Former Assm. Maggie Carlton (D-Las Vegas), who was a Culinary Union member before becoming one of the Legislature's more liberal members, said progressives will only succeed if they can forge stronger coalitions, particularly with labor and established politicians. 

"Open seats are easier to win than taking out an incumbent, and it's just the nature of the beast," Carlton said. "You have to learn sometimes it's best to work with the person who's already there, so you get to know what's going on, so that in the future you might be the person that steps in when the time comes."