Canada’s Vegas Boycott Becomes a Battleground Issue in Nevada’s Key House Races
Las Vegas has long relied on Canadian tourists to fill its casinos, hotels, and restaurants. But President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his repeated jokes about annexing Canada have led to a sharp drop in visitors from the north—and Democrats in Nevada are betting that economic pain at home will help them hold onto crucial congressional seats this November.
Canadian visits to Las Vegas fell 17 percent last year, contributing to a 7.5 percent overall decline in tourism—the worst non-pandemic year since the city began tracking data in 1970. With peak travel season now underway, Democratic Representative Susie Lee, whose Las Vegas-area district is the top Republican target in the state, is making the slump a central campaign issue.
“Trump’s reckless tariffs prompted Canadians to boycott travel to America,” Lee said. “That has hit our tourism industry hard.”
Republicans, however, argue the focus should be on broader economic wins. White House spokesperson Kush Desai noted that the vast majority of Vegas tourists are Americans and touted the administration’s agenda of tax cuts, deregulation, and energy production. Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee hammered Nevada Democrats for voting against a bill that included a “no tax on tips” provision.
Still, the local impact is undeniable. Several Vegas restaurants have closed, and hospitality hiring has stalled. The Culinary Union, representing 60,000 workers, is considering relief efforts similar to those during the pandemic if visitor numbers don’t recover.
Some resorts are now offering to accept Canadian dollars at par with U.S. dollars—a 30 percent discount—and hosting free concerts by Canadian artists. The city’s tourism office has launched a $3.5 million ad campaign to lure back northern guests. But as one local economist put it, patriotic fury isn’t easily soothed by marketing.
Republican strategists point to recent job growth and a slight uptick in February and March visits as signs the worst may be over. But for many Nevadans who work in the service industry, the conversation at Little League games and school events is about lost hours and closed businesses. And that’s exactly the kind of talk Democrats hope will carry them through November.