Howard Watts III (born December 14, 1987) is an American politician serving as a member of the Nevada Assembly from the 15th district. Elected in 2018, he assumed office in 2019.

Early life and education

Watts was born in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1987. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2011.

Career

In 2018, Watts ran for election to represent the 15th district in the Nevada Assembly to replace Elliot Anderson, who was not seeking re-election. He won a five-way Democratic primary with 45.7% of the vote, and won the general election with 66.5% of the vote.

Watts served as chair of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee from 2021 to 2023. He authored legislation supported by animal welfare groups and Nevada egg producers to prohibit the sale of eggs from chickens confined in battery cage facilities. The legislation was signed by Governor Steve Sisolak in June 2021.

Tenure

Watts sits on the following Assembly committees:

  • Growth and Infrastructure
  • Judiciary
  • Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Mining

Watts is running for re-election in 2020, and will face Burke Andersson in the Democratic primary.

Electoral record

2018 Democratic primary election: Nevada State Assembly, District 15
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticHoward Watts III1,27545.7%
DemocraticJuan Manuel Chavez87531.4%
DemocraticLou Toomin2368.5%
DemocraticAndrew Spivak2157.7%
DemocraticMichael Gandy1886.7%
2018 general election: Nevada State Assembly, District 15
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticHoward Watts III9,34766.5%
RepublicanStan Vaughan4,71933.5%