Conservative Moms for Liberty group expanding influence into rural Nevada
A national conservative moms group aligned with President Donald Trump is expanding its influence to Elko and Humboldt counties, two years after it launched in Clark County.
Moms for Liberty Clark County leader Yadusha Jones confirmed to The Nevada Independent last month that the group recently formed new chapters in Elko and Humboldt counties and is also looking to expand to Washoe County. Jones said the organization now has nearly 1,400 members statewide.
Since its formation, the Moms for Liberty Clark County chapter has called for the Clark County School District (CCSD) to remove library books that it considers to be offensive and repeal policies that accommodate LGBTQ+ students. Group members have also been known to clash with board trustees, teachers and LGBTQ+ activists who oppose their viewpoints.
National Education Association of Southern Nevada President Jeremy Heckler said in a statement the chapter’s agenda distracts from discussions on curriculum, class sizes and budgets.
During the past legislative session, the group opposed a pair of bills, AB416 and AB445, that would have made it harder to ban books. The bills were vetoed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo.
The group also had some success last year when two of the candidates it backed in the 2024 elections, former chapter leaders Lydia Dominguez and Lorena Biassotti, were elected to the Clark County School Board. Dominguez is running in the Republican primary for Rep. Susie Lee’s (D-NV) seat, Congressional District 3.
The Elko County chapter is led by Misty Atkins, a mom of three who ran for the Elko County School Board in 2022 but did not win the election for the District 1 seat. Jones did not share additional information about the Humboldt County chapter leadership.
Atkins did not respond to multiple requests for an interview. But Jones shared a press release on the Elko chapter’s opening where Atkins said some parents in Elko County feel they are being left out of important school district decisions that impact their children. The statement does not give specific examples.
“We are here to change that,” Atkins said in the statement. “Moms for Liberty gives parents the tools, the community, and the courage to transform frustration into action. Together, we will ensure parents are respected and children are protected.”
The press release states the Elko chapter will be focused on strengthening parental involvement in education, holding elected officials accountable and more.
Elko County School District Superintendent Clayton Anderson said the district only had one minor interaction with the organization so far when it was seeking to donate copies of the U.S. Constitution to students. The district helped coordinate the delivery.
Jones said she’s seen issues statewide where students have been scrutinized by education officials for promoting their conservative views in their schoolwork.
“This even happened to my daughter,” she said. “Her responses were too conservative in a public school setting. A child should never be told that.”