," Carrie Cox told 8 News Now. The city, also grappling with a $10 million budget deficit and seeking its 10th police chief in 25 years compounds the challenges ahead for her campaign.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Cox's re-election bid is based on earlier commitments to public safety and urban development, Cox defeated rival Trish Nash in the previous election by a margin of 3,522 votes despite being outspent, signaling a clear victory attributed to her platform rather than deep campaign coffers. Her vision for the upcoming term includes expanding charter schools and bolstering small businesses, aiming to fortify the community's trust in local governance.
Public safety has been a recurring theme in Cox's tenure, especially regarding the controversial firing of former police chief Hollie Chadwick, whom Cox vocally opposed; the incident resulted in straining her relationship with the police unions, which have since withdrawn their endorsements, stating, "she 'has not accurately represented to the media or public her prior knowledge about the issues related to the chief [Chadwick],'" as conveyed by statements from the Henderson Police Officer's Association, the Henderson Police Supervisors Association, and the Nevada Association of Public Safety officers cited by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Yet, the door to regain their endorsement for Cox or any other candidate remains ajar, should they advocate effectively for police issues and engage sincerely in contract negotiations.
Longtime Henderson resident, Carrie Cox has firmly rooted herself in the city's fabric, having lived in Southern Nevada for 36 years, and 29 of those in Henderson, with her extended family that includes seven children and 11 grandchildren, her deep ties to the community may well prove to be a foundation upon which she campaigns, as she continues without an opponent at this early stage, according to information shared by her campaign spokesperson Lisa Mayo-DeRiso with the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
