Nevada Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony praises the situation as a place for businessmen, entertainment

Nevada Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony has an unusual plan to revitalize the Silver State’s entertainment business: space tourism; and since Elon Musk has significant business interests in the government, he won’t have to look far to find a man to do it.

Anthony’s background was varied: he had nearly three decades in the legal profession, an executive in the state’s higher education system, and served as a longtime Las Vegas city councilman.

He ran a strong campaign for mayor of Las Vegas, and since 2022 he has worked alongside Governor Joe Lombardo, leading the Silver State. The Lombardo/Anthony ticket is the only one in America where Republicans have defeated a Democratic incumbent governor and lieutenant governor.

Recently, Anthony sat down with Fox News Digital at FreedomFest in Las Vegas to discuss his career, Nevada’s economy, and election prospects in 2026, in what will be one of the tightest congressional races in the country.

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Anthony promotes the country as an entertainment business mecca, suggesting a light touch of regulation and a thriving business climate. He specializes in professional sports, and the emerging space tourism industry.

“If you look at it 10 years ago, we didn’t have one major sporting event here in Nevada. They wouldn’t actually come here because they thought there would be illegal gambling and corruption and bribery and so on. In 10 years, we’ve become the sports capital of the world. And on and on and on and on and on and on.

“The thing about Las Vegas is anything can happen here, so it’s not really up to me as the lieutenant governor to decide what’s the next big thing in tourism. It’s the tourism industry that has to decide what’s the next big thing.

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“One thing that’s interesting is space tourism. I think that might be the future here in Nevada because we have a lot of open space there… someone like Elon Musk could shoot rockets into outer space, stay there for a while, drink. Hang out with friends.

“What a treat it would be to see the World up there and actually make it kind of touristy. So those are the kinds of things we always think about, but it’s the private sector that has to do it, and I’m very much in favor of letting our entrepreneurs come up with the next best thing and supporting them.”

Elon Musk speaks at the Viva Technology conference focused on innovation and startups at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris on June 16, 2023. (Chesnot/Getty Images)

Anthony credits his long career with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police for giving him the problem-solving foundation to launch a successful political career:

“You know, a lot of people think of the police they see on television. High-speed chases, shootouts, fights in dark places, chasing people down dark streets, and arresting serious criminals. And that’s a big part of policing. But really, 90% of police work is really solving problems. Going into neighborhoods, finding out what the problems are, to help those neighbors solve the better problems of life.

“I’ve learned that that’s really what I’m supposed to be doing as an elected official. My job is to go out there and talk to people and find out what the state can do, what the county can do, what the city can do to make their lives better: to help people live the American dream and not cause problems like high taxes, high regulations, getting in their way, those types of things. So that’s really what I learned about policing.”

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo speaks on stage after Bruno Mars’ show honoring his impact on Las Vegas entertainment at Toshiba Plaza on April 10, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for MGM Resorts)

President Trump has endorsed the Lombardo/Anthony ticket, and believes the new tax-free tip policy will prove a major electoral boost in November.

“Well, President Trump endorsed the governor. President Trump endorsed me. He was here a few months ago to talk about his not paying the tip tax, which was a big deal here in Nevada.”

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“I think President Trump will be here. He is welcome anytime to come to the great state of Nevada and talk to the people of Nevada. When he was campaigning, he would have events with 5,000 or 6,000 people. So we have a good relationship with him. We want to have a relationship with him, and I believe he will be there to talk about some of his administration, not only the impact of his state, not just doing the best things in his state. Nevada in a positive way.”

President Donald Trump speaks about the economy during an event at the Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schifelbein)

Finally, Anthony notes that his political philosophy is closely related to his immigrant parents from Cyprus who instilled the values ​​of hard work, independence, and financial responsibility.

“When they came to the United States, and they didn’t have it, all they could do was get a job and get married and raise a family … number one: you work hard.

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“Number two: you don’t ask the government for anything. You want them to protect you, you want to have roads. But you don’t ask them for welfare, you don’t ask them for unemployment checks, you don’t ask them for food stamps. So it’s not what they thought the government would do.

“Their responsibility was to work hard, raise a family, buy a home and live the American dream. That taught me a lot. And that’s really how I’ve continued my public service. I’m here to support Nevadans in ways they need to be supported, but I’m not here to carry them. They need to carry themselves, and I think they understand that.”