17 stories credited to The Nevada Independent
Latest story Sep 16, 2026 · on ChamberLight since Apr 2026
A story can appear as several articles (copies of the same piece), so counts of stories and of articles differ.
Scores for The Nevada Independent
Political lean
17 stories · 95% range 46–51 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Originality
17 stories · updated Sep 24, 2026
Writing quality 87 of 100: the average rating of 17 stories, each rated on its own (separate from credibility). How it is measured
Scores last checked Sep 25, 2026.
Stories ChamberLight collected, by month
Stories credited to The Nevada Independent, by publication date. ChamberLight collects articles that mention the officials it tracks, so this shows its own coverage of this source, not how much the source publishes.
- Stories from The Nevada Independent
- Shaded: ChamberLight collected no stories, or almost none, from any outlet (a gap in its collection, not in the outlet’s publishing)
Show as a table
| Month | Stories | All outlets |
|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | 7 | 897 |
| April 2026 | 7 | 4,538 |
| May 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| June 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| July 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| August 2026 | 0 | 1 (collection gap) |
| September 2026 | 3 | 1,320 |
Top topics
Share of this source’s stories tagged with each topic. A story can carry several topics, so the shares do not add up to 100%.
- Budget/Spending9
53% of 17 stories · 31% across all outlets
- Ethics/Corruption9
53% of 17 stories · 58% across all outlets
- Voting Rights9
53% of 17 stories · 19% across all outlets
- Foreign Policy5
29% of 17 stories · 29% across all outlets
- Economy3
18% of 17 stories · 26% across all outlets
- Environment/Climate3
18% of 17 stories · 5% across all outlets
- Immigration3
18% of 17 stories · 13% across all outlets
- Defense/Military2
12% of 17 stories · 25% across all outlets
The thin mark on each bar is the topic’s share across all outlets.
Who they cover
Party of the officials these stories are mainly about, across all 11 officials named. A story counts once for each official it is mainly about, so the split is over 30 story–official pairs, from 17 stories.
- Democrat37% · 11 pairs
- Republican33% · 10 pairs
- Party not recorded30% · 9 pairs
Most covered
Stories mainly about each official, and their share of the source’s 17 stories.
- 1Mark AmodeiR7 stories · 41%
- 2Todd Lombardo–6 stories · 35%
- 3Steven HorsfordD4 stories · 24%
- 4Donald TrumpR3 stories · 18%
- 5Catherine Cortez MastoD2 stories · 12%
- 6Jacky RosenD2 stories · 12%
- 7Susie LeeD2 stories · 12%
- 8Cody Whipple–1 story · 6%
- 9Dina TitusD1 story · 6%
- 10Marty O'Donnell–1 story · 6%
+ 1 other official (1 story–official pair)
Article tone
ChamberLight’s article analysis assigns each story a tone toward the official it covers. It describes the coverage of that official, not The Nevada Independent’s stance, and reader votes do not change it. 17 stories.
- Good Look
- 4 (24%)
- Mixed
- 12 (71%)
- Informational
- 1 (6%)
- Bad Look
- 0 (0%)
Related sources
Lean 95% range 46–52 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 2 shared topics
Lean 95% range 47–50 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 45–52 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 44–52 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Lean 95% range 46–51 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 1 shared topic
Lean 95% range 48.9–49.4 · updated Sep 25, 2026
Similar lean · 3 shared topics
Challenges to these scores
No one has challenged a score on this page yet. Anyone can; editors publish every outcome here.
Articles served from thenevadaindependent.com
30
¿Cuáles son las posturas de los candidatos para representar al 4.o Distrito Congresional de Nevada?
El Congresista Demócrata Steven Horsford, y el Republicano Cody Whipple, se enfrentan por el escaño que abarca North Las Vegas y el centro de Nevada. Esto es lo que plantean.
¿Cuáles son las posturas de los candidatos para representar al 4.o Distrito Congresional de Nevada?
El Congresista Demócrata Steven Horsford, y el Republicano Cody Whipple, se enfrentan por el escaño que abarca North Las Vegas y el centro de Nevada. Esto es lo que plantean.
Does Teresa Benitez-Thompson stand a chance in deep red Northern Nevada?
A new poll, promising pundit forecasts and national attention suggest she could flip this congressional seat with a blue tsunami behind her.
¿Cuáles son las posturas de los candidatos para representar al 3.er Distrito Congresional de Nevada?
La Congresista Demócrata por Nevada, Susie Lee, y el Republicano Marty O'Donnell, un compositor de videojuegos, se están enfrentando para representar el 3.er Distrito Congresional del sur de Nevada. Aquí comparten sus posturas políticas:
¿Cuáles son las posturas de los candidatos para representar al 3.er Distrito Congresional de Nevada?
La Congresista Demócrata por Nevada, Susie Lee, y el Republicano Marty O'Donnell, un compositor de videojuegos, se están enfrentando para representar el 3.er Distrito Congresional del sur de Nevada. Aquí comparten sus posturas políticas:
Which Nevada candidates have raised the most money so far in 2026?
Gov. Joe Lombardo remained the top fundraiser in his re-election bid, while former state Sen. James Settelmeyer (R) and retired Lt. Col David Flippo (R) are pitting insider donations against massive self-funding in the GOP primary for an open House seat, according to fundraising reports for the first three months of 2026. The campaign finance reports from January through March also show significant fundraising battles in key primaries for attorney general and treasurer, while the incumbent Republican lieutenant governor was outraised by his Democratic challenger. The GOP primary for secretary of state also saw a Lombardo-backed candidate post a sizable fundraising lead over primary opponents, though she was outraised by the incumbent Democrat. The reports, which were due Wednesday, are the final look at state candidates' fundraising and spending behaviors before the June 9 primary (congressional candidates must turn in a report before the election). They provide the public with details about who is bankrolling campaigns and give a sense of the seriousness of campaigns, as money raised is critical to conducting voter outreach through signs, advertisements and more. Read below for details on how the fundraising shook out in the key races. Lombardo maintains fundraising lead in governor's race Lombardo raised $2.2 million from January through March and brought in an additional $1.5 million through an affiliated political action committee called Nevada Way, bringing his cash on hand for his PAC and campaign to more than $14 million. Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) reported raising $1.5 million in the first three months of the year across his campaign and an affiliated Forward Nevada PAC — breaking the record for direct campaign donations to a non-incumbent candidate for governor. Between the PAC and campaign, he has more than $2.7 million in cash on hand. Long shot Democratic primary challenger Alexis Hill, a Washoe County commissioner, was third among gubernatorial candidates with $171,000 raised. The majority — $126,000 — were loans from her and her husband. Her donor base did not feature any large PACs, corporations or other interests. Notable donations to Lombardo's Nevada Way PAC included: $1 million from the Las Vegas Sands, $500,000 from Nevada Gold Mines, $20,000 from the solar company Arevia Power, $10,000 from data center company Switch. The donation from Nevada Gold Mines (which also gave the same PAC half a million dollars in 2024) comes after the company complained to the governor's office about the top official in charge of regulating water rights, who was later fired. Lombardo's campaign received an additional $10,000 from the company during the first quarter of the year. Ford received 13,000 donations — 90 percent of $80 or less, according to his campaign — totaling $1.23 million, besting Lombardo's 2022 first quarter haul of about $825,000. Notable donors to Ford include the Bricklayers Local 13 PAC, the national Next 50 Alumni PAC, Rory Reid and a PAC affiliated with Assm. Selena Torres (D-Las Vegas). The Forward Nevada PAC received $100,000 from billionaire personal injury attorney John Morgan and $50,000 from a New York-based PAC affiliated with the company that operates Resorts World Casino NYC. Donors who gave less than $100 (which do not have to be named in finance reports) made up more than 20 percent of Ford's fundraising haul, compared with less than 0.5 percent of Lombardo's contribution total. So far this cycle, ad tracking service AdImpact reports that Republican-aligned groups have spent more than $5.3 million in campaign ads for the gubernatorial election. Democrats and aligned groups have spent a relatively paltry $32,175. The spending reports for Lombardo and Ford show that Ford's campaign spent nearly half a million dollars in the first quarter on consultants, travel and office supplies, while Lombardo's has spent more than $1.1 million on staff, office expenses and miscellaneous costs. No other gubernatorial candidate raised more than $11,000. Establishment donations clash with self-funding in Congressional District 2 In the competitive race for Congressional District 2, which is open after Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) announced his surprise retirement, Settelmeyer brought in about $105,000 in the first 20 days of his run, much of it after he stepped down as head of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. His top primary opponent, Flippo, raised $785,000. But almost all of that ($760,000) are loans Flippo made to his own campaign and many donations came before he swapped races. He spent $526,000, including about $200,000 on media buys. On the Democratic side, former Assembly Majority Leader Teresa Benitez-Thompson (D-Reno) raised $57,000 over 20 days, $20,000 of which was a loan from herself. Wealthy investor Greg Kidd (D), considered her chief competition, reported loaning his campaign $185,000 — just a drop in the bucket compared to the millions he ultimately pumped into his 2024 bid. Settelmeyer's donor list features several people whose contributions Amodei refunded after his retirement announcement, suggesting the two share a similar base of support. His backers include notable names such as lobbyist Chris Ferrari, former Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki (R), former state treasurer Patty Cafferata and Nevada State Contractors Board member Margaret Cavin. Well-known figures gave to Benitez-Thompson as well, among them former Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson (D-Las Vegas) and state Sen. Skip Daly (D-Sparks). Blockchains money makes Conine top fundraiser in attorney general race In the Democratic primary for attorney general, Treasurer Zach Conine (D) raised nearly $1.3 million across his PAC and campaign. His largest donor was Blockchains founder and CEO Jeff Berns, who contributed $1 million to Conine's PAC. Berns served as the lead attorney on a successful lawsuit representing half a million borrowers challenging Wells Fargo's mortgage practices in 2010. Conine also has the highest reserves of any candidate, with nearly $2.7 million across his campaign and other affiliated PACs. That's more than his only Democratic primary opponent, Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas), who has nearly $1 million in the bank. Cannizzaro, who raised more than $272,000 in the quarter, received maximum donations from Bighorn Law, Caesars Entertainment and NV Energy. She also received $5,000 from the Clark County Collection Service Operating Account, which is owned by Charles Brennan, the same owner of Dollar Loan Center. A PAC registered to Cannizzaro raised an additional $30,000. In the GOP primary for attorney general, both candidates raised similar amounts of direct donations, but one has a significant cash-on-hand advantage. Douglas County Commissioner Danny Tarkanian (R) raised about $154,000, but $42,000 of that was a loan he made to himself. Adriana Guzmán Fralick (R), a lawyer who has Lombardo's endorsement, brought in $116,000, about $7,200 of which was a loan. About a quarter of Guzmán Fralick's haul was donations of less than $100. These tend to come through the GOP fundraising platform WinRed, and many people give multiple times so that their total donations exceed $100. She also received $1,000 from Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) Tarkanian, a perennial political candidate, has about $461,000 in cash on hand — almost three times as much as Guzmán Fralick. Some of his donors included Zuffa, the boxing company led by Dana White, and South Point Casino. Incumbent Democratic secretary of state maintains fundraising lead Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar (D) raised $326,000, receiving money from various unions and gaming companies. He has more than double that amount in cash on hand, significantly more than any other candidate vying for his job. Shirley Folkins-Roberts, an official at a development company who has Lombardo's endorsement, led the Republican primary pack with $101,000 raised, but $22,000 of that haul was from a loan to herself. She has $90,000 in cash on hand. That was significantly more than other candidates. Former Assm. Sharron Angle (R-Reno) brought in more than $14,400 and has about $1,400 in cash on hand. Jim Marchant, the former state legislator who was the GOP nominee in this race four years ago, reported raising no money. Socorro Keenan, a Republican who lost in the primary last cycle, also received no direct donations. Democratic challenger outraises incumbent in lieutenant governor race Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony (R) raised about $134,000 and has $302,000 in cash on hand after the first quarter, but trailed his likely Democratic opponent Assm. Sandra Jauregui (D-Las Vegas), making Anthony the only statewide incumbent who was outraised by a challenger. Jauregui reported raising more than $177,100 and has $318,300 in the bank with less than two months until the primary, where she'll face two other candidates, only one of which reported raising money (about $4,400). She received the maximum $10,000 donation from the Clark County Education Association and $5,000 from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D). Anthony's donors included the founder of a Las Vegas petroleum company and various Republican groups. Tight fundraising in the battle for treasurer In the open treasurer's race, Assm. Joe Dalia (D-Henderson) reported raising nearly $55,000 and has a cash-on-hand balance of more than $207,000 heading into the June 9 primary. He received a $10,000 donation from the Clark County Education Association. His top Democratic primary challenger, Tya Mathis-Coleman, a staffer in the treasurer's office, reported raising more than $120,400 during the first quarter of the year and has a cash-on-hand balance of $106,200. This included a nearly $10,000 donation from a PAC affiliated with Conine, who has endorsed her campaign. In the Republican primary for treasurer, longtime financial executive Jeff Carter reported raising upwards of $222,800, with more than $70,300 coming from a self-loan. He also received $2,500 from Southwest Gas and has more than $192,000 in cash on hand. Another Republican hopeful for the seat, Drew Johnson, who narrowly lost recent races for Congress and Clark County Commission, reported raising more than $7,600 and in-kind contributions totaling more than $9,000. He has almost $32,000 in cash on hand. This story was updated on 4/16/2026 at 2 p.m.to note that another PAC affiliated with Conine, called Safe and Strong Nevada, received a $1.8 million transfer from the Let's Get to Work PAC and that the Clark County Collection Service Operating Account is owned by the same owner of the Dollar Loan Center.
Trump endorses GOP candidates in 2 swingy Nevada House seats
President Donald Trump is endorsing video game composer Marty O'Donnell (R) and educator and state Sen. Carrie Buck (R-Henderson), who are both hoping to flip two of Nevada's most competitive House districts. In a Tuesday afternoon post on TruthSocial, the president called O'Donnell, who is running in the 3rd Congressional District, "a true America First Patriot." In another post, he praised Buck, who is running in the 1st Congressional District, as "a Successful School Principal and Civic Leader." He said both candidates will "Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote NO TAX ON TIPS," advance U.S. manufacturing and keep the border secure. He wrote that both candidates have his "Complete and Total Endorsement." Ahead of his Thursday trip to Las Vegas to tout his "no tax on tips" policy, the president slammed the Democratic incumbents who currently represent the two districts for voting against the policy. In 2022, the vast majority of Trump's endorsed candidates won their primaries, although he often backed incumbents and candidates running unopposed. The president's backing cements O'Donnell's place as the front-runner weeks after he secured the endorsement of Gov. Joe Lombardo (R). His Republican primary opponents are former Ambassador to Iceland Jeff Gunter, Dr. Aury Nagy and 2024 Las Vegas mayoral candidate Tera Anderson. O'Donnell, who has previously come under fire from other Republicans for his past criticism of Trump, placed fourth in the GOP primary for the same seat in 2024. This time around, he said he would drop out if Trump didn't endorse him. "I am beyond grateful that President Trump has picked me for his team and given me his endorsement today," O'Donnell wrote in a Tuesday statement, adding that he was asking "all Republicans to unite around the President and me to help us save our majority." O'Donnell will attend Trump's event in Las Vegas this week, but not as a participant in the formal programming. The video game composer still must win the primary for the chance to take on four-term Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) in the state's most competitive battleground, which stretches across southwestern Las Vegas and to the southern tip of the state. In the 1st Congressional District, which includes Las Vegas' urban core, Henderson, and Boulder City, Buck faces a handful of Republican opponents, including retired teacher and pastor Jim Blockey and an indicted real estate investor. Her strong fundraising numbers — which were better than the incumbent's — already set her apart in the GOP field to take on Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV). Buck is also planning to attend Trump's Thursday rountable. "I'm honored to have earned President Trump's endorsement," Buck wrote in a statement shared with The Nevada Independent. "Dina Titus has lost touch with Nevadans. While families here struggle with rising costs, Titus voted to raise our taxes, and fought to keep our borders open. We deserve better." This story was updated on 04/14/26 at 3:10 p.m. to include information about Buck attending Trump's Thursday event.
Amodei describes Trump's Iran war messaging as 'asleep at the communication switch'
Indy Elections takes you behind the headlines of Nevada politics, delivering scoops and smart analysis on the races that could reshape our lives. You can change your newsletter settings here. In today's edition: What Amodei said about Trump's first visit to Nevada in more than a year. Plus: Ford taps a Democratic law firm, Team Lombardo has yet another new ad and an exclusive on Carrie Buck's first quarter fundraising. President Donald Trump is visiting Vegas, fundraising numbers are rolling in and the primaries are less than two months away. With so much to keep track of, we hope you'll rely on us as your definitive elections resource — especially when we publish our voter guide later this week. Let us know what you find most helpful and what you'd like to see more of! This newsletter is published every week. We want to hear from you! Email your newsletter editor Mini Racker at mracker@thenvindy.com. D.C. Download: Amodei addresses Trump's threat to destroy a civilization I recently spoke to Homeland Security appropriations cardinal Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) about the partial government shutdown. What didn't make it into that story was his reaction to the news of the week: Trump's threat that "a whole civilization will die" if Iran did not agree to a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for oil transit. "I think somebody was asleep at the communication switch when it was 'death to a civilization,'" Amodei told me Friday, after the two sides agreed to a ceasefire. "'Death to a civilization' is not synonymous with, 'We want to make sure you can never hurt somebody again.' I don't think a sweeping term like 'civilization' was at all the appropriate way to communicate that we're really going to start blowing the rest of the stuff up." Nevada's Democratic representatives came down much more harshly. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) called his comments "despicable." Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) called them "beyond the pale." Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) accused the president of "threatening to commit war crimes." All of the state's congressional Democrats have criticized the war, which has now lasted more than six weeks without congressional authorization. Ultimately, Trump backed down from the threat, announcing a two-week ceasefire. After negotiations stalled over the weekend, the president said the U.S. would implement its own blockade on Iranian ports. For his part, Amodei spoke approvingly of the administration's military approach. He stressed the importance of taking away Iran's nuclear capabilities and making sure terrorists can't target America. "You've gone this far, whether you should have or shouldn't, you're fully committed now and you need to stay fully committed," he said. "And oh, by the way, you need to have enough control there to where you don't need to worry about these guys doing side deals or whatever to fund people that are basically the 'Death to America' culture." Still, asked if he has an understanding of what's next in Iran, the congressman said, "No, absolutely none. I got about as much on that as I do on the negotiations for funding Homeland." After that, I asked Amodei if he had any plans to see Trump when he visits Nevada this week. "Nope," the congressman said. "I think he's coming to Vegas. That's fine. Maybe some of the primary candidates in CD2 from Vegas will go down there and see if they can sneak onstage with him or something." — Mini Racker Ford gets (private) representation for ethics investigation Governor candidate and Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) has tapped Bravo Schrager LLP, a Nevada law firm that typically represents Democratic candidates and causes, to represent him in an ongoing state ethics investigation he is facing over his travel while in office. Typically, when a state officer is the subject of an ethics complaint, they are represented by the attorney general's office. However, when that representation is "impracticable, uneconomical or could constitute a conflict of interest," the attorney general's office under state law must contract with a special counsel. The $75,000 contract was approved last week and is retroactive to Feb. 12, the day after the Nevada Commission on Ethics advanced two complaints related to his international travel and his office's social media account amplifying private campaign accounts. The attorney general's office previously said it stopped tagging Ford's personal account as soon as concerns were raised. Ford's campaign has also defended his travel, saying it has been related to work to "tackle challenges that go beyond state lines," including cybercrime, labor and sex trafficking. — Eric Neugeboren Adriana Guzman Fralick filing to run for attorney general at the Nevada State Capitol Building in Carson City on March 3, 2026. (Nick Stewart/The Nevada Independent) SOS denies leaking Republican AG candidate's personal info Personal information of attorney general candidate Adriana Guzmán Fralick (R), including a copy of her driver's license, was posted on the Nevada secretary of state's website. Guzmán Fralick said in a press release it was because she voiced concerns about the integrity of Nevada's elections. Her campaign shared a video with The Indy showing the information accessible on a "Public Media Information" page on the secretary of state's website. However, Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar (D) said in a statement that it was a mistake made by "human error," and that the information was taken down as soon as his office became aware. — Eric Neugeboren What we're reading and writing Mining companies and others complained about Nevada water regulator Adam Sullivan to Gov. Joe Lombardo's (R) office and James Settelmeyer (R) before Sullivan was fired. The governor has lots of cash. Who's running in Henderson's hottest race? Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) with his supporters at the opening of the new campaign office in Reno on April 6, 2026. Lombardo said at the event that the race is critical at a time when "people are frustrated, both on the left and the right," and that success in the upcoming election will hinge on voter engagement and turnout. (Nick Stewart/The Nevada Independent) Indy Ad Watch The Gov. Joe Lombardo-affiliated Better Nevada PAC is out with another advertisement attacking Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) for his out-of-state travel. The advertisement began airing Monday in Reno and so far has had a buy of about $829, according to ad-tracking service AdImpact. It highlights Ford's time out of state across his seven years in office and criticizes the attorney general for "taking days off" (much more context in our story here). So far this cycle, AdImpact reports that Republican-aligned groups have spent more than $5.3 million in campaign ads. Democrats and aligned groups have spent a relatively paltry $32,175. — Tabitha Mueller State Senator Carrie Buck poses for a portrait on the fourth day of the 81st session of the Nevada Legislature in Carson City on Feb. 4, 2021. (David Calvert/The Nevada Independent) Mini Series First in The Indy — State Sen. Carrie Buck (R-Henderson) drew excitement among Republicans when she became one of only five GOP challengers across the country who outraised their would-be Democratic opponents in the last quarter of 2025. She brought in more than $436,000 in the first three months of the year for her challenge to Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) in the 1st Congressional District. The average contribution was $38.50 and she has $369,000 cash on hand, her team told The Indy exclusively. But Titus also had plenty of money in the bank going into 2026 and is known for kicking into high gear come election year. Challenger to Lee loans own campaign $500K — Dr. James Lally (D), the Las Vegas-based cardiologist challenging Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV), loaned his own campaign $500,000 in the first quarter of 2026, his team disclosed exclusively to The Indy. Lally — who says he's running because of Lee's support from the pro-Israel lobby and vote for the Laken Riley Act — also raised around $71,000 in individual donations. Lee reported raising a little more than $1 million through thousands of individual donations in the same period. Lally is one of a number of congressional candidates that have propelled their campaigns through self-funding, including wealthy investor Greg Kidd (D), who's running to represent Nevada's 2nd Congressional District and loaned $185,000 more to his own campaign this year. Big caveat: Just because a candidate puts a self-loan on paper doesn't mean they'll spend it. 16K opt out of mail ballots — About 16,000 Nevadans opted out of receiving a mail ballot for the June primaries, according to the secretary of state's office, making up less than 1 percent of all active voters. The opt-out deadline was Friday. Former Nevada resident meets President Trump — Sharon Simmons, a DoorDash driver and former resident of Boulder City, delivered McDonald's to the White House on Monday for an event celebrating Trump's "no tax on tips" policy. Simmons now lives in Arkansas but was formerly registered as a nonpartisan in Nevada, although her registration record shows she never voted in any Nevada elections. She also testified during a House field hearing on the policy hosted in Las Vegas last year. Ranching roundtable — U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Lombardo met with ranching interests at a roundtable last week in Nevada to discuss "practical ways to strengthen access to federal grazing lands, support responsible land stewardship, address the critical needs of grazing permittees, and improve coordination between federal, state, and local partners," they wrote in a joint statement. Data dashboard — GOP strategist Jeremy Hughes built a very helpful dashboard that regularly tracks voter registration numbers across the state, broken down by party and legislative district. Let the ad wars begin — Clark County Commission candidate Albert Mack (R) announced Monday that he has reserved more than six figures in ad spending ahead of the primary. The campaign said the ads will focus on Mack's background, public safety, accountability and the rising cost of living. His opponent, Assm. Heidi Kasama (R-Las Vegas), also started running digital ads on Monday that highlight Mack's support for former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and his past praise for the late Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV). — Mini Racker, Kate Reynolds, Eric Neugeboren, Tabitha Mueller and Oona Milliken Looking Ahead Wednesday, April 15 — Deadline to file quarterly campaign finance reports Thursday, April 16 — Trump visits Las Vegas Thursday, April 16 — CFTC Chair Michael Selig testifies before House Ag Committee A post that caught our eye: Brief beef history: Assm. Reuben D'Silva (D-Las Vegas) endorsed North Las Vegas City Councilman Isaac Barron's (D) state Senate primary challenge against incumbent Sen. Edgar Flores (D-Las Vegas). Barron registered a PAC that ran attack ads against state Sen. Dina Neal (D-North Las Vegas) last cycle, making the councilman persona non grata among Democratic state senators. We'll see you next week. Interested in more newsletters from The Nevada Independent? Find all of them here.
How to end record-setting Homeland Security funding lapse? Here's what Amodei says.
Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) will confront a political mess when Congress returns this week to try to end a record-breaking 59-day partial government shutdown. He's the House appropriations cardinal responsible for Homeland Security, and he's concerned about the direction negotiations are heading, including a plan that would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through the party-line reconciliation process. "I'm just sitting there looking at this plan going, 'So, you want to give these guys no absolute Article I supervision for the next 36 months.' I ain't voting for that," he said in a Friday interview with The Nevada Independent. Amodei previously called for a pivot in the administration's approach to immigration enforcement before former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was removed from her post. The agency has been able to operate with limited transparency thanks to last year's reconciliation package, which poured $75 billion into the agency. "I got a sour taste in my mouth from the last one with respect to ICE," he said. While the Department of Homeland Security has been shut down, ICE and Customs and Border Protection have continued functioning with money from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump took executive action directing his administration to pay all of the department's employees — including Transportation Security Administration workers — bypassing the legislative branch altogether. It's unclear how many pay periods that solution will last. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) have agreed to pursue a two-track approach. The first track returns to the Senate plan to fund most of the department, with the exception of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol. On the second track, Republicans would try later to fund those agencies through party-line spending legislation. Neither outcome is guaranteed, and the strategy could still face opposition from the GOP's own ranks even though Trump has given his support. "If somebody's got something that works, that's fine, but so far, 'Just pass the Senate bill and we'll get rid of the [airport] lines,'" is how Amodei described the negotiations. "I'm the last guy in the world that wants to politicize those people in an area that had absolutely nothing to do with it, but it's like at some point in time, you're going to have to stand your ground on this stuff." Amodei praised Johnson, saying, "He has pulled — I don't know what it is, I could go back and check — three or four miracles where people are going, 'There's no way in hell. You're not going to pass reconciliation. You're not going to get this done, that done.' And you know what the speaker's thanks for that is? They just call up from the Senate and the White House and say, 'Hey, here's your latest miracle assignment.'" But the congressman had plenty of criticism to go around following the shooting deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, which led to the funding impasse. He noted how Greg Bovino, who led the immigration enforcement operation there, is now retired. "I'm not assigning fault, I'm just describing, well, apparently, those were great people to have running those operations," Amodei said sarcastically. "And let me tell you this, 'Shame on you, Twin Cities, for being a total sanctuary atmosphere, which got them swept to begin with.'" Referencing a DHS funding deal that Democrats opposed after the deaths of Pretti and Good in Minneapolis, Amodei added that "the ultimate irony is there were a bunch of reforms in the bill that we passed, whenever the hell it was. Bipartisan, bicameral, blah blah, blah, good stuff. And then, once the Minneapolis-St. Paul meltdown occurred, now it's like, nobody's even circled back." Amodei noted that career workers in less controversial branches of DHS have borne the suffering caused by the shutdown. "Now everybody's playing political yeehaw," Amodei said. "You're just sitting there going, 'Wow. An absolute not-all-star performance for the last six months at least.'" The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Did 26K Clark County voters support Donald Trump and Jacky Rosen in 2024?
Yes. More than 26,300 Clark County voters in the 2024 general election who supported President Donald Trump also backed Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV). The county's cast vote data — records of voters' selections on all counted ballots that do not show personal information — showed that about 5 percent of the nearly 500,000 people supporting Trump in Clark County also voted for Rosen. Of these, about 43 percent voted by mail. By contrast, about 8,400 people supported Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown, about 1.6 percent of Harris' Clark County total. Rosen and Harris each barely surpassed 50 percent of the Clark County vote, while Trump performed much better than Brown. This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one. The Nevada Independent partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims. Sources Nevada Secretary of State's Office: Clark County election results Clark County: Voters who supported Trump and Rosen Clark County: Voters who supported Harris and Brown
Did 26K Clark County voters support Donald Trump and Jacky Rosen in 2024?
Yes. More than 26,300 Clark County voters in the 2024 general election who supported President Donald Trump also backed Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV). The county's cast vote data — records of voters' selections on all counted ballots that do not show personal information — showed that about 5 percent of the nearly 500,000 people supporting Trump in Clark County also voted for Rosen. Of these, about 43 percent voted by mail. By contrast, about 8,400 people supported Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown, about 1.6 percent of Harris' Clark County total. Rosen and Harris each barely surpassed 50 percent of the Clark County vote, while Trump performed much better than Brown. This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one. The Nevada Independent partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims. Sources Nevada Secretary of State's Office: Clark County election results Clark County: Voters who supported Trump and Rosen Clark County: Voters who supported Harris and Brown
Trump's voter roll order could have 'drastic' effect on Nevada, top election officer says
Indy Elections takes you behind the headlines of Nevada politics, delivering scoops and smart analysis on the races that could reshape our lives. You can change your newsletter settings here. In today's edition: In Nevada, 2028 has already begun. Plus: Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar reacts to Trump's latest order on mail ballots, the Reno mayoral race goes on air and our take on Ford's fundraising. With overseas and military ballots going out this month, we're planning to publish stories to help guide you through the primary almost every day. Start with Eric's informative FAQ to make sure you know the timeline and are ready to vote. This newsletter is published every week. We want to hear from you! Email your newsletter editor Mini Racker at mracker@thenvindy.com. Which 2028 presidential hopefuls are coming to Nevada? Just as publishing a splashy memoir or appearing frequently on TV can signal a growing interest in running for president, trips to Nevada suggest that a politician is laying the groundwork for a 2028 bid. Nevada Democrats are pushing hard to host the first presidential primary of 2028 and will almost certainly host one in the early window. Republicans, meanwhile, will also likely cast early ballots in their presidential primary — their first truly open contest since 2016. We've built the most comprehensive tracker of potential candidates' trips to the state. Check it out and read the details about how it came together. Know about an event we missed? Email me at mracker@thenvindy.com. — Mini Racker How could Trump's latest election order affect Nevada? President Donald Trump's executive order last week to only send mail ballots to people on federally created lists of apparent eligible voters could have drastic effects on Nevada's voter rolls if it survives legal challenges, Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar (D) told The Indy. These lists are supposed to be transmitted to state election officials 60 days or less before a federal election — a time frame that Aguilar said is too short to ensure accuracy. "Building a system that is that complex, that fast and not testing it to ensure that the errors are as low as possible, could have very big harms on voters," Aguilar said. The order also says that states can provide suggested modifications to the lists. But Aguilar said this would be a painstaking process that would only place more burdens on local election officials in the hectic days leading up to an election. "This is an unfunded mandate on state and local governments," Aguilar said. Election law experts have said the order violates the U.S. Constitution, which gives state legislatures the authority to oversee the "Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections," while Congress can pass election-related laws that all states must follow. Nevada is part of a multistate lawsuit filed Friday to block the order. — Eric Neugeboren From left, Attorney General Aaron Ford, Gov. Joe Lombardo and Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar during a Board of Examiners meeting inside the Nevada State Capitol building on May 29, 2025, in Carson City. (David Calvert/The Nevada Independent) What we're reading and writing As middle-class Americans struggle, should Las Vegas focus on serving wealthy tourists? Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) said Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) lied about their communications on lawsuits. D.C. Download On Monday, I spoke with Rep. Steven Horsford (D) about his RELIEF ACT, which would refund tariff costs to small businesses. We also discussed his Congressman on the Job initiative, in which he walks a day in constituents' shoes and films the experience. He's already done shifts as a grocery store stocker, a food runner and a bartender. A stint collecting trash is in the works. Our interview has been edited for length and clarity. MR: The RELIEF Act — this one might be harder to get Republicans on board. How are you thinking about that? SH: It shouldn't be hard at all because it's a pretty simple idea, right? The government, in this case, the Trump administration, imposed tariffs that were deemed illegal by the Supreme Court, and that means that those tariffs must be paid back. That is what the courts have ordered. … My bill, the RELIEF Act, is simple. It says, provide automatic refunds within 90 days. No red tape, no bureaucracy. … It's not about Donald Trump. This is about what the courts have dictated. … Big business, big corporations, because they have lawyers and law firms and accounting firms, they are able to petition to get their money back. I'm not worried about them. I'm worried about the mom and pop businesses in my district, the business like Mario's Grocery Store that I was just at. MR: Lastly, the Congressman on the Job initiative … is there any special setup to have you there or is it just a normal day, anyone can walk in and see you serving at the bar? SH: It's a normal day. … Workers talk to me about the challenges dealing with child care, transportation, the cost of housing. These are not things that, per se, are about the job, but it's about the things that impact their ability to get to work. And sometimes if they have to leave early — one of the small-business owners had to leave in order to go pick up their kids, and she's like, "I'll be back. But you got the bar, congressman!" … We take some of these jobs for granted. … It's time for us to reward work and not just wealth. Too much focus in this country, particularly in this administration, is focused on the wealthy. MR: What's one specific thing you've learned through the series that you didn't know before? SH: Well, it's a damn hard thing to make a martini under pressure at The Dustland. … I try to be so proficient at the thing that I'm doing, and so, whether it's pouring the cocktail to its exact measurement, or adding the elements to make it look special, it takes a lot of skill to do these jobs. — Mini Racker Reno City Councilman Devon Reese at City Hall on Feb. 15, 2019. (David Calvert / The Nevada Independent) First TV ad in Reno mayoral race Reno City Councilmember Devon Reese entered the airwaves last week as the first candidate in the mayoral race to go live. The 15-second TV spot describes his vision for "a park and a path that runs the length of the river, the small businesses and housing just beyond" in Reno. Reese's campaign has so far focused on the Riverwalk District, the downtown area surrounding the Truckee River. He has made about $6,300 in ad reservations so far. It's the first open race for Reno mayor in a dozen years. Other candidates include Kate Marshall, the former Nevada lieutenant governor and treasurer, Reno City Councilmember Kathleen Taylor and Eddie Lorton, a perennial mayoral candidate. — Eric Neugeboren Mini Series First in The Indy— Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) brought in more than a million dollars in the first quarter of the year, her team told The Indy first. That's not only her highest ever first-quarter fundraising number, it's the highest for any Nevada House race in history for that quarter, beating the record Lee set in 2024. She now has more than $3 million in cash on hand. Ford raises $1.5M in Q1 — Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) raised $1.5 million from January through March for his gubernatorial bid and has about $2.7 million in cash on hand. The headline of his announcement said the $1.5 million haul (composed of campaign and affiliated PAC donations) was "record breaking" for a non-incumbent gubernatorial candidate across this time period. But it was a lower amount than then-Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo (R) raised four years ago, which totaled about $2 million in campaign and PAC fundraising, bolstered by a $1 million contribution from a "dark money" GOP group. Ford's campaign did, however, break the record for direct campaign donations for non-incumbent gubernatorial candidates. He received 13,000 donations — with 90 percent $80 or less — totaling $1.23 million, besting Lombardo's 2022 haul of about $825,000. SAVE Act in Nevada? — Last week, Assm. Lisa Cole (R-Las Vegas) was appointed honorary chairwoman of the SAVE Nevada Now PAC, which is pushing for a localized version of the proposed federal policy. The federal SAVE Act would require in-person proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) in order for people to register to vote in federal elections, meaning in most states a driver's license or tribal ID would be inadequate. In a press release, the group said that the policy would be a key part of Cole's legislative agenda and that they plan to endorse candidates that align with their mission. On Thursday, the SAVE Nevada Now PAC endorsed Lombardo, who said he was "proud" of the endorsement on X. Lombardo's team did not return a request for comment on whether he supports the SAVE Act. Former assistant sheriff to Lombardo and candidate for State Senate District 8 Laz Chavez (R) has also made the SAVE Act a part of his election bid and said the policy would create a "safer" and "stronger" Nevada. On a mailer, Chavez said that if elected, he plans on coordinating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to clean up voter rolls. Chavez did not immediately return a request for comment. Emily's List backs candidates in open Assembly races; Dem caucus not weighing in — A group dedicated to electing Democratic pro-choice women, EMILYs List, has endorsed candidates in the following four open Assembly races. The organization, which normally aligns with the Assembly Democratic caucus' picks, marks major endorsements for these candidates as the caucus is not endorsing in open races this cycle. Kamilah Bywaters in Assembly District 2. Her primary opponent is Mike Kung. Maria Teresa Hank in Assembly District 9. Her primary opponent is recovery advocate Ryan Hampton. Ashley Delobel in Assembly District 29. Her primary opponents are Brad Combs and Alex Pereszlenyi. Gabriela Wyett in Assembly District 41. Her primary opponents are Vinny Spotleson and Spencer Ridenour. Incumbent solidarity splinters? — Assm. Reuben D'Silva (D-North Las Vegas) on Saturday endorsed North Las Vegas City Councilman Isaac Barron (D) in his primary challenge against sitting state Sen. Edgar Flores (D-Las Vegas). The two state lawmakers' districts overlap, and when Flores ran for Senate in 2022, D'Silva succeeded him in his Assembly seat. The move is likely due to Flores' vote against last year's film tax credit bill, which D'Silva voted for. D'Silva's endorsement is a rare example of a state lawmaker supporting a primary challenge against his own party's incumbent. The film bill had strong support from construction unions, which argued that it would generate jobs for Nevadans. The Clark County Education Association (CCEA) also supported it, touting direct revenue toward free pre-K programs in Clark County. In March, Barron — a former teacher — was endorsed by the Clark County Education Association, of which D'Silva is a member and strong supporter. D'Silva and Barron taught together at Rancho High School. — Mini Racker, Eric Neugeboren, Isabella Aldrete, Tabitha Mueller and Kate Reynolds Looking Ahead Thursday, April 9 — The DNC kicks off its spring meeting Friday, April 10 — Candidates may begin placing signs along controlled areas of the interstate and primary routes A post that caught our eye: Republicans are certainly watching Susie Lee's language. A since-deleted post from @SusieLeeNV last night: pic.twitter.com/aIQ2Duu5Nz — Nicholas Wu (@nicholaswu12) April 1, 2026 We'll see you next week. Interested in more newsletters from The Nevada Independent? Find all of them here.
Cleanup's almost done at notorious Nevada mine. Potential plans to dig again raise fears.
Nearly a decade after the state and federal government agreed to keep Nevada's largest abandoned mine off a federal list of highly polluted sites, the mine is almost cleaned up. But now, conversations about reopening the 3,400-acre Anaconda Copper Mine in Lyon County to production are troubling groups that have monitored the defunct property for years. They're questioning if that could deplete local water sources and cause further pollution — and whether they'll have any opportunities to weigh in. As the mine's cleanup approaches its slated 2030 completion date, companies involved with Anaconda have performed exploratory testing at the site and applied for mining-related water permits — moves that have drawn substantial protests. On top of concerns about how mining there again would affect the environment, critics fear the potential sale of roughly half of the mine's land to a private company, which would mean it's subject to less stringent environmental review. The land encompassing the mine is privately and publicly owned, split between the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Singatse Peak Services LLC. BLM is considering selling its approximately 2,000-acre portion of the site to Atlantic Richfield Co. (ARCO). The move would make Anaconda wholly private property. It would be owned jointly by Singatse Peak and ARCO, which is responsible for reclamation because of its liability from its brief period of ownership of Anaconda in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The company has pushed for the sale for years, arguing it would expedite the cleanup. But it also means future mining at the site would only be subject to state permitting requirements, which are not as extensive as federal ones. For decades, environmental groups and the public have relied on federal policies developed in the 1970s that mandate environmental reviews and created opportunities for public comment, said Great Basin Resource Watch Director John Hadder. If the BLM sells its portion of the property to ARCO, he said there would be no federal environmental report if the mine becomes operational again. "That's what's missing from the state process — they don't do any of that," Hadder said. "Without the federal process, we're really missing a big piece of what should be disclosed." For mining on privately owned land, the state requires companies to apply for permits related to reclamation, water pollution and air quality control. But the state doesn't conduct an environmental review, and companies are not subjected to review under the terms of the National Environmental Policy Act, which is applied in all federal transactions. Some question the rationale behind potentially disturbing an area that was so polluted it narrowly escaped the dreaded Superfund designation. "They're gonna have to be careful they don't remobilize contaminants at the site," Hadder said. But, he said, "without a plan, without a discussion, the public doesn't know. It's the old thing that we've heard before — 'Oh, trust us.'" The defunct Anaconda Copper Mine as seen on March 18, 2026. (Amy Alonzo/The Nevada Independent) Dodging Superfund designation Located just outside Yerington, Anaconda was headed for the federal Superfund list — a kind of scarlet letter designation for the country's most toxic sites — when the state assumed oversight of the mine's remediation, despite the push by many, including former Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), for the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to direct the cleanup. The bulk of the site's pollution resulted from mining by different companies that occurred before the existence of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) or the establishment of Nevada's rules around mining reclamation. Mining operations there date back to 1918. From the 1940s to 1970s, the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. operated the mine, extracting ore and leaving behind more than 1,600 acres of waste rock, contaminated tailings and disposal ponds. In 1977, ARCO bought the mine, but the declining prices of copper and ore, along with other factors, soon led the mine to close, and the company sold it shortly thereafter. In 1988, Arimetco assumed control of Anaconda, with its operations adding further pollution. After Arimetco's 2000 bankruptcy declaration, Singatse Peak Services purchased the property but was exempt from the preexisting environmental liability — that liability reverted back to ARCO after Arimetco abandoned the site. The EPA stepped in, removing superficial contamination and conducting a groundwater study. It sought to place the mine on its National Priorities List — a sublist within the federal Superfund designation for the nation's most polluted sites. It would have been Nevada's second Superfund site. For years, the state fought the designation, and in 2018 reached an agreement with the EPA to give NDEP and ARCO control of the cleanup, with the BLM serving as a cooperating agency. Eight years later, cleanup is complete at the mine's most-polluted sections, the portion formerly owned by Arimetco. ARCO will soon commence the second phase of cleanup and has spent about $45 million thus far, with the state on the hook for about 8 percent of that. ARCO has long wanted ownership of Anaconda's federally held land and requested a land transfer in 2017. The following year, Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV)'s legislative effort to secure the transfer failed. In 2021, the BLM initiated the process for selling the land to ARCO. Opponents worried at the time that removing federal oversight of the cleanup would reduce environmental standards, and amid negative community response, the sale never went through. But earlier this year, the BLM again initiated the transfer, offering to sell the property to ARCO for a minimum of $760,000. Hadder, who's monitored the mine for decades, said he believes the land transfer goes "hand in hand" with future mining at Anaconda. "We're really concerned about this land sale going through as is," he said. "The public deserves to see what the plan is and understand it." The BLM and ARCO did not respond to The Nevada Independent's request for comment about future plans for the mine before the publication deadline. The defunct Anaconda Copper Mine as seen on March 18, 2026. (Amy Alonzo/The Nevada Independent) A prior cleanup success story At other polluted mines in the state, NDEP officials and mining companies have said privatizing public land has helped expedite cleanup. Near downtown Henderson lies the sprawling Three Kids Mine site, which was active from 1917 to 1961 and used by the U.S. government during both world wars to extract manganese, a metal that strengthens steel. The site fell into disrepair after its 1961 abandonment, leaving behind asbestos, toxic waste and open pits. Like Anaconda, cleaning up Three Kids was initially complicated because the mine lacked a "responsible party" willing or able to tackle remediation, according to Alan Pineda, an NDEP engineer who is supervising its cleanup. But federal legislation enacted in 2014 authorized the BLM to transfer the mined lands to the City of Henderson. That transfer officially occurred a decade later, in 2024, and Henderson then sold the site to Pulte Homes, which is building a housing development atop the site. NDEP is overseeing Pulte's activities. BLM's land transfer helped fix the problem of abandoned land, Pineda told The Indy, as it "paved the way for a public-private partnership and the implementation of what is essentially a voluntary cleanup by a private developer." The activities at Three Kids and Anaconda show how much more government intervention and enforcement there is in the reclamation of once polluted and abandoned Nevada sites, which were previously allowed to languish as public health hazards. State law didn't require mining companies to mitigate their environmental damages until 1989. And even after the state began requiring companies to not abandon potentially harmful mining sites, the financial penalties for violations were so toothless that enforcement of reclamation rules was difficult. "None of that existed back then, and that's why this has been more of a struggle than it should have been," said Paul Eckert, supervisor of NDEP's Bureau of Corrective Actions. Eckert said it is NDEP's belief that going forward, the regulations established in the 1990s will make it harder for operators at sites such as Three Kids and Anaconda to leave behind another mess. "Any future mining company will be responsible, both financially and regulatorily, for cleaning up," he said. The view from the bottom of Three Kids Mine, a long abandoned open-pit gypsum mine as seen in Henderson on Tuesday, October 4, 2023. (Daniel Clark/The Nevada Independent) Uncharted territory? But unlike at Three Kids, Anaconda could see future operations. Lion Copper and Gold, owner of Singatse Peak Services, has stated it intends to bring the property "back into production through the adoption of new processing technologies and a respectful approach to the environment and local communities." Opponents question potential unforeseen consequences if there is no federal environmental review of future mining at the property. "We're not opposed to re-mining. What we're opposed to is re-mining without a proper public review," Hadder said. "It needs to be discussed and evaluated, and it needs to be done in a public sphere." That's because in addition to a potential Superfund designation, the mine's various operators have been plagued throughout the decades by a slew of violations for actions that have affected nearby residents. NDEP issued violations to ARCO in 1982 and 1985, for groundwater pollution stemming from pre-ARCO actions. The company installed infrastructure to prevent contamination of local wells and the Walker River, but in the 1990s, residents found elevated arsenic levels in water samples. In 2013, ARCO settled a class-action lawsuit with local residents, agreeing to pay up to $19.5 million without acknowledging wrongdoing. The company was later scrutinized after convincing state regulators to support an analysis showing less pollution tied to the mine, contradicting an EPA report. Concerns from water groups and local tribes about the future of Anaconda are more particular. Anaconda's pit lake — an open body of water that has filled in the massive cavity where ore was pulled from for decades — sits just 200 yards from the Walker River. A January application by Singatse Peak Services with the Nevada State Engineer's Office to drain the pit — and following practices that would be required to keep it dry — would all but guarantee a drawdown on the already-beleaguered Walker River and the shrinking Walker Lake, said Peter Stanton, executive director of the Walker Basin Conservancy. The move even drew the attention of the U.S. Board of Water Commissioners. The Walker River Paiute Tribe, which has long opposed the land transfer, said in a statement that draining the pit would "jeopardize delivery of the Tribe's senior decreed Walker River water right, notably later in the irrigation season, and especially in dry years." If mining moves forward at Anaconda, Stanton said there appears to be a lack of coordination between companies, regulators and stakeholders "to align land ownership, water rights permitting and water quality permitting for a project like this. "We're all concerned," he continued.
New initiative launches to build bipartisan consensus ahead of legislative session
In today's edition: A new initiative aims to build consensus on legislative solutions during a time of increasing political polarization. Plus: Republican attorney general candidates take swings at each other, how gas prices are playing out in the gubernatorial election and the latest on the partial government shutdown. Primary season is already getting ugly. Between the ultracompetitive attorney general race, attacks over high gas prices in the gubernatorial election and some funny business in the Clark County recorder race, we run down the latest campaign drama so you can draw your own conclusions. This newsletter is published every week. We want to hear from you! Email your newsletter editor Mini Racker at mracker@thenvindy.com. Screenshot of submissions to The Nevada Forum's website. A new bipartisan effort to build consensus The Nevada Forum, a new nonpartisan civic initiative, is officially launching Thursday. Helmed by a politically diverse group, the initiative is designed to help Nevadans communicate across political divides and generate bipartisan legislation lawmakers can implement during the 2027 legislative session. We spoke with actor and entrepreneur Andrew Shue, the national director and chief architect of the forum, Democratic co-chair Chris Miller and Republican co-chair Greg Bailor about the goals of the new civic infrastructure, how its creators hope to bridge what they describe as growing political polarization and the lessons they're hoping it can show the rest of the country. Nevada is one of three states where the project is launching, alongside New Hampshire and South Carolina — all three are likely to host early presidential primaries. "There's just a real desire to start getting stuff done," Shue told us on Friday. Initial funding for the enterprise, Shue said, came from people in his entrepreneurial circle who wanted to address the growing divides and use seed capital to show what is possible. "Our goal is to have this not be a one-and-done," Shue said. "This should be, like I said, annualized civic infrastructure, but it needs to be funded by people there on the ground in Nevada. And we believe that will happen." To read all the details, click here. — Tabitha Mueller Who already dropped out March 24 was the deadline for candidates to withdraw from the ballot, and several did so. In the crowded race for the 2nd Congressional District, two candidates dropped out since filing ended: retired Lt. Col. Bill Conrad (R), who quickly endorsed small-business owner and fellow retired Lt. Col. David Flippo (R), and Doug Miller (R). That leaves 25 candidates in the race, including 13 Republicans. In the race for Assembly District 23, Kathy Ochs (R) withdrew, leaving Jan Allen Aspelund (D) and Denise Daniels Fanning (R) running unopposed in the primaries. Other candidates who withdrew include Kathryn Nix (L) in Assembly District 29, and a handful of contenders in local races. What we're reading and writing With Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) and Rep. Mark Amodei (R) endorsing for Northern Nevada's open congressional seat, the congressman sent me the fiercest statement I've ever received from a sitting member. You'll want to see what he said yourself. Eleven Democrats are still running for the Republican-leaning seat. Four of them have agreed to drop out — but which four? Just how long can elected officials legally stay in office? A Nevada Democrat is working to keep unauthorized biolabs out of your neighborhood. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) during a panel discussion at IndyFest at the Durango Casino & Resort on Nov. 14, 2025. (Daniel Clark/The Nevada Independent) D.C. Download At 46 days, the funding lapse for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the longest ever. Washington lawmakers could have ended the partial shutdown last week, when senators agreed to a deal that would fund DHS apart from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and border patrol. But House Republicans decided that plan gave Democrats too much and refused to vote on it. The two parties are trading blame like a hot potato. Republicans have hammered Democrats over the shutdown, with the National Republican Congressional Committee releasing a battleground ad last week, geo-targeting Harry Reid and other airports, which features clips of packed security queues and the text: "Stuck in Line? Blame a Democrat." Nevada Democrats slammed President Donald Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). In a Friday statement, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) wrote, "Speaker Johnson and House Republicans continue to own this shutdown. They walked away from a bipartisan solution and followed President Trump over a cliff." The Trump administration released some of the pressure, ordering DHS and the Office of Management and Budget to find money to pay Transportation Security Administration agents. With Congress out, a deal is likely weeks away. Congressman Steven Horsford speaks during an event announcing Attorney General Aaron Ford's candidacy for governor at the East Las Vegas Community Center in Las Vegas on July 28, 2025. (Daniel Clark/The Nevada Independent) Indy Ad Watch Gov. Joe Lombardo's (R) campaign is out with a new ad touting his education policies. The 30-second spot includes references to Lombardo's education accountability bill last year, which itself did not pass but elements were included in another proposal from Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas). It also referred to decreasing teacher vacancy rates, which has been attributed to pay raises approved three years ago, and his efforts to improve school safety. Lombardo signed two bills in 2023 that rolled back parts of a controversial 2019 law that placed restrictions on student suspensions and expulsions. The ad comes from the Service First Fund, a nonprofit that started as Lombardo's inaugural committee — a departure from previous governors whose inaugural committees were PACs. It has been called a "dark money" group because it does not have to disclose donors, and Lombardo has vetoed legislative efforts to require greater transparency of inaugural committees. The group has made $1.9 million in ad reservations this year, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. — Eric Neugeboren Mini Series Shots fired in GOP AG race — In response to a post about a poll commissioned by attorney general candidate Danny Tarkanian (R), his opponent, former Cannabis Compliance Board Chair Adriana Guzmán Fralick (R), said he had offered her a job in exchange for dropping out of the race and that the race was his "last chance to win something." Tarkanian, a Douglas County commissioner, told The Indy that he had shared the poll results with Fralick and "asked whether she would consider stepping aside so we could work together in the Attorney General's office and position Republicans for victory in November." He also denied saying it was his last chance to win. Campaigning in the rurals — The Rural Nevada Democratic Caucus (RNDC) has planned a road tour with eight Democrats running for the 2nd Congressional District. The lineup features Teresa Benitez Thompson, Matthew Fonken, Josh Hebert, Morgan Wadsworth, Kathy Durham, Sam White, Mark Jolle and Gamaliel Zavala Enriquez. Greg Kidd declined due to a business travel conflict, his campaign said. The tour will include nine events between April 15 and May 8 in locations such as White Pine and Winnemucca. "We specifically targeted our most rural places that typically don't get visited by Democratic candidates," RNDC chair Devan Doan said. Rural at-large state central committee member Cynthia Mohiuddin, who conceptualized the tour, said the format would be more "invigorating for people than polished ballrooms with $500-a-plate-type entrance fees." "I do think there's a newfound realization that maybe wasn't present before, within not just the state party, but the national party, that they need rural votes," she said. "They're not going to win without them." Doan added he's talking with Democratic National Committee leadership around rural investment. On the recorder — The fight for Clark County recorder has grown contentious. One recorder candidate, Skye Berry Burress (D), is suing her former boss, County Recorder Debbie Conway (D). Berry Burress, the Clark County operations manager for the past seven years, alleges that the recorder's office discriminated against her based on her race. (Conway and Berry Burress are both Black.) Berry Burress also filed for bankruptcy in October of last year. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Asked why she wasn't running for re-election, Conway told The Indy she never intended to serve more than 20 years and is retiring now that she's reached that goal. Assm. Tanya Flanagan (D-Las Vegas) has also thrown her hat in the ring — she is endorsed by Conway and has more than $65,800 in the bank. Berry Buress has raised about $900. Like oil and water — Allies of Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) took aim at Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) online after Ford posted a video detailing Las Vegas' sky-high gas prices. In the video, Ford visits a gas station charging $5.19 a gallon and blames the high cost on Trump's military campaign in Iran, "which Joe Lombardo supports." He also describes Trump as Lombardo's friend. Ford's video triggered plenty of Republican pushback, including from Lombardo's Better Nevada PAC. Lombardo reposted a response from the U.S. Oil and Gas Association, which lambasted Ford's support for clean energy initiatives and blamed high gas prices on California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). Nearly 90 percent of Nevada's gasoline comes from California. Gas prices in the Silver State are higher than the national average, in part because Nevada's reliance on California's oil makes it more vulnerable to supply chain issues. Those prices have further spiked during the war with Iran. As of Monday morning, the average gas price in Nevada was $4.91 per gallon; nationwide, it was $3.99. — Eric Neugeboren, Mini Racker, Oona Milliken and Kate Reynolds Looking Ahead Wednesday, April 1 — The Supreme Court hears arguments on birthright citizenship Wednesday, May 20 — We host a debate between the Democratic attorney general candidates A post that caught our eye: Candidates are occasionally mocked for "word salad." But what about actual salad? We'll see you next week. Interested in more newsletters from The Nevada Independent? Find all of them here.
New initiative launches to build bipartisan consensus ahead of legislative session
In today's edition: A new initiative aims to build consensus on legislative solutions during a time of increasing political polarization. Plus: Republican attorney general candidates take swings at each other, how gas prices are playing out in the gubernatorial election and the latest on the partial government shutdown. Primary season is already getting ugly. Between the ultracompetitive attorney general race, attacks over high gas prices in the gubernatorial election and some funny business in the Clark County recorder race, we run down the latest campaign drama so you can draw your own conclusions. This newsletter is published every week. We want to hear from you! Email your newsletter editor Mini Racker at mracker@thenvindy.com. Screenshot of submissions to The Nevada Forum's website. A new bipartisan effort to build consensus The Nevada Forum, a new nonpartisan civic initiative, is officially launching Thursday. Helmed by a politically diverse group, the initiative is designed to help Nevadans communicate across political divides and generate bipartisan legislation lawmakers can implement during the 2027 legislative session. We spoke with actor and entrepreneur Andrew Shue, the national director and chief architect of the forum, Democratic co-chair Chris Miller and Republican co-chair Greg Bailor about the goals of the new civic infrastructure, how its creators hope to bridge what they describe as growing political polarization and the lessons they're hoping it can show the rest of the country. Nevada is one of three states where the project is launching, alongside New Hampshire and South Carolina — all three are likely to host early presidential primaries. "There's just a real desire to start getting stuff done," Shue told us on Friday. Initial funding for the enterprise, Shue said, came from people in his entrepreneurial circle who wanted to address the growing divides and use seed capital to show what is possible. "Our goal is to have this not be a one-and-done," Shue said. "This should be, like I said, annualized civic infrastructure, but it needs to be funded by people there on the ground in Nevada. And we believe that will happen." To read all the details, click here. — Tabitha Mueller Who already dropped out March 24 was the deadline for candidates to withdraw from the ballot, and several did so. In the crowded race for the 2nd Congressional District, two candidates dropped out since filing ended: retired Lt. Col. Bill Conrad (R), who quickly endorsed small-business owner and fellow retired Lt. Col. David Flippo (R), and Doug Miller (R). That leaves 25 candidates in the race, including 13 Republicans. In the race for Assembly District 23, Kathy Ochs (R) withdrew, leaving Jan Allen Aspelund (D) and Denise Daniels Fanning (R) running unopposed in the primaries. Other candidates who withdrew include Kathryn Nix (L) in Assembly District 29, and a handful of contenders in local races. What we're reading and writing With Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) and Rep. Mark Amodei (R) endorsing for Northern Nevada's open congressional seat, the congressman sent me the fiercest statement I've ever received from a sitting member. You'll want to see what he said yourself. Eleven Democrats are still running for the Republican-leaning seat. Four of them have agreed to drop out — but which four? Just how long can elected officials legally stay in office? A Nevada Democrat is working to keep unauthorized biolabs out of your neighborhood. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) during a panel discussion at IndyFest at the Durango Casino & Resort on Nov. 14, 2025. (Daniel Clark/The Nevada Independent) D.C. Download At 46 days, the funding lapse for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the longest ever. Washington lawmakers could have ended the partial shutdown last week, when senators agreed to a deal that would fund DHS apart from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and border patrol. But House Republicans decided that plan gave Democrats too much and refused to vote on it. The two parties are trading blame like a hot potato. Republicans have hammered Democrats over the shutdown, with the National Republican Congressional Committee releasing a battleground ad last week, geo-targeting Harry Reid and other airports, which features clips of packed security queues and the text: "Stuck in Line? Blame a Democrat." Nevada Democrats slammed President Donald Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). In a Friday statement, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) wrote, "Speaker Johnson and House Republicans continue to own this shutdown. They walked away from a bipartisan solution and followed President Trump over a cliff." The Trump administration released some of the pressure, ordering DHS and the Office of Management and Budget to find money to pay Transportation Security Administration agents. With Congress out, a deal is likely weeks away. Congressman Steven Horsford speaks during an event announcing Attorney General Aaron Ford's candidacy for governor at the East Las Vegas Community Center in Las Vegas on July 28, 2025. (Daniel Clark/The Nevada Independent) Indy Ad Watch Gov. Joe Lombardo's (R) campaign is out with a new ad touting his education policies. The 30-second spot includes references to Lombardo's education accountability bill last year, which itself did not pass but elements were included in another proposal from Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas). It also referred to decreasing teacher vacancy rates, which has been attributed to pay raises approved three years ago, and his efforts to improve school safety. Lombardo signed two bills in 2023 that rolled back parts of a controversial 2019 law that placed restrictions on student suspensions and expulsions. The ad comes from the Service First Fund, a nonprofit that started as Lombardo's inaugural committee — a departure from previous governors whose inaugural committees were PACs. It has been called a "dark money" group because it does not have to disclose donors, and Lombardo has vetoed legislative efforts to require greater transparency of inaugural committees. The group has made $1.9 million in ad reservations this year, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. — Eric Neugeboren Mini Series Shots fired in GOP AG race — In response to a post about a poll commissioned by attorney general candidate Danny Tarkanian (R), his opponent, former Cannabis Compliance Board Chair Adriana Guzmán Fralick (R), said he had offered her a job in exchange for dropping out of the race and that the race was his "last chance to win something." Tarkanian, a Douglas County commissioner, told The Indy that he had shared the poll results with Fralick and "asked whether she would consider stepping aside so we could work together in the Attorney General's office and position Republicans for victory in November." He also denied saying it was his last chance to win. Campaigning in the rurals — The Rural Nevada Democratic Caucus (RNDC) has planned a road tour with eight Democrats running for the 2nd Congressional District. The lineup features Teresa Benitez Thompson, Matthew Fonken, Josh Hebert, Morgan Wadsworth, Kathy Durham, Sam White, Mark Jolle and Gamaliel Zavala Enriquez. Greg Kidd declined due to a business travel conflict, his campaign said. The tour will include nine events between April 15 and May 8 in locations such as White Pine and Winnemucca. "We specifically targeted our most rural places that typically don't get visited by Democratic candidates," RNDC chair Devan Doan said. Rural at-large state central committee member Cynthia Mohiuddin, who conceptualized the tour, said the format would be more "invigorating for people than polished ballrooms with $500-a-plate-type entrance fees." "I do think there's a newfound realization that maybe wasn't present before, within not just the state party, but the national party, that they need rural votes," she said. "They're not going to win without them." Doan added he's talking with Democratic National Committee leadership around rural investment. On the recorder — The fight for Clark County recorder has grown contentious. One recorder candidate, Skye Berry Burress (D), is suing her former boss, County Recorder Debbie Conway (D). Berry Burress, the Clark County operations manager for the past seven years, alleges that the recorder's office discriminated against her based on her race. (Conway and Berry Burress are both Black.) Berry Burress also filed for bankruptcy in October of last year. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Asked why she wasn't running for re-election, Conway told The Indy she never intended to serve more than 20 years and is retiring now that she's reached that goal. Assm. Tanya Flanagan (D-Las Vegas) has also thrown her hat in the ring — she is endorsed by Conway and has more than $65,800 in the bank. Berry Buress has raised about $900. Like oil and water — Allies of Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) took aim at Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) online after Ford posted a video detailing Las Vegas' sky-high gas prices. In the video, Ford visits a gas station charging $5.19 a gallon and blames the high cost on Trump's military campaign in Iran, "which Joe Lombardo supports." He also describes Trump as Lombardo's friend. Ford's video triggered plenty of Republican pushback, including from Lombardo's Better Nevada PAC. Lombardo reposted a response from the U.S. Oil and Gas Association, which lambasted Ford's support for clean energy initiatives and blamed high gas prices on California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). Nearly 90 percent of Nevada's gasoline comes from California. Gas prices in the Silver State are higher than the national average, in part because Nevada's reliance on California's oil makes it more vulnerable to supply chain issues. Those prices have further spiked during the war with Iran. As of Monday morning, the average gas price in Nevada was $4.91 per gallon; nationwide, it was $3.99. — Eric Neugeboren, Mini Racker, Oona Milliken and Kate Reynolds Looking Ahead Wednesday, April 1 — The Supreme Court hears arguments on birthright citizenship Wednesday, May 20 — We host a debate between the Democratic attorney general candidates A post that caught our eye: Candidates are occasionally mocked for "word salad." But what about actual salad? We'll see you next week. Interested in more newsletters from The Nevada Independent? Find all of them here.
New initiative launches to build bipartisan consensus ahead of legislative session
In today's edition: A new initiative aims to build consensus on legislative solutions during a time of increasing political polarization. Plus: Republican attorney general candidates take swings at each other, how gas prices are playing out in the gubernatorial election and the latest on the partial government shutdown. Primary season is already getting ugly. Between the ultracompetitive attorney general race, attacks over high gas prices in the gubernatorial election and some funny business in the Clark County recorder race, we run down the latest campaign drama so you can draw your own conclusions. This newsletter is published every week. We want to hear from you! Email your newsletter editor Mini Racker at mracker@thenvindy.com. Screenshot of submissions to The Nevada Forum's website. A new bipartisan effort to build consensus The Nevada Forum, a new nonpartisan civic initiative, is officially launching Thursday. Helmed by a politically diverse group, the initiative is designed to help Nevadans communicate across political divides and generate bipartisan legislation lawmakers can implement during the 2027 legislative session. We spoke with actor and entrepreneur Andrew Shue, the national director and chief architect of the forum, Democratic co-chair Chris Miller and Republican co-chair Greg Bailor about the goals of the new civic infrastructure, how its creators hope to bridge what they describe as growing political polarization and the lessons they're hoping it can show the rest of the country. Nevada is one of three states where the project is launching, alongside New Hampshire and South Carolina — all three are likely to host early presidential primaries. "There's just a real desire to start getting stuff done," Shue told us on Friday. Initial funding for the enterprise, Shue said, came from people in his entrepreneurial circle who wanted to address the growing divides and use seed capital to show what is possible. "Our goal is to have this not be a one-and-done," Shue said. "This should be, like I said, annualized civic infrastructure, but it needs to be funded by people there on the ground in Nevada. And we believe that will happen." To read all the details, click here. — Tabitha Mueller Who already dropped out March 24 was the deadline for candidates to withdraw from the ballot, and several did so. In the crowded race for the 2nd Congressional District, two candidates dropped out since filing ended: retired Lt. Col. Bill Conrad (R), who quickly endorsed small-business owner and fellow retired Lt. Col. David Flippo (R), and Doug Miller (R). That leaves 25 candidates in the race, including 13 Republicans. In the race for Assembly District 23, Kathy Ochs (R) withdrew, leaving Jan Allen Aspelund (D) and Denise Daniels Fanning (R) running unopposed in the primaries. Other candidates who withdrew include Kathryn Nix (L) in Assembly District 29, and a handful of contenders in local races. What we're reading and writing With Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) and Rep. Mark Amodei (R) endorsing for Northern Nevada's open congressional seat, the congressman sent me the fiercest statement I've ever received from a sitting member. You'll want to see what he said yourself. Eleven Democrats are still running for the Republican-leaning seat. Four of them have agreed to drop out — but which four? Just how long can elected officials legally stay in office? A Nevada Democrat is working to keep unauthorized biolabs out of your neighborhood. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) during a panel discussion at IndyFest at the Durango Casino & Resort on Nov. 14, 2025. (Daniel Clark/The Nevada Independent) D.C. Download At 46 days, the funding lapse for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the longest ever. Washington lawmakers could have ended the partial shutdown last week, when senators agreed to a deal that would fund DHS apart from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and border patrol. But House Republicans decided that plan gave Democrats too much and refused to vote on it. The two parties are trading blame like a hot potato. Republicans have hammered Democrats over the shutdown, with the National Republican Congressional Committee releasing a battleground ad last week, geo-targeting Harry Reid and other airports, which features clips of packed security queues and the text: "Stuck in Line? Blame a Democrat." Nevada Democrats slammed President Donald Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). In a Friday statement, Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) wrote, "Speaker Johnson and House Republicans continue to own this shutdown. They walked away from a bipartisan solution and followed President Trump over a cliff." The Trump administration released some of the pressure, ordering DHS and the Office of Management and Budget to find money to pay Transportation Security Administration agents. With Congress out, a deal is likely weeks away. Congressman Steven Horsford speaks during an event announcing Attorney General Aaron Ford's candidacy for governor at the East Las Vegas Community Center in Las Vegas on July 28, 2025. (Daniel Clark/The Nevada Independent) Indy Ad Watch Gov. Joe Lombardo's (R) campaign is out with a new ad touting his education policies. The 30-second spot includes references to Lombardo's education accountability bill last year, which itself did not pass but elements were included in another proposal from Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas). It also referred to decreasing teacher vacancy rates, which has been attributed to pay raises approved three years ago, and his efforts to improve school safety. Lombardo signed two bills in 2023 that rolled back parts of a controversial 2019 law that placed restrictions on student suspensions and expulsions. The ad comes from the Service First Fund, a nonprofit that started as Lombardo's inaugural committee — a departure from previous governors whose inaugural committees were PACs. It has been called a "dark money" group because it does not have to disclose donors, and Lombardo has vetoed legislative efforts to require greater transparency of inaugural committees. The group has made $1.9 million in ad reservations this year, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. — Eric Neugeboren Mini Series Shots fired in GOP AG race — In response to a post about a poll commissioned by attorney general candidate Danny Tarkanian (R), his opponent, former Cannabis Compliance Board Chair Adriana Guzmán Fralick (R), said he had offered her a job in exchange for dropping out of the race and that the race was his "last chance to win something." Tarkanian, a Douglas County commissioner, told The Indy that he had shared the poll results with Fralick and "asked whether she would consider stepping aside so we could work together in the Attorney General's office and position Republicans for victory in November." He also denied saying it was his last chance to win. Campaigning in the rurals — The Rural Nevada Democratic Caucus (RNDC) has planned a road tour with eight Democrats running for the 2nd Congressional District. The lineup features Teresa Benitez Thompson, Matthew Fonken, Josh Hebert, Morgan Wadsworth, Kathy Durham, Sam White, Mark Jolle and Gamaliel Zavala Enriquez. Greg Kidd declined due to a business travel conflict, his campaign said. The tour will include nine events between April 15 and May 8 in locations such as White Pine and Winnemucca. "We specifically targeted our most rural places that typically don't get visited by Democratic candidates," RNDC chair Devan Doan said. Rural at-large state central committee member Cynthia Mohiuddin, who conceptualized the tour, said the format would be more "invigorating for people than polished ballrooms with $500-a-plate-type entrance fees." "I do think there's a newfound realization that maybe wasn't present before, within not just the state party, but the national party, that they need rural votes," she said. "They're not going to win without them." Doan added he's talking with Democratic National Committee leadership around rural investment. On the recorder — The fight for Clark County recorder has grown contentious. One recorder candidate, Skye Berry Burress (D), is suing her former boss, County Recorder Debbie Conway (D). Berry Burress, the Clark County operations manager for the past seven years, alleges that the recorder's office discriminated against her based on her race. (Conway and Berry Burress are both Black.) Berry Burress also filed for bankruptcy in October of last year. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Asked why she wasn't running for re-election, Conway told The Indy she never intended to serve more than 20 years and is retiring now that she's reached that goal. Assm. Tanya Flanagan (D-Las Vegas) has also thrown her hat in the ring — she is endorsed by Conway and has more than $65,800 in the bank. Berry Buress has raised about $900. Like oil and water — Allies of Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) took aim at Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) online after Ford posted a video detailing Las Vegas' sky-high gas prices. In the video, Ford visits a gas station charging $5.19 a gallon and blames the high cost on Trump's military campaign in Iran, "which Joe Lombardo supports." He also describes Trump as Lombardo's friend. Ford's video triggered plenty of Republican pushback, including from Lombardo's Better Nevada PAC. Lombardo reposted a response from the U.S. Oil and Gas Association, which lambasted Ford's support for clean energy initiatives and blamed high gas prices on California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). Nearly 90 percent of Nevada's gasoline comes from California. Gas prices in the Silver State are higher than the national average, in part because Nevada's reliance on California's oil makes it more vulnerable to supply chain issues. Those prices have further spiked during the war with Iran. As of Monday morning, the average gas price in Nevada was $4.91 per gallon; nationwide, it was $3.99. — Eric Neugeboren, Mini Racker, Oona Milliken and Kate Reynolds Looking Ahead Wednesday, April 1 — The Supreme Court hears arguments on birthright citizenship Wednesday, May 20 — We host a debate between the Democratic attorney general candidates A post that caught our eye: Candidates are occasionally mocked for "word salad." But what about actual salad? We'll see you next week. Interested in more newsletters from The Nevada Independent? Find all of them here.
Settelmeyer backed by Lombardo, Amodei in bid for open Northern Nevada congressional seat
In a major coup for his campaign, Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) and Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) are endorsing former state Senate Minority Leader James Settelmeyer (R) in the crowded open race for the Northern Nevada district. The endorsements mark a boost for Settelmeyer from the state's two most prominent Republicans — one of whom had promised to not intervene in the primary — even as some national MAGA voices back his primary opponent David Flippo (R). "I'm proud to endorse James Settelmeyer for Congress," Lombardo wrote in an exclusive statement to The Nevada Independent. "James is a lifelong Nevadan, a rancher, and a proven leader who has spent his career standing up for our state's families, farmers, ranchers, and small businesses. "From his years in the Nevada Legislature to his service in state government, James has always been a strong advocate for commonsense solutions and conservative values. I'm confident he will bring that same commitment to Washington and fight to ensure the voices of northern Nevada are heard." Soon after Amodei's surprise retirement announcement in February, state Republicans told The Nevada Independent that Settelmeyer was among the governor's top picks for the seat — the state's only GOP-held House district. The 2nd Congressional District is unquestionably conservative, with Republicans making up a plurality of registered voters, including in the population center of Washoe County. The Cook Political Report rates the district R+7, although Democrats believe they have an outside chance to flip it given the national political environment. Settelmeyer, who stepped down as the director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on Friday, thanked Lombardo and Amodei for their support. "I am honored to have the support of Congressman Mark Amodei and Governor Joe Lombardo, two leaders who have fought hard for Nevada and for the conservative values we share," he wrote in a statement to The Indy. "I am especially grateful for Congressman Amodei's confidence and for his years of service representing Nevada's Second Congressional District." Amodei had said he was unlikely to endorse in the primary for his seat barring "some kind of strange circumstance, or where you're trying to avoid a weird outcome." In a pointed statement to The Indy, the congressman explained why he changed his mind. "While it is not my habit to get involved in Republican primaries, when I see campaigns that are driven by ambition and anxiousness to start a mud fight before the filing period was even over — I'm making an exception," he wrote. "This is the only business where those who love to mislead can take any voting record and turn it into their talking points. I was labeled a 'RINO' in every primary campaign I ran in CD-2. Voters were not fooled then, and you shouldn't be now." Though he did not mention his name, Amodei aimed his fire at Flippo, a small-business owner and retired lieutenant colonel who swapped races from the 4th Congressional District after Amodei retired. "For eight cycles in a row, CD-2 voters have strongly supported conservative values and an absolute laser focus on the issues facing our communities, our families, our state, and our businesses," Amodei wrote. "That laser focus isn't something that someone gets by taking a crash course in Nevada as it exists north of Indian Springs. "While everybody loves to be on TV in this business, I attribute my success over the last 15 years to a deep-rooted commitment to 'this place,'" he continued. "Growing up, raising a family, and earning a living here gives someone an invaluable understanding of this district, its challenges, its priorities, and the people who call it home. Serving Nevadans is an honor I have never taken for granted. "Our next member of Congress should not be a 30-day 'move in' backed by a Vegas-paid manager. Nevada voters appreciate and respond to a campaign that's run on the issues and not tearing everybody else in a race apart just for perceived political advantage. Consultants love to start mudslinging contests for the simple fact that it makes races more expensive, and the consultants make more money. That conduct is an indicator of a candidate with no vision." Amodei also praised Settelmeyer's career. After chairing the Nevada State Conservation Commission and the Carson Valley Conservation District and serving two terms in the state Assembly, the fourth-generation Nevadan served in the state Senate for a decade, including four years as minority leader. "James Settelmeyer has, by far, the only, and for sure the longest running, elected public service record in this race," Amodei wrote. "He knows rural issues and he knows urban issues. He is one of us and would serve our 'original Nevada' in a truly outstanding fashion. I hope upon reflection that you'll agree, and vote for James to be Nevada's Congressman." Who has MAGA cred? The endorsements for Settelmeyer came as Flippo rolled out support from President Donald Trump's former acting director of national intelligence and ambassador to Germany Ric Grenell, who recently served as director of the Kennedy Center. Flippo also released new endorsements from one former congressman and three sitting ones. In a statement shared with The Nevada Independent, Grenell wrote, "Nevada is so important. It is one of those states that we must win. And having somebody like my friend David in Congress is exactly how we're going to put America first." One of the congressmen, Rep. Eric Burlinson (R-MO), called Flippo "a rock ribbed conservative" and wrote, "Congress doesn't need any more go along to get along politicians who campaign as conservatives and vote like woke liberals — we need fighters." UNR political science professor Jeremy Gelman said Amodei built goodwill that allowed him to repeatedly win re-election, even as he sometimes criticized Trump. Now that the seat is open, Flippo may have more success positioning himself as the most MAGA of them all. "Flippo tends to be what we see across the country in Republican local politics, an outsider with the MAGA credentials trying to run the 'shake up Washington D.C., but also support the president all at the same time,' sort of campaign," Gelman said. "Settelmeyer is much more in line with what this district has elected for a very long time." Settelmeyer has a base of support among his former colleagues and other Northern Nevadans, such as Nevada Trucking Association CEO Paul Enos. Flippo, on the other hand, has previously rolled out a slew of national endorsements from big MAGA names, including former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and Turning Point Action, the conservative advocacy group founded by the late Charlie Kirk. In a Friday interview with The Nevada Independent before the new endorsements, Nevada Republican Party Chair Michael McDonald sounded especially excited about Turning Point, which opened its Las Vegas headquarters this month and has also backed Lombardo. "Turning Point being involved is enormous," he said. "Having them here in Nevada is fantastic." But McDonald also said endorsements would not decide the race. "Endorsements are nice," McDonald said. "Obviously, every time I run, I've always liked to have endorsements, but you better know the issues." Asked if it would matter to voters that Flippo isn't from the district, McDonald said, "No," adding, "There's a lot of people that live somewhere else and now they're moving into the district." Instead, he emphasized that GOP voters want a conservative candidate who will go to the mat for them. He highlighted federal funding, water and traffic as some of voters' most pressing concerns. He had nothing bad to say about any of the candidates and repeatedly praised Lombardo and Amodei. Will Trump endorse? Gelman, the UNR professor, said there's only one endorsement sure to matter. "It's not obvious who Republicans in this district in Nevada in general take their cues from, besides Donald Trump," Gelman said. "That's not to say he's the be all, end all of it, but when he endorses, Republicans seem to listen. Traditional endorsements from other Republican politicians may not carry the same weight." McDonald, who said he speaks directly to the president nearly every week, did not know of any imminent plans for Trump to weigh in. The GOP chairman said he regularly fills Trump in on the state of the race, including grassroots attitudes and the pros and cons of each candidate. "I don't play favorite candidates, but I tell him what this consultant is doing, what that consultant is doing, what's going to be taking place," McDonald said. "So he's informed." What interests the president the most? McDonald said Trump really wants to know about the candidates' loyalty to the party and where they stand with working people. He added that the president is especially eager to learn about what the candidates did before they ran for office, their past votes, and any blemishes on their military or law enforcement records. Asked what the president thinks of Amodei, McDonald said, "I'm a very, very strong supporter of Congressman Amodei. I've known him for 30 years, and I consider him a dear friend. I think he's been phenomenal for the state. You know, we've never really had direct conversation about Congressman Amodei, but every time we had an event, he made sure Congressman Amodei was front and center."
Turning Point Action sets up shop in Vegas, hoping to add Nevada to its 'red wall'
Indy Elections takes you behind the headlines of Nevada politics, delivering scoops and smart analysis on the races that could reshape our lives. You can change your newsletter settings here. In today's edition: What Nevadans really think about the feds taking over elections. Plus: Turning Point opens an operation in Vegas, Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) says the administration wants to add a new mechanism for wealthy foreigners to move to the U.S. into the Department of Homeland Security bill, and Dr. Aury Nagy (R) explains why he gave money to Democrats. Now that the matchups are set, there's no shortage of political strategy spilling out into the open. We've got the polling, legal maneuvers and eye-catching endorsements you may have missed. This newsletter is published every week. We want to hear from you! Email your newsletter editor Mini Racker at mracker@thenvindy.com. Where Nevadans stand on elections A poll exclusively obtained by The Nevada Independent shows Nevadans overwhelmingly oppose the federal government running elections, but slim majorities support narrowing the state's mail ballot and post-Election Day ballot counting laws. The survey on behalf of RightCount Nevada — a nonprofit led by former Republican officials to restore trust in elections — found significant partisan divides on many election topics, ranging from troop deployment at polls (Democrats are very concerned, Republicans not so much) to noncitizen voting (vice versa). An FBI probe into mass noncitizen voting in Nevada recently sputtered after finding scant evidence. It also found Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar (D) with a slight lead in his race over hypothetical opponent Shirley Folkins-Roberts (R). Read our full story here. — Eric Neugeboren Is Nevada at a Turning Point? Turning Point Action — a major conservative political action group founded by the late activist Charlie Kirk — unveiled its new headquarters in Las Vegas at a packed ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday. Already, Turning Point Action has endorsed high-profile candidates such as small-business owner David Flippo (R), who's in a crowded primary the 2nd Congressional District, and Gov. Joe Lombardo (R). "Turning Point has put a big machine into the state of Nevada," Lombardo said during the launch. "That's the way we get it done." The group has touted Nevada as central to its election strategy, part of a broader national "red wall" effort targeting swing states, such as New Hampshire and Arizona. Turning Point leadership has said it plans to launch a ballot-chasing initiative in Nevada targeting low-propensity Republican voters, hoping to replicate wins in Arizona. Erika Kirk, the widow who now leads the organization, made an appearance at the event alongside Nevada Republican Party Chair Michael McDonald. — Isabella Aldrete What we're reading and writing The Nevada Independent: How many days has AG Aaron Ford spent out of state? Here's what records show. Is Team Lombardo's favorite attack line making a difference? The Nevada Independent: Lawsuit seeks to disqualify North Las Vegas mayoral front-runner Scott Black over term limits The suit could benefit state Democratic Party chair Assm. Daniele Monroe-Moreno (D-North Las Vegas). Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) poses for a portrait in his office in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 31, 2023. (Suzannah Hoover/The Nevada Independent) D.C. Download On Friday, I spoke with Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) about his bill to impose a 30 percent tariff on sheep and lamb products from Australia and New Zealand. Both countries are currently tariffed at the 10 percent rate President Donald Trump has imposed for most global imports. Our interview has been edited for length and clarity. MR: Can you tell me where this idea came from? MA: I grew up in a Nevada where sheep grazed on C-Hill outside of town every summer straight. … My interest has just been, 'Hey, I don't want these folks to go away.' … We introduced a bill to change the tariffs. … In other words, free up a piece of the U.S. market for U.S. producers. … We're prepared to amend it if we need to, but we've talked to [Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee Chair Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA)] to get a hearing on it. MR: Tariffs have been a huge Trump priority. Have you been in touch with the president or his people about this specific bill? MA: Yeah, I was in touch with the secretary of commerce going, "I want your tariff guy. We're tired of going through the trade representative. No offense, but that is a recipe for dying of old age in a restaurant." MR: What was the reaction? MA: Actually, we're on the guy's calendar for a chat next week. … He called me about something, and I said, "Now, I need something from you. And it's not a big deal. All this tariff stuff, and it's an emergency or whatever. When your industry is about 10 percent of what it was not that long ago, I think that's an emergency." MR: Can you tell me what he called you about? MA: The only reason they call me is because Homeland's the only bill still open. … I think they were calling it the "Platinum Card" or something; 5 million bucks a year, you can come over and be a resident noncitizen, something like that. [Editor's note: The Trump administration has advertised the Platinum Card as a program through which foreign nationals can pay $5 million to spend 270 days a year in America without paying taxes on non-U.S. income, "coming soon."] So anyhow, it's like, "Hey, we talked to the Speaker, the President likes it, we talked to the folks in the Senate." … So I'm like, "Well, listen, if you've run all those traps, you're not going to get anything from me, other than, 'I want to talk to your tariff guy, so I'd like to know how that works.'" — Mini Racker Poll workers count drop-off mail ballots inside the polling site at UNR before giving them to a ballot runner to return to the Washoe County Registrar of Voters on Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024. (David Calvert/The Nevada Independent) Mini Series Post-Election Day ballot counting in jeopardy? — The U.S. Supreme Court appears skeptical of a Mississippi law that allows mail ballots to be counted after Election Day — a decision that could upend the Nevada law that allows counting ballots that arrive as many as four days after Election Day, as long as they are postmarked in time. Oral arguments were held Monday and the high court's conservative majority appeared poised to overturn the law. In the 2024 general election, about 9,500 Clark County ballots arrived post-Election Day, while about 2,400 came in post-Election Day in Washoe County — together accounting for less than 1 percent of total ballots cast in both areas. The poll from the top of this newsletter found a narrow majority of Nevadans would back a law requiring all ballots to be received by the time polls close. Lombardo backs O'Donnell — Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) endorsed video game composer Marty O'Donnell (R) in the race to take on Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) in the 3rd Congressional District. O'Donnell also got the governor's endorsement in 2024, when he placed fourth in the GOP primary. Former Ambassador to Iceland Jeff Gunter (R), 2024 Las Vegas mayoral candidate Tera Anderson (R) and Dr. Aury Nagy (R) are the other Republicans running this year. Nagy addresses donations to Democrats — Nagy has loaned his campaign more than $1 million. But he also donated to Democrats, including Lee, as recently as 2024. He explains himself: Nagy told The Indy he was a longtime Democrat because he opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement, but left the party in 2022 because of Democrats' resistance to drugs such as ivermectin and to criticisms of the COVID-19 vaccine. He hoped to sway them. "To get into the rooms to talk to people in the Democratic Party, they don't pay attention unless you donate," he said. "The power brokers in Nevada at the time were pretty much all Democrats. … I was making these donations to save the lives of the people in the state of Nevada, to try to allow people to use drugs that could save their lives and to stop them from taking medications that were causing harm." Nagy said he started to feel Democrats had gone too far in pushing for "superior rights" for some minorities as early as 2014. He formed the White Coat Party to improve health care. "It wasn't until 2024, when Trump embraced [Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] that I was sure that being a Republican was OK," Nagy said. "When I saw RFK advocating for the same things and trying to remove the poisons from the food supply, I was all-in on that guy. The stuff he's doing on the vaccines — I think he's right to start to force the conversation, force us to look at if we're doing things in the optimal way and the healthiest way for our kids." Nagy said he voted for Trump. Union endorsements — Southern Nevada Building Trades — a major construction union and political force in Southern Nevada — endorsed Tya Mathis-Coleman (D), a staffer in Treasurer Zach Conine's (D) office, in her bid for Nevada treasurer earlier this month. Assm. Joe Dalia (D-Henderson), Mathis-Coleman's main Democratic opponent in the treasurer's race, has secured the endorsement of the Clark County Education Association, one of the state's largest teacher unions. — Eric Neugeboren, Mini Racker and Isabella Aldrete Looking Ahead Friday, March 27 — Transportation Security Administration agents are set to miss second full paychecks as Congress leaves D.C. Saturday, March 28 — No Kings protesters rally across the state A post that caught our eye: Who will be first to propose a source meeting here? We'll see you next week. Interested in more newsletters from The Nevada Independent? Find all of them here.
Turning Point Action sets up shop in Vegas, hoping to add Nevada to its 'red wall'
Indy Elections takes you behind the headlines of Nevada politics, delivering scoops and smart analysis on the races that could reshape our lives. You can change your newsletter settings here. In today's edition: What Nevadans really think about the feds taking over elections. Plus: Turning Point opens an operation in Vegas, Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) says the administration wants to add a new mechanism for wealthy foreigners to move to the U.S. into the Department of Homeland Security bill, and Dr. Aury Nagy (R) explains why he gave money to Democrats. Now that the matchups are set, there's no shortage of political strategy spilling out into the open. We've got the polling, legal maneuvers and eye-catching endorsements you may have missed. This newsletter is published every week. We want to hear from you! Email your newsletter editor Mini Racker at mracker@thenvindy.com. Where Nevadans stand on elections A poll exclusively obtained by The Nevada Independent shows Nevadans overwhelmingly oppose the federal government running elections, but slim majorities support narrowing the state's mail ballot and post-Election Day ballot counting laws. The survey on behalf of RightCount Nevada — a nonprofit led by former Republican officials to restore trust in elections — found significant partisan divides on many election topics, ranging from troop deployment at polls (Democrats are very concerned, Republicans not so much) to noncitizen voting (vice versa). An FBI probe into mass noncitizen voting in Nevada recently sputtered after finding scant evidence. It also found Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar (D) with a slight lead in his race over hypothetical opponent Shirley Folkins-Roberts (R). Read our full story here. — Eric Neugeboren Is Nevada at a Turning Point? Turning Point Action — a major conservative political action group founded by the late activist Charlie Kirk — unveiled its new headquarters in Las Vegas at a packed ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday. Already, Turning Point Action has endorsed high-profile candidates such as small-business owner David Flippo (R), who's in a crowded primary the 2nd Congressional District, and Gov. Joe Lombardo (R). "Turning Point has put a big machine into the state of Nevada," Lombardo said during the launch. "That's the way we get it done." The group has touted Nevada as central to its election strategy, part of a broader national "red wall" effort targeting swing states, such as New Hampshire and Arizona. Turning Point leadership has said it plans to launch a ballot-chasing initiative in Nevada targeting low-propensity Republican voters, hoping to replicate wins in Arizona. Erika Kirk, the widow who now leads the organization, made an appearance at the event alongside Nevada Republican Party Chair Michael McDonald. — Isabella Aldrete What we're reading and writing The Nevada Independent: How many days has AG Aaron Ford spent out of state? Here's what records show. Is Team Lombardo's favorite attack line making a difference? The Nevada Independent: Lawsuit seeks to disqualify North Las Vegas mayoral front-runner Scott Black over term limits The suit could benefit state Democratic Party chair Assm. Daniele Monroe-Moreno (D-North Las Vegas). Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) poses for a portrait in his office in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 31, 2023. (Suzannah Hoover/The Nevada Independent) D.C. Download On Friday, I spoke with Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) about his bill to impose a 30 percent tariff on sheep and lamb products from Australia and New Zealand. Both countries are currently tariffed at the 10 percent rate President Donald Trump has imposed for most global imports. Our interview has been edited for length and clarity. MR: Can you tell me where this idea came from? MA: I grew up in a Nevada where sheep grazed on C-Hill outside of town every summer straight. … My interest has just been, 'Hey, I don't want these folks to go away.' … We introduced a bill to change the tariffs. … In other words, free up a piece of the U.S. market for U.S. producers. … We're prepared to amend it if we need to, but we've talked to [Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee Chair Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA)] to get a hearing on it. MR: Tariffs have been a huge Trump priority. Have you been in touch with the president or his people about this specific bill? MA: Yeah, I was in touch with the secretary of commerce going, "I want your tariff guy. We're tired of going through the trade representative. No offense, but that is a recipe for dying of old age in a restaurant." MR: What was the reaction? MA: Actually, we're on the guy's calendar for a chat next week. … He called me about something, and I said, "Now, I need something from you. And it's not a big deal. All this tariff stuff, and it's an emergency or whatever. When your industry is about 10 percent of what it was not that long ago, I think that's an emergency." MR: Can you tell me what he called you about? MA: The only reason they call me is because Homeland's the only bill still open. … I think they were calling it the "Platinum Card" or something; 5 million bucks a year, you can come over and be a resident noncitizen, something like that. [Editor's note: The Trump administration has advertised the Platinum Card as a program through which foreign nationals can pay $5 million to spend 270 days a year in America without paying taxes on non-U.S. income, "coming soon."] So anyhow, it's like, "Hey, we talked to the Speaker, the President likes it, we talked to the folks in the Senate." … So I'm like, "Well, listen, if you've run all those traps, you're not going to get anything from me, other than, 'I want to talk to your tariff guy, so I'd like to know how that works.'" — Mini Racker Poll workers count drop-off mail ballots inside the polling site at UNR before giving them to a ballot runner to return to the Washoe County Registrar of Voters on Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024. (David Calvert/The Nevada Independent) Mini Series Post-Election Day ballot counting in jeopardy? — The U.S. Supreme Court appears skeptical of a Mississippi law that allows mail ballots to be counted after Election Day — a decision that could upend the Nevada law that allows counting ballots that arrive as many as four days after Election Day, as long as they are postmarked in time. Oral arguments were held Monday and the high court's conservative majority appeared poised to overturn the law. In the 2024 general election, about 9,500 Clark County ballots arrived post-Election Day, while about 2,400 came in post-Election Day in Washoe County — together accounting for less than 1 percent of total ballots cast in both areas. The poll from the top of this newsletter found a narrow majority of Nevadans would back a law requiring all ballots to be received by the time polls close. Lombardo backs O'Donnell — Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) endorsed video game composer Marty O'Donnell (R) in the race to take on Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) in the 3rd Congressional District. O'Donnell also got the governor's endorsement in 2024, when he placed fourth in the GOP primary. Former Ambassador to Iceland Jeff Gunter (R), 2024 Las Vegas mayoral candidate Tera Anderson (R) and Dr. Aury Nagy (R) are the other Republicans running this year. Nagy addresses donations to Democrats — Nagy has loaned his campaign more than $1 million. But he also donated to Democrats, including Lee, as recently as 2024. He explains himself: Nagy told The Indy he was a longtime Democrat because he opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement, but left the party in 2022 because of Democrats' resistance to drugs such as ivermectin and to criticisms of the COVID-19 vaccine. He hoped to sway them. "To get into the rooms to talk to people in the Democratic Party, they don't pay attention unless you donate," he said. "The power brokers in Nevada at the time were pretty much all Democrats. … I was making these donations to save the lives of the people in the state of Nevada, to try to allow people to use drugs that could save their lives and to stop them from taking medications that were causing harm." Nagy said he started to feel Democrats had gone too far in pushing for "superior rights" for some minorities as early as 2014. He formed the White Coat Party to improve health care. "It wasn't until 2024, when Trump embraced [Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] that I was sure that being a Republican was OK," Nagy said. "When I saw RFK advocating for the same things and trying to remove the poisons from the food supply, I was all-in on that guy. The stuff he's doing on the vaccines — I think he's right to start to force the conversation, force us to look at if we're doing things in the optimal way and the healthiest way for our kids." Nagy said he voted for Trump. Union endorsements — Southern Nevada Building Trades — a major construction union and political force in Southern Nevada — endorsed Tya Mathis-Coleman (D), a staffer in Treasurer Zach Conine's (D) office, in her bid for Nevada treasurer earlier this month. Assm. Joe Dalia (D-Henderson), Mathis-Coleman's main Democratic opponent in the treasurer's race, has secured the endorsement of the Clark County Education Association, one of the state's largest teacher unions. — Eric Neugeboren, Mini Racker and Isabella Aldrete Looking Ahead Friday, March 27 — Transportation Security Administration agents are set to miss second full paychecks as Congress leaves D.C. Saturday, March 28 — No Kings protesters rally across the state A post that caught our eye: Who will be first to propose a source meeting here? We'll see you next week. Interested in more newsletters from The Nevada Independent? Find all of them here.
Cortez Masto: 'The American people need to know' why we're at war with Iran
Indy Elections takes you behind the headlines of Nevada politics, delivering scoops and smart analysis on the races that could reshape our lives. You can change your newsletter settings here. In today's edition: What you need to know about the candidates who filed. Plus: An exclusive interview with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) on the war in Iran, a gubernatorial messaging blitz, and former Gov. Steve Sisolak's "dream" presidential contender. After a whirlwind two weeks, candidate filing is closed and the primary field is set. Going forward, you can expect a lot more election coverage from us — including through this newsletter, which you'll now receive every Tuesday. This newsletter is published every week. We want to hear from you! Email tips and feedback to your newsletter editor Mini Racker at mracker@thenvindy.com. Who's running? Candidate filing closed on Friday, setting the stage for primaries on June 9 and the eventual November matchups that will send a new Nevada representative to Congress and determine who will lead the state for the next four years. The filing period finally solidified the field in the race for the 2nd Congressional District, answering weeks of questions about which Republicans would jump in. Former state Sen. James Settelmeyer (R-Minden) is running, and Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) will support him at his campaign kickoff (though the congressman is not explicitly endorsing Settelmeyer). Meanwhile, small business owner David Flippo (R), a Las Vegas resident, swapped races from the 4th District and quickly racked up a slew of national MAGA endorsements. Twenty candidates have registered to run for governor, with Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) already leading the way with campaign and attack ads. The race for attorney general has just four candidates, but the primaries could be extraordinarily competitive. Read our story for the biggest surprises, a few candidate interviews, and insight into the races we're watching most closely. — Mini Racker, Tabitha Mueller, Eric Neugeboren and Kate Reynolds What we're reading and writing The Nevada Independent: IndyTalks: Lombardo pushes against nationalizing elections, calls it 'state issue' Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) said he wants to make people "feel better" about election integrity and much more in a 90-minute interview. KLAS: Nevada leader launches 'Congressman on the Job' series to work alongside local employees Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) is highlighting his support for workers in a series reminiscent of Undercover Boss. The Capitol is pictured in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 15, 2024. (Mariam Zuhaib/The Associated Press) D.C. Download On Friday, I spoke with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) about the Iran war. Recent polling shows views on the war are split along party lines. Here's our interview, edited for length and clarity. MR: When are you expecting this war to end? CCM: I don't shed tears for Ayatollah Khamenei. We all know that his Iranian regime not only has oppressed the people, has sponsored terrorism, and it cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. But I will also say, no matter what this administration says and the changing objectives for this war, it is their war of choice, and it is unauthorized by Congress. I don't support it. What this administration should be focused on is lowering costs for Americans. I don't understand why we're spending a billion dollars in an unauthorized war when we should be spending that money to lower costs for Americans, including here in Nevada. And this is the number one thing I'm hearing as I'm home right now. If this administration had just come to Congress, I could answer your question. I would know what their objective is. … This is a question for this administration that Congress has been demanding, because the American people need to know this, but they're refusing to answer it. MR: I know you had a letter this week about the airstrikes that killed 168 people at the elementary school. Have you gotten any answers on that? CCM: No. This is the challenge. … What we're seeing and hearing is either coming out through investigative reporting, or the Department of Defense keeps saying that they're investigating. … We all need transparency and accountability around this issue. What happened in Minab in this school — it was horrific. MR: There's some talk the administration will seek supplemental funding for the war effort. What would it take for you to support that? CCM: The Department of Defense received $150 billion from the Republican tax bill that the Republicans passed, right? [Editor's note: The Pentagon has reportedly made plans to spend all that money this fiscal year, instead of through FY2029 as lawmakers intended.] And that money remains unspent. The Pentagon has almost now, in addition to that, $839 billion that was just appropriated to them for the year, so I want a full accounting of how they are planning to use that money before we approve anything else. So that's my first question. — Mini Racker Indy Ad Watch If early ads are any indication, Gov. Joe Lombardo's team thinks electoral success is some combination of portraying him as a policy wonk problem-solver and his opponent as a checked-out jetsetter. In the last few weeks, groups backing the sitting governor released two campaign advertisements. One of the ads from the Service First Fund — a "dark money" political nonprofit that started as Lombardo's inaugural committee — took a positive tack by touting the governor's role in addressing health care. The other, from the Better Nevada PAC, attacked Lombardo's top Democratic challenger Attorney General Aaron Ford for facing an ethics complaint stemming from Ford's busy travel calendar. Both ads are running statewide. The Service First Fund ad is the group's first in support of Lombardo after previously running spots for Republican legislative candidates in 2024. Democratic lawmakers have repeatedly tried to increase the transparency of inaugural committees, but Lombardo has vetoed them, calling the most recent one "yet another 'transparency' measure driven by political motives." The ads preview what is likely to be a brutal barrage of messaging surrounding the governor's race and underscore Team Lombardo's strategy. Health care is a top concern among Nevadans, and Democrats have recently linked Lombardo to layoffs and service cuts at Boulder City Hospital, which Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) said were due to the Trump administration's Medicaid cuts. It's noteworthy that campaigns are increasingly weaponizing ethics complaints as an opportunity to slam candidates, even without a formal ruling. Hey, if you can get the headline, I suppose that's all that matters. — Tabitha Mueller 2028 Watch California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA)— a top contender in the 2028 presidential election — made a pit stop in Las Vegas two weeks ago to promote his new memoir. In a nearly hourlong conversation with state party chair Assm. Daniele Monroe-Moreno (D-North Las Vegas), Newsom criticized the president's immigration policy and revealed that former Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino surrounded a launch event for California's successful Democratic middecade redistricting with masked agents who tried to "intimidate every single person walking in." "They are not screwing around," Newsom added. "Nor are we." Former Gov. Steve Sisolak (D-NV) called Newsom becoming president his "dream." Newsom also winked at his own anticipated bid: "Let's be honest, a politician coming out with a book in Nevada, if you're not rolling your eyes, you have the right to roll your eyes," he said. — Isabella Aldrete and Kate Reynolds Gov. Joe Lombardo acknowledges supporters after he filed for re-election in Las Vegas on March 5, 2026. (Jeff Scheid/The Nevada Independent) Mini Series Bipartisanship in the Legislature, but not on the campaign trail — Gov. Joe Lombardo (R) and Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas) brokered a massive education deal in the form of SB460 during the 2025 legislative session, but you wouldn't know it from the governor's social media posts. Careful cropping has ensured that photographic references to the majority leader during the bill signing were removed. In one instance, the governor went so far as to tout the legislation, which bears Cannizzaro's name at the top, as "my" education bill. The distancing from Cannizzaro is a far cry from the post of the two politicians on the governor's Instagram from the UNR vs. UNLV football game in December 2025. "One of the first things you learn as a woman in elected office is that there's always a man standing by to take credit for your work," Cannizzaro told The Nevada Independent about the situation. She also emphasized that while she sponsored the bill, she had support from a number of other women legislators, including Sens. Angie Taylor (D-Reno) and Marilyn Dondero-Loop (D-Las Vegas) and Assm. Selena Torres-Fossett (D-Las Vegas). Lombardo's team said it had planned the bill signing as a collaborative event and had recognized the collaborative nature of the bill in numerous social media posts, including calling it a "collaborative bill," calling out Cannizzaro by name in another, and recognizing the partners on the legislation. A new documentary on the block — Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill (D) filed to run for governor Wednesday afternoon, the same day her campaign released a short documentary chronicling the launch of her statewide tour earlier this year. The campaign said Hill, who has been an outspoken critic of film tax credits, did not leverage any for the documentary. The Fiore show — Former Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michele Fiore, who was convicted (and later pardoned) for fraud and is now embroiled in a legal battle over whether she can be suspended from her role as a Pahrump justice of the peace, has a new weekly show in which she alleges corruption in the legal pursuits against her. Endorsement watch — Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV), whose district includes North Las Vegas, has endorsed Assm. Daniele Monroe-Moreno's (D-North Las Vegas) mayoral bid. Monroe-Moreno last week also notched an endorsement from the Nevada Legislative Black Caucus. City Councilman Scott Black (D) is also running in the primary. Up North, meanwhile, Lombardo on Monday endorsed Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks (R) for re-election; Sparks City Attorney Wes Duncan (R) is also running. — Tabitha Mueller, Eric Neugeboren and Mini Racker Looking Ahead Monday, March 23 — Challengers file candidate financial disclosures Tuesday, June 9 — Nevada holds primary elections A post that caught our eye: Out: DOGE. In: Crab. We'll see you next week. Interested in more newsletters from The Nevada Independent? Find all of them here. This story was updated on 3/17/25 at 11:58 a.m. to include a response from Gov. Joe Lombardo's campaign to social media posts mentioning Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas).