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Rae Canady

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Rae Canady
Nonpartisan
Candidate, Las Vegas Municipal Court Department 1
Elections and appointments
Last election
June 11, 2024
Next election
June 9, 2026
Education
High school
Brown Deer High School
Bachelor's
University of Michigan, 1996
Law
Marquette University Law School, 2004
Graduate
University of Michigan, 1998
Personal
Birthplace
Milwaukee, WI
Profession
Attorney
Contact
Campaign website
Campaign Facebook
Campaign X
Campaign Instagram
Personal Instagram
Personal LinkedIn

Rae Canady is running in a special election for the Department 1 judge of the Las Vegas Municipal Court in Nevada. She is on the ballot in the special primary on June 9, 2026.[source]

Canady completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Rae Canady was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in 1996, a graduate degree from the University of Michigan in 1998, and a law degree from Marquette University Law School in 2004. Her career experience includes working as an attorney. She has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1][2]

  • National Bar Association - Las Vegas chapter
  • Latino Bar Association
  • Asian Bar Association
  • Democracy Policy Network
  • Human Rights Campaign
  • Nevada Veterans' Caucus
  • Women's Democratic Club of Clark County
  • Red Rock Democratic Club
  • North Las Vegas Democratic Club
  • Nevada Democratic Women's Caucus
  • NAACP - Las Vegas Chapter
  • League of Women Voters - Nevada
  • Nevada Justice Association
  • National Organization for Women - Nevada
  • National Action Network
  • Foster Care Chamber of Commerce
  • ACLU - Nevada

Elections

2026

See also: City elections in Las Vegas, Nevada (2026)

General election

The primary will occur on June 9, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Nonpartisan primary

Special Nonpartisan primary election for Las Vegas Municipal Court Department 1

Incumbent Matt Walker (Nonpartisan), Rae Canady (Nonpartisan), and Amanda Pellizzari (Nonpartisan) are running in the special primary for Las Vegas Municipal Court Department 1 on June 9, 2026.

Candidate
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
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Matt Walker (Nonpartisan)
Image of Rae Canady
Rae Canady (Nonpartisan)  Candidate Connection
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Amanda Pellizzari (Nonpartisan)

Incumbents are bolded and underlined.

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Endorsements

Canady received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

  • Nevada Veterans Caucus Board

2024

See also: City elections in Las Vegas, Nevada (2024)

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Las Vegas Municipal Court Department 5

Rebecca Wolfson won election outright against Shannon Nordstrom and Rae Canady in the primary for Las Vegas Municipal Court Department 5 on June 11, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Rebecca Wolfson
Rebecca Wolfson (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
52.8
 
35,246
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
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Shannon Nordstrom (Nonpartisan)
 
27.1
 
18,112
Image of Rae Canady
Rae Canady (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
20.0
 
13,366

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 66,724
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Canady in this election.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Rae Canady completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Canady's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the youngest of four girls. My parents met and fell in love in the 1960's. An interracial couple, they married the same year the US Supreme Court decided Loving v. Virginia. My parents grounded me and my sisters in community, emphasized the importance of helping others, and instilled in us a strong desire to seek justice.

Through hard work and family support, I earned two undergraduate degrees, one in Psychology and one in Sociology, and a master's degree in social work, from the University of Michigan. Shortly after I began my social work career, I started my legal studies. After five years of working full-time and attending classes part-time on nights and weekends, I graduated from Marquette University Law School with a Juris Doctor.

​​In my 26 year career, I have served in a variety of helping roles, including educator, case manager, therapist, child custody evaluator, nonprofit grant reviewer, mediator, court administrator, and criminal defense attorney. I'm currently a civil litigator at Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, representing kids in court.
  • Caring. I fell in love with Las Vegas the moment I visited in the mid-90's, and I relocated there in 2014. Since then, I've given back to my community by mentoring other attorneys, delivering meals to home-bound elders, participating in neighborhood cleanups, and volunteering with the Foster Care Chamber of Commerce. Las Vegas is my home, and I care about making it a safe and prosperous city.
  • Committed. I'm committed to working for you and with you. Together, we will make Las Vegas Municipal Court great!
  • Competent. I'm an experienced civil and criminal trial attorney with a background in mediation, education, social work, and court administration. I have what it takes to stand up to the establishment and fight the status quo to create a court for the community that is efficient, innovative, and transparent.
Increasing public safety. Improving court transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness. Restoring trust and confidence in the court system.
Intelligent. Fair. Honest. Ethical. Composed. Empathetic.
Upholding the federal and state constitutions. Administering legal and procedural justice. Ensuring a fair process. Affording everyone the opportunity to be heard. Improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of the court. Successfully managing the courtroom.
Space shuttle Challenger disaster. I was 11 years old.
Burger King. I worked there six months before the restaurant closed unexpectedly.
Most people don't know the extent to which judges determine the policies and practices of a court or that judges must manage all of the employees in the courtroom.
A judge's job is to properly interpret the U.S. and state constitution, regulations, statutes, and ordinances, taking legislative intent, case law, victims' wishes, defendants' circumstances, and community sentiment into consideration.
A judge before whom I previously practiced, M. Joseph Donald. Judge Donald is currently an appellate court judge in Wisconsin and one of my mentors.
Absolutely.
N/A
As a former Las Vegas Municipal Court administrator, I know firsthand that we can do better. Everyone is tired of judges who don't listen, act like bullies, and make decisions based on their personal or political views. When people appear in court, they have the right to be heard, to be treated with respect, and to have their dispute resolved fairly.

I'm running for Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge to create a court for the community that is efficient, innovative, and transparent.
It may be beneficial, but I don't think it's necessary.
I have a few. The low trust and confidence the public has in our legal system, the numerous inefficiencies that waste taxpayer dollars, and the reluctance of judges and court administrators to embrace innovation.
Elect new judges who are not part of the old guard, establishment, or status quo.
No. Las Vegas Municipal Court is the only court I am interested in because of my prior experience there as an administrator, it is the court closest to the community, and it is where I believe I can make the greatest positive impact.
N/A
None yet. I officially declare in January 2026.
While knocking doors during the last campaign cycle, I met the first Latina who performed on the main stage at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. She invited me in to her home and showed me a ton of amazing memorabilia.
In 2008, I received the Howard B. Eisenberg Service Award from the Marquette University Law School Alumni Board. The award recognizes outstanding service to the community, which reflects Marquette's ideals of excellence, faith, leadership, and service.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.


2024

Candidate Connection

Rae Canady completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Canady's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

I'm running for Las Vegas Municipal Court Judge, Department 5, to create a community-centered court that is transparent, fiscally-responsible, and efficient. As a former administrator with Las Vegas Municipal Court, I know firsthand that we can and must do better. The Las Vegas Municipal Court should be a friendly place where everyone gets the help they need to become productive citizens; a place where the inherent dignity of every human is honored, and everyone is treated fairly and respectfully.
  • Caring. I adore the City of Las Vegas, and I care deeply about the health, safety, and prosperity of everyone in the Las Vegas community.
  • Committed. I have committed my personal and professional life to public service. I understand that being a public servant is a privilege, and I understand that it means I work for the public.
  • Competent. With over 25 years of real-world experience as a social worker, trial attorney, mediator, advocate, and court administrator, I have what it takes to champion the effective solutions that the Las Vegas Municipal Court and Las Vegas community needs and deserves.
Criminal legal reform. Restoring trust, confidence, civility, and integrity in our legal system. Creating a community advisory council. Implementing evidence-based decision making. Utilizing public funds and resources responsibly.
I look up to trailblazers who lead with integrity. I am hoping to be among those trailblazers by becoming the first Black person elected to the Las Vegas Municipal Court bench.
Honesty, integrity, empathy, vision, dedication to public service, and experience.
Education. I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, and a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan, and a Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School.

Experience. I have over 25 years of real-world experience as a social worker, child advocate, trial attorney, mediator, and court administrator.

Empathy. I come from humble beginnings, and my parents grounded me in community, emphasized the importance of helping others, and instilled in me a strong desire to seek justice.
Justice.
That I was tough, but fair. That I listened, and cared. That I made a positive difference in people's lives.
The explosion of the space shuttle Challenger. I was 11 years old at the time.
Burge King. I held that job for 6 months before the restaurant closed.
Hiro Nakamura
Love Shack, by the B-52s.
Navigating injustice.
Yes. A lot of people do not understand the role of municipal courts, but they are so important. Further, a lot of people do not understand the importance of local elections. Local elected officials, like municipal court judges, play an integral role in quality of life issues for citizens, and it is essential to hold all elected officials accountable to the public.
Each individual who appears before a judge should be treated with dignity and respect, and their individual circumstances must be thoughtfully considered before every legal decision is made.
Thurgood Marshall, Warren Berger, and Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
Absolutely. I often state that I lead with data, and follow with compassion. A judge must attempt to understand the circumstances of the case from multiple perspectives, including the victim, the defendant, and the attorneys. If a judge cannot or does not have empathy, justice is impossible.
N/A
As a former administrator with the Las Vegas Municipal Court, previously overseeing probation, pretrial services, specialty courts, collections, and Marshals and court security, I know firsthand that we can and must do better for our community.
Yes. A solid understanding of what occurs in front of and behind the bench is crucial.
Dignity and respect to litigants, holding judges accountable, improving public safety though evidence-based decisions, and enhancing the health, safety, and prosperity of our community,
To actually help people, and restore "justice" to the criminal justice system.
I am committed to municipal court. It is the court closest to the community, and the court where I believe I can have the greatest impact.
I have no opinion regarding the ABA's ratings.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2026 Elections

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External links

Candidate

Las Vegas Municipal Court Department 1
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    Personal

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 6, 2024
    2. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 8, 2025

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