Assemblyman Duy Nguyen is serving his first term in the Nevada Assembly and a community leader of three local nonprofits serving Las Vegas and Nevada—One APIA Nevada, Asian Community Development Council and the Healthy Asians & Pacific Islanders (HAPI) Medical Center.
BE GREAT AND DO GOOD: BUILDING POWER FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
At just 11 years old, Duy Nguyen and his family fled war-torn Vietnam to reunite with his father, who had left seven years prior, in America. While America promised a safer and better way of life, he and his family had to start from nothing.
Growing up in a trailer park, Duy experienced first-hand what it was like for New Americans—struggling financially, navigating an unfamiliar new country unable to speak the language, and working hard to build a better life to as not to have to struggle again.
From a young age, his grandmother instilled in him the importance of giving back and doing good—but he never imagined this would lead to him running for public office. Having fled a country where one’s voice and the vote didn’t matter, the ability to start a new life, become a citizen, and run for public office, no matter how humble your beginnings is something that could only happen in America.
TRAILBLAZING FOR AFFECTING EQUITABLE CHANGE AND BETTER REPRESENTATION
Finishing high school early, Duy started college at just 16 years old—the first in his family to go to college. He got involved in student government, making history as the first Vietnamese American and second Asian American to hold the position of Vice President—bringing his perspective, creating visibility, and opening the door for other students like him to see what was possible.
This experience proved formative for Duy as he continued to get more involved with activism, joining OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates to fight injustice and speak out on issues facing the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. He knew policy change could not happen if the community continued to be silent and just accept things as they were.
After years of committed advocacy work and leadership alongside his corporate career, Duy was asked to relocate to Las Vegas to chair the 2005 OCA National Convention, after which he never moved back—seeing an opportunity to bring his years of corporate and civic leadership to Nevada. Using his decades of civic, corporate, and personal experience, he immediately set to work building three nonprofits from scratch that would serve the unique needs of Nevada’s communities—the Asian Community Development Council (ACDC), One APIA Nevada and the Healthy Asians & Pacific Islanders (HAPI) Medical Center.
Duy heads engagement and outreach strategy for voter education and engagement as well as health and wellness education initiatives and workforce development as a leader of three nonprofits serving Nevadan communities at a local and state level. His appointment in 2019 as a Planning Commissioner for Clark County made him the first AANHPI to serve on the Planning Commission in Nevada’s history. As a Planning Commissioner representing one of Nevada’s fastest-growing districts, Duy has clear insights into how, with the right perspective and vision, community and local government can work together to create positive, equitable, and lasting growth for all.
As a small business owner, Duy understands the struggles that entrepreneurs face—especially in our growing and diverse communities. He and his wife run a nail salon, and like many small business owners, they know how critical it is to have a supportive business environment. Many of us in the AANHPI community come from families that have started businesses to build a better future, and he knows firsthand how essential it is to cut red tape, lower taxes, and provide resources for minority- and women-owned businesses. Small businesses are the backbone of Nevada’s economy, and Duy will continue to fight to ensure they have the support needed to thrive.
Education has also been a cornerstone of Duy's work in the Assembly. Growing up, his family emphasized the importance of education, and he knows that’s a shared value across families in our community. Education is the foundation of our children’s futures, and Duy will continue to make it a priority to ensure every child in Nevada has access to quality schooling. From increasing public school funding to championing programs like financial literacy and career technical education, Duy is committed to giving our kids the tools they need to succeed.
Duy is proud to have earned the trust and support of organizations that represent workers, businesses, and families across Nevada. From the Nevada State AFL-CIO to the Clark County Education Association, from Nevada State Medical Association to the Nevada Conservation League, from Nevada Law Enforcement to the Nevada Retail Association, and from Service Employees International Union to the Vegas Chamber —these endorsements reflect a broad coalition of support for the work Duy has done and will continue to do. Duy has worked with community groups, unions, and advocates to push for policies that make life better for Nevada families, and will continue doing so if re-elected.