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Wednesday, Oct 7, 2026

Did Nicole Cannizzaro give $26 million in taxpayer dollars to her husband’s client?

Eric Neugeboren, The Nevada Independent
no

Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas), the Democratic nominee for attorney general, did not give her husband’s client $26 million.

It’s an inaccurate claim featured in a new website linked to the Republican Attorneys General Association.

It refers to a bill Cannizzaro sponsored in 2023 to give about $25 million in raises to state worker unions, including the Nevada Police Union and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 4041 (AFSCME). Cannizzaro’s husband, Nathan Ring, is a lawyer who has represented AFSCME.

But Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) vetoed the bill, so it never took effect.

The bill was meant to fund an earlier arbitration agreement negotiated between the unions and the state. However, the Legislature never appropriated money to fund that deal because it came after the legislative session had ended. AFSCME, represented by Ring, sued to force the funding, but the suit failed.

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The Nevada Independent is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news and opinion website founded in 2017 by veteran political journalist and commentator Jon Ralston. The site and its supporting channels are focused on ethical, unbiased and transparent journalism. In general, we aim to gather and disseminate important public information and increase civic engagement. We are supported by corporate donations, memberships, event ticket sales and sponsorships and foundation grants. We disclose all our members and donors. Donors have no influence over our content, ever. The Nevada Independent is the dba for Nevada News Bureau, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2010 by Elizabeth Thompson, who now serves as one of The Nevada Independent's managing directors and its Editor.

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