Competitive Primary Races Lead to Slight GOP Voter Share Gain

By Doug Goodman -Founder & Executive Director Nevadans for Election Reform – July 3, 2022

June was primary election month with the competitive and most visible races concentrated in the Republican primary. Because of this, voter registration numbers for June saw the Republican Party increasing voter share across the board with minor parties losing. Non-Partisan fluctuation was mixed. Voter share of those not registered as either Democratic or Republican remains the largest voting block statewide and in Clark and Washoe counties. Non-Partisan remains the largest group among voters 18 to 34 years of age and when combined with minor party registration is hovering around 50 percent.

State-Wide

PartyChange in # Voters% Change% Voter ShareDifference in Voter Share %
D4,5870.76%33.07%-0.06%
R12,1382.23%30.28%0.39%
NP2,6580.51%28.76%-0.12%
IAP-766-0.96%4.32%-0.08%
LIB-77-0.46%0.90%-0.01%
Other-1,635-3.24%2.66%-0.11%
Total not D or R  36.65%-0.32%

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

Clark County

PartyChange in # Voters% Change% Voter ShareDifference in Voter Share %
D4,1190.89%35.99%-0.01%
R8,8992.69%26.35%0.45%
NP7440.19%29.73%-0.22%
IAP-537-0.99%4.17%-0.08%
LIB-67-0.65%0.79%-0.01%
Other-1,309-3.31%2.96%-0.13%
Total not D or R  37.65%-0.44%

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

Washoe County

PartyChange in # Voters% Change% Voter ShareDifference in Voter Share %
D4900.49%31.98%-0.16%
R1,5601.51%33.18%0.17%
NP1,3141.57%26.88%0.16%
IAP-97-0.68%4.48%-0.08%
LIB-2-0.05%1.20%-0.01%
Other-196-2.66%2.28%-0.09%
Total not D or R  34.84%-0.02%

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 %
D-22-0.05%18.26%-0.17%
R1,6791.53%48.28%0.31%
NP6001.01%25.96%0.04%
IAP-132-1.14%4.95%-0.10%
LIB-8-0.31%1.10%-0.01%
Other-130-3.72%1.46%-0.07%
Total not D or R  33.47%-0.14%

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

18 – 34 Year Old

PartyChange in # Voters% Change% Voter ShareDifference in Voter Share %
D1,2240.76%31.78%-0.08%
R1,8221.98%18.26%0.17%
NP2,4611.19%40.60%0.08%
IAP-29-0.13%4.34%-0.05%
LIB40.05%1.43%-0.01%
Other-376-2.00%3.58%-0.11%
Total not D or R  49.96%-0.09%

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

55+

PartyChange in # Voters% Change% Voter ShareDifference in Voter Share %
D1,9640.76%34.98%-0.04%
R6,3992.21%39.56%0.51%
NP-427-0.29%19.36%-0.23%
IAP-590-1.87%4.13%-0.12%
LIB-57-1.83%0.41%-0.01%
Other-773-6.15%1.57%-0.12%
Total not D or R  25.47%-0.48%

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
Democratic310
Republican040
NP310
IAP400
LIB400
Other400

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.

State Senate Districts

Party# Districts Lose Voter Share# Districts Gain Voter Share# Districts No Change
Democratic1551
Republican0210
NP1650
IAP2100
LIB1830
Other2100

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 eight (38.1%) of the districts the percentage of voters not registered as Democratic or Republican is the leading group of voters.

State Assembly Districts

Party# Districts Lose Voter Share# Districts Gain Voter Share# Districts No Change
Democratic28113
Republican0420
NP30120
IAP4101
LIB3318
Other42  00

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 17 (40.48%) of the districts the percentage of voters not registered as Democratic or Republican is the leading group of voters.

Rural Counties

Party# Counties Lose Voter Share# Counties Gain Voter Share# Counties No Change
Democratic1500
Republican0150
NP681
IAP1410
LIB1023
Other1401

This primary election cycle saw a return to the trend of at least one major party gaining share. There are a few reasons that could have attributed to the increase in the Republican Party and loses in the Democratic Party: lack of competitive races, more interest in the Republican contests, or an element of strategic voting, attempting to influence the results having the perceived weakest candidate advance. It will be interesting to watch if, or how many voters switch their party affiliation back leading up to the general election.