When the neon lights of Las Vegas Boulevard fade into the twilight, Nicole Williams starts her night shift, serving drinks to guests in one of the city’s lavish hotels. But as the city buzzes with life, the reality for Ms. Williams and other workers behind the scenes is far less glamorous.
Ms. Williams, 45, a bartender and mother of seven, feels the weight of a faltering economy every day. “When you’re shopping for a big family like mine, it’s rough out here,” she shared while balancing grocery shopping and managing her children’s busy schedules. Her family, with children aged 10 months to 16 years, lives paycheck to paycheck, cutting back on essentials and foregoing any semblance of luxury. Skyrocketing prices for necessities like food and fuel have forced her to stretch her budget to breaking point.
The struggle of Ms. Williams echoes across Las Vegas, a city built on tourism, hospitality, and service jobs. As the 2024 U.S. presidential election looms, low-wage workers in Nevada—crucial to the state’s economy—are deciding how to cast their vote based on the kitchen-table issues that have dominated their lives: housing, healthcare, and childcare. On the ballot are two candidates with markedly different economic approaches—President Donald Trump and Vice-President Kamala Harris, who each hope to sway these critical votes in the battleground state.
Behind the glitz of the Vegas strip lies an economy under strain. While businesses are booming, Nevada holds the nation’s highest unemployment rate at 5.6%, rising to 5.9% in Las Vegas alone. The pandemic hit the state hard, driving unemployment as high as 30% and highlighting its vulnerability. The economic reopening may have led to a national recovery, but the effects of inflation and low wages persist, keeping many Nevadans on the financial brink.
Fermin Gonzalez, a former restaurant worker born in Mexico, is among the many struggling to make ends meet. “Five dollars isn’t $5 anymore, and $100 barely gets you any groceries,” said Gonzalez, 60, who remains unemployed and fears his age will limit his job prospects. He recalls the days when Las Vegas offered him a solid income, a sense of security that now feels distant.
Both the Trump and Harris campaigns have responded to these financial anxieties with distinct economic proposals aimed at the working class. Vice-President Harris emphasizes the expansion of social safety nets like healthcare and housing subsidies, while President Trump has proposed a rollback of taxes and an emphasis on domestic manufacturing through tariffs, promising that his approach will reduce poverty and increase wages.
Nevada’s electorate is often described as a patchwork, with about one-third identifying as independents. According to an August poll by The New York Times and Siena College, a slight majority of these voters lean Republican, though many remain undecided. The outcome in Nevada could very well hinge on this undecided fraction, making the state a pivotal battleground in the presidential race.
One demographic both parties hope to sway is the Latino community, comprising roughly 30% of Nevada’s population and accounting for 19% of its business owners. This group has been disproportionately affected by the rising costs of essentials. In an attempt to appeal to Latino voters, President Trump proposed removing taxes on tips, a key component of income for many in the service industry. Vice-President Harris also embraced the tax-free-tips initiative but paired it with a federal minimum wage increase to $15, which she argues will provide a more substantial boost to low-income workers.
Javier Barajas, a longtime Las Vegas resident and restaurateur, sees the potential of Trump’s no-tip-tax proposal to provide his employees with more take-home pay. “My waiters make $12—the minimum wage. I’m not saying that like it’s a lot. It’s hard. Every time they go to the gas station, they end up spending $100,” Barajas said. Although he supports Trump, he acknowledges that his workers are divided on which candidate would best alleviate their daily financial burdens.
Housing affordability has emerged as one of the most pressing issues in Nevada. Despite wage increases in some industries, rental costs continue to surge. For workers like Olga Mexia, a housekeeper at the Signature hotel, housing costs represent a significant burden. Living in North Las Vegas, Mexia has witnessed firsthand the price hikes for housing, food, and other essentials over the past few years. “We’re paid so much less for everything,” she said, highlighting that even working two jobs at one point wasn’t enough to meet her family’s needs.
Childcare costs compound the problem for working parents in Nevada, which ranks as the most expensive state for childcare in the U.S. A family of average income spends nearly $26,000 annually on childcare, over a third of their earnings. Vice-President Harris has proposed a policy capping childcare costs at 7% of family income, along with an enhanced child tax credit of $6,000. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has remained largely silent on childcare, though his running mate, Senator JD Vance, has put forth a proposal to raise the child tax credit to $5,000 from its current $2,000.
Single grandmother Dominic Richmond is one of those feeling the pinch of high childcare costs. Caring for four young children and a mother with dementia, she struggles to make ends meet on a limited income from part-time work as a realtor and at an airline. She fears that by year’s end, she’ll face homelessness. “It’s like a hurricane coming at you,” she said tearfully, explaining that her family relies on food banks that often provide pre-packaged, military-style rations. She’s undecided politically but expresses a deep need for help, no matter who offers it. “I just want a candidate who would help families like mine,” she said.
As election day nears, grassroots campaign efforts are intensifying. Door-to-door campaigns have become a primary method for connecting with undecided voters, with the state’s largest union, the Culinary Union, leading a robust campaign for the Democratic ticket. The union represents more than 60,000 workers across hospitality and food services and has pledged to mobilize its members and allies to support Harris.
Union members like Mexia have been canvassing neighborhoods in North Las Vegas, braving sweltering 40°C (104°F) temperatures to share their stories and gather support for the Democratic platform. “I’m campaigning for my family. Harris at least has a real plan,” she said, pointing to the housing and childcare policies as direct answers to her family’s struggles.
Yet, even with the union’s backing, Nevada’s political climate remains volatile. Many workers are skeptical about either candidate’s ability to bring about significant change, fearing that political promises might fade after the election.
With tourism at the heart of Las Vegas’s economy, service workers have felt both the benefits and limitations of working in a city reliant on fluctuating tourism rates. Tips, rather than hourly wages, provide a crucial income source, and the proposed tax relief on tips resonates deeply. According to economic experts, though, eliminating the tip tax may not significantly benefit the U.S. economy at large and would require Congressional approval. The Tax Foundation estimates the proposal could cost over $107 billion, sparking debates over its feasibility.
Latino service workers form a substantial portion of this workforce, and many are apprehensive about any drastic policy shifts that might unsettle their economic stability. Their skepticism about tax cuts and tariffs contrasts with a more hopeful view of wage increases and childcare support. Ms. Williams, who intends to vote for Trump, is cautiously optimistic about his economic plans but acknowledges that without legislative backing, promises may prove empty. “I want to believe there’s a future for my kids in this city,” she said.
With only days left until the election, Nevada’s working-class voters represent a critical and unpredictable bloc that could determine the next president. The candidates’ promises of tax relief, wage increases, and affordable childcare resonate with a workforce facing rising costs in nearly every aspect of life. But despite their targeted pitches, both Trump and Harris face the challenge of convincing voters that they have tangible solutions to the economic woes plaguing everyday Nevadans.
As Ms. Williams wraps up her shift on the strip, she contemplates what the election means for her family’s future. Like many in Las Vegas’s service industry, she yearns for stability and support in a state where the promise of opportunity remains just out of reach.
