Iraq vet and former AG assistant runs for NV Attorney General

A former First Assistant Attorney General and Air Force Reserve Major is running for Nevada Attorney General to succeed Adam Laxalt, who is running for Governor.

According to a campaign release, 37-year-old Wes Duncan, a Republican, is an Iraq War veteran, Major in the Air Force reserves, former First Assistant Attorney General, State Assemblyman (representing the 37th district), and Clark County prosecutor.

“I am running for Attorney General because I want to make Nevada the safest place to raise a family,” said Duncan. “First and foremost, the Attorney General is Nevada’s top law enforcement official—a position that requires experience, a strong relationship with law enforcement, and an unwavering focus on Nevada. The State deserves a tested leader who will concentrate each and every day on the safety and security of the state. I will never put politics before public safety, I will always have law enforcement’s back, and I will follow the law and fight for all Nevadans.”

Duncan continued, “I take seriously the job of being Nevada’s chief law enforcement officer and as an Iraq war veteran and former prosecutor, I know the dangers they face each and every day in the line of duty. I look forward to working closely with law enforcement to ensure they have the encouragement, resources and support they need to protect our communities and keep us safe. As Attorney General, I will strive diligently with law enforcement across the state to lower violent crime, care for sexually exploited youth in our communities, reduce domestic violence, fight financial fraud, and work to combat the opioid crisis.

The release says, "As First Assistant Attorney General, Wes helped Attorney General Laxalt lead nearly 400 personnel in five different offices across the state. Not only passionate about advancing initiatives to help Nevadans, Wes enjoyed the challenge of motivating and leading others. Wes worked tirelessly on behalf of victims, law enforcement, and prosecutors. He advocated strongly for those groups while testifying before the Legislature and crafted legislation on behalf of the Attorney General’s Office. Wes served as vice chair of the Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Rape Kit Working Group where he was instrumental in crafting policies to eradicate the backlog of more than 8,000 rape kits. He also served as vice chair of the Attorney General’s Substance Abuse Working Group that works to develop policies to combat drug addiction. In September 2017, not wanting to run for public office as a state employee, Wes resigned his position at the Attorney General’s office and joined the law firm of Hutchison and Steffen as a partner."

Democratic state Senator Aaron Ford has also announced his intention to run for Attorney General.