Month: March 2024

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2024 One Party and Unopposed Races

During the 2015 Nevada legislative session, the legislature passed, and the governor signed Senate Bill (SB) 499, changing the way elections where only one major political party (Democratic or Republican) fields candidates for a partisan office.

Prior to SB499, if just one party had candidates, no minor party or Non-Partisan candidates, if only two candidates filed, there would not be a primary for that race. The two candidates would go directly to the general election so all voters could have a voice. If there were three or more, there would be a primary and the top two finishers would advance to the general election, again, so all voters would have a voice.

Under SB499, the candidates, regardless how many, appear on the primary ballot and the winner of the primary advances to the general election UNOPPOSED. In plain terms, the winner of the primary wins the position.

Since primary elections for partisan offices are closed, only voters registered in that party are allowed to vote. In a typical primary, the average turnout is about 23 percent. This means that if the voter share of total voters in the particular district is 35 percent, we can assume that 23 percent of the 35 percent; just eight percent of the voters of that party are voting. If there are more than two candidates, the winner may get under five percent support of party members and far less of the total active registered voters in the district.

This election, there are 18 races where only one party has candidates, three for the legislature and 15 for county commission.

Another area where vote choice is limited is if candidates are unopposed. This cycle there are 17 races.

Candidate NameParty OfficeFiling Office
SB499 Races
Tanya FlanaganDemState Assembly District 7Clark County
James Melvin FennellDemState Assembly District 7Clark County
Dina NealDemState Senate District 4Clark County
Laura E PerkinsDemState Senate District 4Clark County
John EllisonRepState Senate District 19Secretary of State
William Eric HockstedlerRepState Senate District 19Secretary of State
Chelsy FischerRepState Senate District 19Secretary of State
Julie Guerrero-GoetschRepCounty Commissioner, District 1Churchill County
Matthew N HydeRepCounty Commissioner, District 1Churchill County
Rusty D. JardineRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Churchill County
Eric Wayne BlakeyRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Churchill County
Todd MorettoRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Churchill County
John B. CaetanoRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Churchill County
Mark GardnerRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Douglas County
Michael J TannerRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Douglas County
Dean ParisRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Douglas County
Janet FreixasRepCounty Commissioner, District 5Douglas County
Nathan TolbertRepCounty Commissioner, District 5Douglas County
Rex SteningerRepCounty Commissioner, District 5Elko County
Christopher Lee MullinsRepCounty Commissioner, District 5Elko County
Mary Jane ZakasRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Esmeralda County
Edward Mark HartmanRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Esmeralda County
Jimmie Buck DavidsRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Eureka County
Michael A SchoenwaldRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Eureka County
Paige Lee BrooksRepCounty Commissioner, Seat BHumboldt County
Crystal NewtonRepCounty Commissioner, Seat BHumboldt County
Varlin Sharp HigbeeRepCounty Commissioner, District CLincoln County
Lisa PoulsenRepCounty Commissioner, District CLincoln County
Hendrix, Tamara GayRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Lyon County
Wooley, Phillip DuaneRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Lyon County
Beth BorysewichRepCounty Commissioner District 2Nye County
Daniel BlackstoneRepCounty Commissioner District 2Nye County
Salli KerrRepCounty Commissioner District 2Nye County
John Peter KoenigRepCounty Commissioner District 2Nye County
Shayla Dawn HudsonRepCounty Commissioner, Seat APershing County
Wendy W NelsenRepCounty Commissioner, Seat APershing County
Charles Orville SaylesRepCounty Commissioner, Seat APershing County
Lawrence Eugene RackleyRepCounty Commissioner, Seat BPershing County
Connie GottschalkRepCounty Commissioner, Seat BPershing County
Donald GilmanRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Storey County
Thomas Elden MinklerRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Storey County
Pat RobisonRepCounty Commissioner, Seat 3White Pine County
Scott RomsosRepCounty Commissioner, Seat 3White Pine County
Unoppossed
Erica MoscaDemState Assembly District 14Clark County
Thaddeus Joseph Yurek IIIRepState Assembly District 19Clark County
Melissa HardyRepState Assembly District 22Clark County
Danielle GallantRepState Assembly District 23Clark County
Reuben D’SilvaDemState Assembly District 28Clark County
Jonathan R KarrRepCounty Commissioner, District 3Elko County
Frederic J. PerezRepCounty Commissioner, District 2Esmeralda County
Jesse HillRepCounty Commissioner, Seat AHumboldt County
Ken TiptonRepCounty Commissioner, Seat DHumboldt County
Deann HelmingRepCommissioner, District 3Lander County
Diane L. PathRepCounty Commissioner, District ALincoln County
Keith A. PearsonRepCounty Commissioner, District ELincoln County
Cassinelli, John ScotRepCounty Commissioner, District 1Lyon County
Jacobson, Robert WayneRepCounty Commissioner, District 4Lyon County
Melanie HamiltonRepCounty Recorder-AuditorPershing County
Bert K GurrRepState Assembly District 33Secretary of State
Gregory Scott KoenigRepState Assembly District 38Secretary of State
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February Voter Registration Shows Two Very Interesting Numbers

By Doug Goodman -Founder & Executive Director Nevadans for Election Reform – March 3, 2024

The voter registration numbers for February 2024 held two very interesting numbers. In CD2 the voter share of those not registered to either the Republican or Democratic Party, 37.48%, is only 0.37% behind the Republican share of 37.85% and in the assembly, Non-Partisan voter share became the largest bloc in 17 districts (over 40%), an increase of six from January.

With an increase of just over 4,000 active registered voters over January, it appears likely that many of those who changed party affiliation to vote in the presidential preference primary changed back to Non-Partisan

State-Wide

PartyChange in # Voters% Change% Voter ShareDifference in Voter Share %
D-3,935-0.66%30.56%-0.27%
R-465-0.08%28.87%-0.09%
NP8,8971.40%33.35%0.39%
IAP1470.17%4.35%0.00%
LIB-30-0.18%0.84%0.00%
Other-445-1.12%2.03%-0.03%
Total not D or R  40.57%0.36%

Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.

Clark County

PartyChange in # Voters% Change% Voter ShareDifference in Voter Share %
D1,3690.30%33.05%-0.14%
R3,0350.87%25.13%0.04%
NP5,9861.25%34.72%0.18%
IAP-75-0.13%4.17%-0.04%
LIB-26-0.25%0.73%-0.01%
Other-364-1.17%2.21%-0.04%
Total not D or R  41.82%0.09%

Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.

Washoe County

PartyChange in # Voters% Change% Voter ShareDifference in Voter Share %
D-5,388-5.54%29.48%-0.99%
R-4,462-4.31%31.81%-0.64%
NP2,1452.29%30.76%1.40%
IAP1491.00%4.83%0.16%
LIB80.22%1.17%0.03%
Other-43-0.70%1.95%0.03%
Total not D or R  38.71%1.62

Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.

Rural Counties (See rural county table below district tables)

PartyChange in # Voters% Change% Voter ShareDifference in Voter Share %
D840.22%16.90%-0.10%
R9620.89%47.63%0.04%
NP7661.18%28.59%0.11%
IAP730.67%4.80%-0.01%
LIB-12-0.50%1.03%-0.01%
Other-38-1.56%1.04%-0.03%
Total not D or R  35.46%0.06%

Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.

18 – 34 Year Old

PartyChange in # Voters% Change% Voter ShareDifference in Voter Share %
D-2,134-1.39%27.89%-0.51%
R-316-0.35%16.58%-0.13%
NP4,7611.87%47.59%0.68%
IAP1500.66%4.23%0.01%
LIB-20-0.29%1.24%-0.01%
Other-155-1.14%2.47%-0.04%
Total not D or R  55.53%0.64%

Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.

35 – 54 Year Old

PartyChange in # Voters% Change% Voter ShareDifference in Voter Share %
D-1,312-0.73%29.39%-0.26%
R-242-0.15%27.29%-0.08%
NP2,6501.27%35.04%0.38%
IAP350.13%4.62%0.00%
LIB120.19%1.06%0.00%
Other-165-1.04%2.60%-0.03%
Total not D or R  43.32%0.35%

Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.

55+

PartyChange in # Voters% Change% Voter ShareDifference in Voter Share %
D-487-0.19%33.30%-0.10%
R990.03%38.56%-0.03%
NP1,4920.86%22.23%0.16%
IAP-37-0.11%4.23%-0.01%
LIB-22-0.70%0.40%0.00%
Other-123-1.20%1.28%-0.02%
Total not D or R  28.13%0.13%

Other includes Green Party, Natural Law Party, other or not specified.

By district voter share changes.

Congressional Districts

Party# Districts Lose Voter Share# Districts Gain Voter Share# Districts No Change
Democratic400
Republican130
NP040
IAP310
LIB211
Other310
Not D or R040

In all Congressional districts (100 percent of the districts) the number of voters not affiliated with either major party exceeds the number of voters registered to one of the major parties.

In three (75%) of the districts the percentage of voters not registered as Democratic or Republican is the leading group of voters.

NP holds the top share in CD1 and CD3.

State Senate Districts

Party# Districts Lose Voter Share# Districts Gain Voter Share# Districts No Change
Democratic2100
Republican6150
NP1200
IAP1650
LIB1146
Other1830
Not D or R1200

In all 21 districts (100%) the number of voters registered as Non-Partisan or the total number not affiliated with either major party is greater than or within 5% of the number of voters registered to one of the major parties.

In 15 (71.43%) of the 21 districts the percentage of voters not registered as Democratic or Republican is the leading group of voters.

NP holds the top share in SDs 2,5,7,8,9,10,11,12

State Assembly Districts

Party# Districts Lose Voter Share# Districts Gain Voter Share# Districts No Change
Democratic4110
Republican16251
NP3390
IAP3282
LIB18717
Other34  80
Not D or R5370

In all 42 districts (100%) the number of voters registered as Non-Partisan or the total number not affiliated with either major party is greater than or within 5% of the number of voters registered to one of the major parties.

In 32 (76.19%) of the 42 districts the percentage of voters not registered as Democratic or Republican is the leading group of voters. NP holds the top share in 17 districts (40.48%) ADs 5,8,9,11,15,16,18,20,21,24,27,28,29,30,35,41, and 42

Rural Counties

Party# Counties Lose Voter Share# Counties Gain Voter Share# Counties No Change
Democratic1410
Republican780
NP690
IAP771
LIB753
Other1032
Not D or R3120

Combined NP / minor party is the largest group in Carson City

Average non-major party voter share counties is now 32.52 percent, an increase of 0.05%.

With candidates filing for state and local races this month, it will be interesting to see if the campaigns can generate enough interest to cause a shift leading up to the June primary.

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