During Joe Biden’s presidency, we’ve had some tough economic times. But when former President Donald Trump was in, it seemed like endless chaos and scandal. So, who do you choose?
New polls show Trump with a significant lead over any other challenger in Nevada. That includes Biden.
Now, polls are interesting, but do they really mean anything—to you? And Republicans in Nevada have rarely been able to tap into the large Hispanic community here. Have they done anything to improve on that lately?
At the same time, the reality of the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade is hitting home across the country. Will it impact the vote in Nevada?
“No poll taken more than two weeks before Election Day is useful in predicting the election outcome,” said Steve Sebelius, a longtime Las Vegas Journalist and former government and politics editor of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“Polls are flawed by how closely they mirror the turnout on election day,” he continued. “Also, the fact that they are saying, ‘if the election were held today.’ The election is not held today; the election’s held a year from now, and many things can happen in that year.”
Polling has also shown that the economy is top of mind for many voters in the state. Nevada’s unemployment rate of _, which remains the highest in the country, exacerbates those concerns. The state has also seen some of the country’s slowest wage growth.
For Sebelius, those economic concerns may supersede all other issues on election day.
“It comes down to if I can't afford my rent,” said Sebelius. “If I can't afford groceries, if I can't afford to put gas in my car to go to my job, then I think the rest of democracy fades to a secondary position because you've got to take care of your family first.”
“I think both parties know that working-class voters are going to be a group that they want voting for them,” said College of Southern Nevada History Professor Sondra Cosgrove. A longtime political observer, Cosgrove told the State of Nevada that while Republicans and Democrats plan to target the working class this election, their promises often bear little fruit.
“I think a lot of times their platform reflects some of those anxieties when it comes to the economy would the talking points do, but I think in general, both parties struggle to make sure they're taking care of all their voter bases.”
Another group both parties plan to court this election season is Hispanics. While Hispanic voters have traditionally favored Democrats, many believe that support is only tacit, and recent polling suggests that Republicans can still make inroads into Hispanic communities.
“That comes from not having a strong party identity,” said Jannelle Calderon, a reporter for The Nevada Independent that covers the state’s Hispanic culture and community. “Whether that’s because you are first generation, your parents don’t have a strong voter identity, and you're the first one in your family to vote. Or it could be that some people look more for the message and who comes to them.”
Nevada’s Hispanic community presently accounts for roughly one-third of the state’s population.
Guests: Steve Sebelius, politics reporter; Sondra Cosgrove, history professor, College of Southern Nevada; Jannelle Calderon, reporter, The Nevada Independent
