Opening remarks
Across Nevada, the 2026 Election Cycle is already visibly underway. Campaign signs are appearing across communities statewide, and opposition and independent expenditure (IE) advertisements have already begun running, signaling that campaigns are gearing up. While this year does not include a presidential or vice-presidential race, it remains an important one—Nevada voters will decide contests for Congress and constitutional offices, the Legislature, and numerous local leadership positions that shape day-to-day governance in our communities.
To see the full list of candidates and track how crowded the primary field has become, visit:
In addition to candidate races, Nevada voters may also see several ballot questions on the 2026 ballot through the state’s citizen initiative process. Petition sponsors must file with the Secretary of State and gather roughly 148,000 valid signatures statewide, meeting minimum thresholds in each of Nevada’s four petition districts in order to qualify a measure for the ballot.
Several measures are already positioned to return to voters in 2026 after first passing in 2024, including the Right to Abortion Initiative and the Voter Identification Initiative, both of which must be approved by voters a second time before becoming constitutional amendments. Voters may also see proposals addressing changes to the Voter Bill of Rights and primary access, including the open primary and ranked-choice voting proposal, which would establish a nonpartisan primary open to all voters.
As signature deadlines and legal reviews move forward, additional initiative petitions could still emerge, meaning Nevada’s 2026 ballot may feature several high-profile policy questions alongside candidate races. Some of these ballot questions may also serve as ballot drivers, designed to mobilize partisan voters and increase turnout among specific segments of the electorate.
Voter Turnout
Turnout in Nevada’s off-cycle elections typically falls well below presidential-year levels. In recent cycles, about 75–77% of active voters participated in presidential elections, compared with 50–60% in midterm years and often under 40% in local municipal or school board elections. That drop-off means every ballot carries even greater weight in determining who leads our communities.
Nevada’s political landscape is also shifting as non-partisan voters continue to grow. Since 2023, non-partisan and independent voters have made up the largest share of registered voters in the state, surpassing both Democratic and Republican registration. This trend is likely to influence campaign strategies as candidates increasingly appeal to voters outside traditional party bases.
Primary elections will determine nominees for the Nevada Assembly and Senate, mayoral offices, county commissions, school boards, and statewide constitutional offices, shaping local priorities and setting the ballot for November.
| Key 2026 Election Dates | |
| Candidate Filing Close (Non-Judicial Races) | Friday, March 13 |
| Early Voting, Primary | Saturday, May 23 - Friday, June 5 |
| Primary Election Date | Tuesday, June 9 |
| Deadline to Submit Petition Signatures to SOS | Wednesday, June 24 |
| Early Voting, General | Saturday, October 17 - Friday October 30 |
| General Election | Tuesday, November 3 |
Note: Nevada’s primaries are closed, meaning voters must be registered with a political party to participate in that party’s primary and vote in any primary races. Voters may update their party affiliation before casting a ballot and even through the date of the Primary Election, but should ensure their registration and ballot request are updated with their county registrar if they want to receive a full ballot with the primary races of a specific party.
Nevada is also part of the ongoing national debate over the order of presidential primaries. State leaders and party officials continue advocating for Nevada to be placed first—or among the first—states in future nomination calendars, citing the state’s diverse electorate and mix of urban and rural communities. National parties have already begun evaluating early-primary states for the 2028 presidential cycle, with Nevada competing alongside states like Michigan, Georgia, and North Carolina.
The close of candidate filing also brought a major federal development for Nevada. Congressman Mark Amodei, who has represented Nevada’s Second Congressional District since 2011 and is our sole republican representative within the Nevada congressional delegation, announced he will not seek reelection, leaving the seat open for the first time in more than a decade. The CD2 race has already drawn significant interest, with more than 25 candidates filing to run, with some familiar faces like former Senate Minority Leader James Settelmeyer (2018-2022) and former Assembly Majority Leader Teresa Benitez-Thompson (2016-2022). As the campaign season unfolds, Nevada voters will closely watch how this competitive field develops and who may gain President Trump’s endorsement.
On a more personal note, we also want to extend our sincere thanks to Congressman Mark Amodei for his years of distinguished service to the State of Nevada and Northern Nevada communities. At TCS, some of us have worked with Mark for more than 20 years, and we wish him the very best in his next chapter.
-Nicole Flangas, Director of Government Affairs
Looking Nationally
Across the country, early primaries and special elections are already influencing the 2026 political landscape. In Texas, one of the most closely watched races was the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, where State Representative James Talarico defeated U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett after a competitive and high-profile campaign. The result sets up a major general election contest later this year for the seat currently held by Republican Senator John Cornyn, while the Republican primary is heading to a runoff between Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, highlighting divisions within the GOP electorate.
In Minnesota, a pair of special elections for the state House also drew national attention. Democratic-Farmer-Labor candidates Shelley Buck and Meg Luger-Nikolai won decisive victories in districts around St. Paul, with Luger-Nikolai receiving more than 95% of the vote in her race. The outcomes restored a 67–67 tie in the Minnesota House, illustrating how even lower-profile elections can shift legislative balance and influence policy heading into the next legislative session.
Other early contests have also set the stage for competitive races later this year. In North Carolina, voters finalized nominees for an open U.S. Senate seat, with former Governor Roy Cooper securing the Democratic nomination and former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley emerging from the Republican primary. Meanwhile, Arkansas primaries drew attention as congressional incumbents defended their seats and parties finalized nominees for November, reflecting broader national trends of crowded primaries and ideological divisions within both parties.
ICYMI
Rep. Mark Amodei, a Nevada Republican, announces retirement from House
Reno manager says police, sheriff consolidation not on the table
Iran war spikes Nevada gas prices; Lombardo asks California to delay emission changes
EDUCATION
Lombardo says traditional education is not working. His answer? Expand school choice. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo argued that traditional education is failing students and called for expanding school choice as a solution, something incorporated into the omnibus education bill SB460 of the 2025 legislative session. He highlighted his support for increasing funding for charter schools, teacher raises, and early literacy programs.
Nevada has nearly doubled free pre-K seats. Why are 1 in 10 vacant? Nevada nearly doubled the number of free pre-K seats for the 2024–25 school year, expanding access through more infrastructure funding and broader eligibility. However, program leaders say the growth came too late for some providers to fully staff and fill all available spots, leaving about 1 in 10 seats vacant.
ECONOMY
Major Las Vegas casino operator might sell for $7B, report says Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta is reportedly in exclusive talks to buy Caesars Entertainment Inc. for about $7 billion, topping a competing offer from investor Carl Icahn’s firm. Though no deal is imminent, Fertitta’s proposed purchase would give him control of one of the Las Vegas Strip’s largest casino operators, including Caesars Palace and Harrah’s.
Nevada, other states suing over new global tariffs Trump imposed after Supreme Court loss Nevada and other states are suing President Trump over new global tariffs, arguing he exceeded his authority after a Supreme Court defeat. The administration says the 10–15% import taxes are legal and needed to curb trade deficits.
ENVIRONMENT
Nevada likely to fall short of clean energy goals because of data centers Nevada is expected to miss its 2030 clean energy goals; one cause suggested is because of the surge of data centers seeking to operate in the state is driving electricity demand beyond renewable supply capacity. NV Energy projects it will need 47% more power than forecasted two years ago—turning partly to natural gas to meet demand, which could hinder progress toward the state’s renewable targets.
New NV top water regulator appointed, industry ties questioned by conservation groups Joe Cacioppo has been appointed as Nevada’s new state engineer and top water regulator following the abrupt departure of his predecessor, Adam Sullivan. Cacioppo, a licensed civil engineer and Army veteran with nearly 30 years of water management experience, will oversee the state’s 256 hydrographic basins and guide critical decisions on water allocation and conservation.
Lake Mead’s outlook just got even worse. Here’s how low it’s projected to go New federal projections show Lake Mead could reach its lowest level on record by late 2027, dropping to about 1,032.76 feet above sea level, nearly 8 feet lower than the previous record in 2022. The worsening forecast, driven by warm winters and poor runoff from the Colorado River Basin, has intensified pressure on the seven Western states to reach a new water-sharing agreement as drought conditions persist.
TOURISM
Outdoor recreation fuels the Nevada economy. A new state report says there’s a $24 billion impact A new state report shows that outdoor recreation contributes about $24 billion annually to Nevada’s economy and supports more than 75,000 jobs. The analysis highlights that activities like hiking, skiing, and boating are major economic drivers, underscoring the role of public lands in attracting both residents and visitors.
NBA, MLB, Final Four: 2028 shaping up as historic year for Las Vegas Las Vegas is poised for a historic 2028 as it prepares to host major sporting events including the NBA All-Star Game, MLB All-Star Game, and the NCAA Men’s Final Four — all in the same year. City leaders and tourism officials say the lineup cements Las Vegas’s status as a premier global sports destination, building on recent successes like the Super Bowl and Formula 1 Grand Prix.
NBA eyes expansion to Las Vegas for 2028-29 season The NBA is moving toward expanding to Las Vegas and Seattle for the 2028–29 season, with league governors set to hold a key vote next week to begin the process. If approved, the new franchises are expected to cost $7–$10 billion each, marking the league’s first expansion since 2004 and further cementing Las Vegas’s growing role in major professional sports.
HEALTHCARE
Nevada rejects Trump admin childhood vaccine rollbacks, maintains existing regulations The Nevada State Board of Health unanimously rejected the Trump administration’s weakened childhood vaccine guidelines, keeping the state’s stricter immunization requirements in place. Board members and health officials said the federal changes ignored scientific evidence and risked lowering protection for Nevada children.
State public-option health plans expand but can't fill gaps left by federal changes Nevada has become the third state to launch a public-option health plan, aiming to offer lower-cost insurance through the ACA marketplace. So far, about 10,000 people have enrolled—less than a third of projections—and experts say the plans may not significantly reduce costs without renewed federal subsidies.