Conservative Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Victor Joecks and I don’t always agree on campaign strategy. He’s more of a policy guy and I’m more of a tactician.
But when you’re right, you’re right. And boy was he right in his column this morning.
The issue: Last November’s special session and the “Hollywood Handout.”
Victor was opposed. I was opposed. Conservative Republicans were opposed.
It passed in the Assembly…by one vote. But it was killed in the Senate…by one vote.
With a margin that close, you can bet there will be a Hollywood Handout sequel in next year’s legislative session.
So in that regard, yes, the Hollywood Handout is on the GOP primary ballots that are already being returned by mail and will be cast via Early Voting starting tomorrow.
Today, Victor called out two key Republican primary races that might well decide if it passes next time or not.
First, Senate District 8.
That primary features retired government employee Laz Chavez vs. entrepreneur and long-time conservative GOP leader George Harris. Here’s what Victor wrote:
“Last November, Harris railed against the Hollywood handout proposal. He called it the ‘Hollywood Hustle’ and the ‘Summerlin studio scam.’ That kind of honest and blunt language doesn’t win you many friends among Carson City lobbyists, but it should among Republican voters.”
Indeed, George was all over the Hollywood Handout like white on rice even before the Special Session started – and never let up. He wrote about it extensively on Nevada News & Views:
- Hollywood Hustle: The Democrats’ $1.5 Billion Film Credit Scam (November 6, 2025)
- The Great Nevada Studio Scam (November 9, 2026)
- Hollywood Wants Your Wallet and the Nevada Legislature Might Hand It Over (November 13, 2026)
- Nevada Doesn’t Need a Hollywood Studio – It Needs Energy Independence from California (November 30, 2025)
- Nevada Dodged a Bullet as Hollywood’s Studio Boom Is Collapsing (December 17, 2025)
- Nevada’s “Hollywood Handout” Looks Worse by the Day (March 31, 2026)
And where has Mr. Chavez been during this whole kerfuffle?
AWOL. No involvement. No opposition. No public statements. No nothing.
So where is he on the issue – and where will he be on it next session if elected?
Victor wrote: “Chavez opposes Hollywood handouts, according to campaign spokesman Jeremy Hughes.”
Unbelievable. On an issue this big and this important in this primary race, Chavez wouldn’t even talk for himself. He had his *consultant* speak for him.
But Victor wasn’t buying it, writing…
“(S)aying the right thing in a primary can’t match the credibility Harris has built up over the years. If Republican voters want someone who will boldly and enthusiastically fight for conservative principles, they should vote for Harris.”
I second that emotion.
Which brings us to the second big primary contest in which this issue is front and center featuring conservative challenger Amy Groves vs. appointed “incumbent” Jason Patchett.
Victor wrote:
“Assembly District 19 is another interesting race. It’s such a bright red district that there’s not even a Democrat running. Jason Patchett is the current Assembly member, but he wasn’t elected. The Clark County Commission appointed him after Toby Yurek stepped down.
“Generally, a Democrat-run commission isn’t going to pick a rock-solid conservative for a heavily red district. To be fair to Patchett, he was nominated by Assembly Minority Leader Gregory Hafen II, R-Pahrump. But being nominated by Hafen is perhaps an even bigger red flag than being approved by Democrats. Sure enough, Patchett cast the deciding vote to advance Hollywood handouts out of the Assembly.”
Indeed, while George will still have to go up against a Democrat incumbent in the general election, whoever wins the AD19 seat in the GOP primary will head to Carson City next year.
And Victor nailed it with his reference to Hafen.
While the Democrat-controlled Clark County Commission officially appointed Patchett to the seat just before the special session, it was Hafen who nominated him.
And Hafen is, perhaps, the worst, most ineffective “leader” the Assembly Republican Caucus has seen over the last 30 years – and that’s saying something!
In addition to Patchett casting “the deciding vote” that approved the Hollywood Handout in the Assembly, he’s said himself that he’s open to doing so again next year.
When asked on his Review-Journal questionnaire about his position on “tax credits” and the “recent proposal for film industry” subsidies, Patchett (or his consultant) responded:
“Tax credits and targeted incentives should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and if the return on investment makes sense for the citizens of Nevada then we should try to improve our economy.”
He apparently thought the Hollywood Handout would give Nevada taxpayers a good ROI last November – even though the government’s own auditors said it would likely result in higher taxes or deep spending cuts down the road.
On the other hand, Victor went on to write:
“Amy Groves is a principled conservative who’s running against Patchett. She opposes Hollywood handouts and has been roasting Patchett for his vote. Annie Black, who previously represented the district, endorsed Groves. She would be a major upgrade in this seat.”
Indeed, Amy is making sure voters know EXACTLY where she and her opponent stand on the issue.
Amy, too, has written about it on Nevada News & Views since filing to run for this seat.
- My Opponent Backs It. I Don’t. Here’s Why the Film Studio Deal Is a Bad Bet (March 25, 2026)
- Patchett’s Vote for Film Subsidies Raises Eyebrows After Sony’s New Layoffs (April 10, 2026)
- A. Is Losing Hollywood Despite Billions in Subsidies – Jason Patchett Wanted Nevada to Try the Same Thing (May 4, 2026)
- Hollywood Now Wants Unlimited Cash from Californians – Nevada Just Saw This Movie (May 5, 2026)
In addition, Amy’s blistered Patchett over his Hollywood Handout vote in three mailers sent directly to Republican primary voters over the past two weeks:
She’s also run a “double-truck” newspaper ad in the Logandale/Overton area (just south of Mesquite) voicing her opposition to the Hollywood Handout and Patchett’s support for it.
You can see it by clicking here.
The ad also features two testimonials from two of the most conservative GOP legislators in all of Carson City – Assemblywoman Jill Dickman, the #1 conservative legislator in the 2025 session and former Assemblywoman Annie Black, the #1 conservative legislator in the 2021 session.
As you can see, George and Amy aren’t like most candidates who either dodge giving specific answers to specific questions on issues or serve up warmed-over pablum written by their consultants.
George and Amy aren’t just telling you what they think you want to hear. They’re LEADING by example. They’re taking solid positions that leave no doubt in the voter’s mind as to where they stand.
Which brings me to one other issue before wrapping this up: TAXES.
In last year’s legislative session, some Republican legislators – such as Assemblywoman Heidi Kasama, another Hollywood Handout supporter – voted for efforts to hike your gas and property taxes after “saying” on the campaign trail that they opposed tax hikes.
Campaign like a conservative. Vote like a Democrat.
Patchett and Chavez weren’t in office during that regular session, so there’s no way to know how they would have voted on those tax hikes. But we can certainly draw a reasonable conclusion.
George and Amy have signed – though not in blood! – the Taxpayer Protection Pledge promising “to oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes.”
Patchett and Chavez have refused to ink the same written promise.
Says all that needs to be said.
Victor concluded his column with this advice:
“If voters want elected officials who prioritize taxpayers over special interests, they need to pay attention in primaries.”
Indeed. As my friend and conservative icon Richard Viguerie says, “It’s the primaries, stupid!”
For Senate District 8: Vote for George Harris
For Assembly District 19: Vote for Amy Groves.
That is all.