U.S. House, Nevada 4th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Nevada's 4th Congressional District?
Steven Horsford has the strongest record in Nevada's 4th Congressional District. Steven Horsford scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Steven Horsford's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Russell Best (2 of 15 criteria), William Johnson (0 of 15 criteria) and Cody Whipple (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Independent American Party
Russell Best
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 2 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Steven Horsford
On the ballot as Steven A. Horsford
57 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 44
Independent
William Johnson
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Cody Whipple
On the ballot as Cody K. Whipple
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Russell Best
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Steven Horsford
- On the record2025-01
Voted for the Laken Riley Act in January 2025 on both House passage votes, while Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries voted against.
- On the record2023
Ranked 368th of 436 House members on the Lugar Center Bipartisan Index for 2023, in the bottom quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
- On the record2020-05-16
Acknowledged in May 2020 an extramarital affair with Gabriela Linder, who said it began in 2009 when he was Nevada Senate majority leader; his office said no campaign or official funds supported her.
Sources: Associated Press, as published by the Afro, May 17, 2020, The Nevada Independent, May 20, 2020
- Credit2025-07-15
Sponsored the Apex Area Technical Corrections Act (H.R. 618), signed into law on July 15, 2025.
- Credit2022
His Capping Drug Costs for Seniors Act (H.R. 4417, 2021) was incorporated into the Inflation Reduction Act, which was enacted in 2022.
William Johnson
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Cody Whipple
- On the record2025 to 2026
The Nye County Republican Party, which backed a primary rival, said he moved his primary residence from the Las Vegas area to Lincoln County shortly before launching his campaign; he called it an attack by that rival's team.
Source: Nevada Current, as published by Yahoo News, Sept. 30, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Russell Best. No public record found.
Steven Horsford. Annual disclosures on file with the House Clerk and no periodic transaction reports 2019 to 2026; no House Ethics matter found. A 2020 complaint to the Office of Congressional Ethics by an advocacy group has no public action (open, see Record).
Sources: House Committee on Ethics site search for Horsford, FEC candidate page
William Johnson. No public record found.
Cody Whipple. Campaign reports on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, and House candidate disclosures filed in 2025. No FEC administrative fine or court finding found.
Source: FEC candidate page
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Russell Best. No public record found.
Steven Horsford. Voted Yea on the Laken Riley Act (Roll Calls 6 and 23 of 2025) while Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries voted Nay.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 6, Jan. 7, 2025, House Clerk Roll Call 23, Jan. 22, 2025
William Johnson. No public record found.
Cody Whipple. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Russell Best. No public record found.
Steven Horsford. Hosted a public town hall on the 2025 budget bill and completed the Nevada Independent's 2026 issue form. No general election debate record found either way.
Sources: FOX5 Las Vegas, May 27, 2025, The Nevada Independent, Sept. 8, 2026
William Johnson. No public record found.
Cody Whipple. Completed the Nevada Independent's 2026 issue form and issues public statements on the race. No general election debate record found either way.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Russell Best. No public record found.
Steven Horsford. Nevada Senate 2004 to 2012 (majority leader 2009 to 2012) and in Congress 2013 to 2015 and since 2019, with no censure, reprimand or conduct finding. His acknowledged 2020 extramarital affair is in the Record.
Source: Ballotpedia, Steven Horsford
William Johnson. No public record found.
Cody Whipple. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Russell Best. Served in the U.S. Navy as a storekeeper and was honorably discharged, per Ballotpedia.
Source: Ballotpedia, Russell Best
Steven Horsford. Voted Nay on both January 2021 objections to certified electors (Roll Calls 10 and 11); no misuse-of-office finding.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, Jan. 6, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, Jan. 7, 2021
William Johnson. No public record found.
Cody Whipple. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Russell Best. Owner and operator of an independent mortgage company in northern Nevada; Navy veteran.
Source: Ballotpedia, Russell Best
Steven Horsford. U.S. House member 2013 to 2015 and since 2019; Nevada Senate 2004 to 2012, including majority leader; earlier executive director of the Culinary Training Academy.
Sources: GovTrack, Steven Horsford, Ballotpedia, Steven Horsford
William Johnson. No public record found.
Cody Whipple. Rancher and small business owner in digital communications; has not held public office.
Sources: Nevada Current, as published by Yahoo News, Sept. 30, 2026, Campaign site, home page
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Russell Best. No public record found.
Steven Horsford. Serves on the Ways and Means Committee (Health and Social Security subcommittees); chaired the Congressional Black Caucus 2023 to 2025 (a caucus, not a chamber post). Primary sponsor of four enacted bills.
Source: GovTrack, committee membership
William Johnson. No public record found.
Cody Whipple. Publishes positions in general terms through the Nevada Independent's form and campaign issue pages.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Russell Best. No public record found.
Steven Horsford. Three channels documented: an office newsletter, a public town hall and the Nevada Independent's issue form.
Sources: Office site, home page, FOX5 Las Vegas, May 27, 2025, The Nevada Independent, Sept. 8, 2026
William Johnson. No public record found.
Cody Whipple. Two channels documented: the Nevada Independent's form and a campaign website with issue pages. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: The Nevada Independent, Sept. 8, 2026, Ballotpedia, Cody Whipple
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Russell Best. No public record found.
Steven Horsford. Born in Las Vegas and a Clark High School graduate. FEC by-state totals show about 21 percent of itemized contributions from Nevada ($277,392 of $1,332,374).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Steven Horsford, FEC contribution totals by state
William Johnson. No public record found.
Cody Whipple. Describes himself as a fourth-generation Nevadan with a family cattle ranch; ranches and does business in Lincoln County. FEC by-state totals show about 59 percent of itemized contributions from Nevada ($208,894 of $354,961).
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Nevada Current, as published by Yahoo News, Sept. 30, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Russell Best. No public record found.
Steven Horsford. Campaign reports on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026; no FEC administrative fine found. Earlier ran the Culinary Training Academy.
Source: FEC candidate page
William Johnson. No public record found.
Cody Whipple. Runs a small business and family ranch; campaign reports on file with the FEC, including a $300,000 candidate loan, with no administrative fine found.
Source: Nevada Current, as published by Yahoo News, Sept. 30, 2026
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Russell Best. No public record found.
Steven Horsford. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.257 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 0.535, below expectations. Raised to 2 under E14: his Capping Drug Costs for Seniors Act (117th) was incorporated into the enacted Inflation Reduction Act.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, H.R. 4417 (117th Congress)
William Johnson. No public record found.
Cody Whipple. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Russell Best. No public record found.
Steven Horsford. Missed 232 of 5,073 roll call votes, 4.6 percent, from January 2013 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
William Johnson. No public record found.
Cody Whipple. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Russell Best. No public record found.
Steven Horsford. Keeps a North Las Vegas district office, offers help with federal agencies and publishes casework success stories. No casework totals found.
Source: Office site, home page
William Johnson. No public record found.
Cody Whipple. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Russell Best. No public record found.
Steven Horsford. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -1.18689 for the 118th Congress (2023), ranked 368 of 436, in the bottom quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
William Johnson. No public record found.
Cody Whipple. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Russell Best. No public record found.
Steven Horsford. No public record found.
William Johnson. No public record found.
Cody Whipple. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Nevada's 4th Congressional District?
Steven Horsford has the strongest record in Nevada's 4th Congressional District. Steven Horsford scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Steven Horsford's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Russell Best (2 of 15 criteria), William Johnson (0 of 15 criteria) and Cody Whipple (7 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Nevada's 4th Congressional District in 2026?
Russell Best (Independent American Party), Steven Horsford (Democratic, incumbent), William Johnson (Independent), Cody Whipple (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Russell Best a good candidate for Congress?
Russell Best has public evidence on 2 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Steven Horsford a good candidate for Congress?
Steven Horsford scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 44 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is William Johnson a good candidate for Congress?
William Johnson has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Cody Whipple a good candidate for Congress?
Cody Whipple has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Nevada race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Nevada 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.