Minja Yan, a dedicated community advocate and commercial real estate professional, is running as a Democrat for Clark County Commissioner in District F. This district covers the southwestern part of the Las Vegas Valley and Chinatown, including areas like portions of Enterprise, Paradise, Spring Valley, and communities such as Blue Diamond, Goodsprings, Jean, Mountain Springs, Primm, Red Rock, Sandy Valley, and Sloan. With the 2026 election approaching—including a primary on June 9, 2026—Yan positions herself as a fresh voice to address rising living costs, traffic congestion, housing affordability, and responsible growth in one of Nevada’s most populous and fastest-growing counties.
Background and Local Roots
A longtime resident of District F, raised in Southwest Las Vegas, Yan brings deep local roots to her campaign. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and a Master of Science in Real Estate (with a concentration in Finance and Investment) from New York University. Professionally, she specializes in urban and infill redevelopment, community revitalization, and aligning investments with sustainable, local priorities. She has taught as an adjunct professor in commercial real estate at UNLV Lee Business School and is a TEDx speaker, having delivered a talk on preserving historical Chinatowns.
Community Leadership
Yan’s community leadership stands out prominently. She led the Clark County Chinatown Redevelopment Plan, collecting input from over 700 residents and small business owners to improve infrastructure, traffic flow, and public safety. She mobilized opposition to two federal bills that would have privatized 65,000 acres of public lands in Clark County, protecting areas near Blue Diamond Hill, Mountain’s Edge, Southern Highlands, and Inspirada. Her involvement extends to regional planning through roles on the Regional Transportation Commission’s Southern Nevada Strong Steering Committee and Transportation Resource Advisory Committee, as well as contributions to master plan updates for local municipalities. She serves on the boards of The Mob Museum and the UNLV Lee Business School Alumni Chapter, is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s Public Private Partnership Council, and founded the “Women Building Nevada Symposium,” earning the American Institute of Architects Las Vegas Chapter’s “President’s Award” in 2023 for supporting women in architecture, construction, and engineering.
Campaign Launch and Vision
Yan launched her campaign in late 2025, emphasizing her commitment to building a more affordable, livable, and responsive Clark County. She argues that the current system often works against residents—evident in daily frustrations like traffic, high bills, and limited voice in decision-making. Her platform focuses on practical, forward-thinking solutions across several key areas:
Jobs and Economy
Streamlining bureaucracy with a “One-Stop-Shop” for small businesses
Prioritizing local contractors on public projects
Expanding economic development resources
Creating low-interest loans through a new Community Development Financial Institution
Partnering with the Clark County School District (CCSD) and College of Southern Nevada for workforce training in high-demand fields like healthcare, biotech, skilled trades, and cybersecurity
Increasing affordable childcare to support workforce participation, particularly for women
Transportation
Highlighting Las Vegas’s lag in public transit compared to peers like Phoenix and Denver
Championing a phased regional light rail system for the Southwest and beyond, connecting key spots such as the airport, Allegiant Stadium, and UNLV
Funding via Tax Increment Financing districts (capturing future property value increases without broad tax hikes)
Promoting transit-oriented development with reduced parking requirements, better bus routes, shade, lighting, and complete streets for safer multimodal access
Housing and Affordability
Reforming zoning to allow “missing middle” housing (duplexes, triplexes, townhomes)
Eliminating parking minimums near transit
Increasing lot coverage, reducing setbacks
Prioritizing transit-oriented projects to lower combined housing and transportation expenses
Public Safety and Community Well-Being
Shifting non-emergency calls (mental health, substance use, homelessness) to specialized teams to free first responders
Using urban design for safer neighborhoods
Redesigning dangerous streets toward zero fatalities
Investing in youth programs to prevent violence
Responsible Growth and Environment
With population projections nearing 3 million by 2045 and Lake Mead critically low
Urging infill development on urban vacant land (over 78,000 acres available according to RTC’s Land Inventory Study) rather than sprawling into desert public lands
Reducing car dependency, pollution, and infrastructure strain while preserving water resources
Healthcare and Education
Building community clinics in the Southwest and Chinatown
Expanding health worker programs and residency slots through partnerships with UNLV and other institutions
Emphasizing career pathways, apprenticeships, affordable preschool, and Safe Routes to School initiatives
Responsive Government
Pledging accessibility through after-work meetings, expanded online participation, neighborhood office hours, coffee chats, and regular transparent community forums on issues like housing and safety
Endorsed by Run For Something and the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter, Yan frames her run as a chance to challenge entrenched interests and deliver people-first policies. Her campaign website, voteminja.com, offers details on volunteering, events, and ways to get involved.
As Southern Nevada continues its dynamic growth, Minja Yan’s blend of professional expertise, community activism, and bold yet pragmatic proposals positions her as a candidate focused on making Clark County work better for everyday residents. Voters in District F will have the opportunity to weigh her vision against other contenders in the upcoming 2026 election.
