In a little over six months, the nation's eyes will focus on Nevada as voters cast a ballot in the 2024 Presidential Election. It’s one of a handful of states that could determine which party controls Congress and the White House for the next two years.
For Adam Harris, editor at The Atlantic Magazine, a win in Nevada goes a long way for either President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump.
“Nevada is like a definition of a bellwether state,” he told KNPR’s State of Nevada. “Since 1976, the Democrats and Republicans have effectively split the vote in half: six wins for Democrats and six wins for Republicans. Since 1900, 90% of the people who have won Nevada's election have gone on to win the presidential election.”
Harris will join a panel of journalists from The Atlantic who are traveling around the country speaking on college campuses about issues ahead of the 2024 general election. These include education, abortion, immigration and the War in Israel.
They will be at the University of Nevada, Reno, campus on May 2nd. The event, entitled "Democracy at a Crossroads," will feature a discussion meant to create a dialogue about some of the critical issues ahead of this election cycle.
As a journalist who’s covered education, Harris has already talked to several students about their concerns before the election. Like the rest of the country, most focus on the economy and future job prospects.
He’s also heard from many students about their concerns about the War in Israel, especially the estimated 34,000 deaths in Gaza. Harris says that could be an issue in November if young people stay home on election day.
“When you ask them,” he said, “they will tell you it's not whether or not I'm going to vote for Biden or Trump, it’s whether I'm going to vote at all. This may be an election that many young people sort of abstain out of protest rather than ambivalence about the election.”
Voters in Nevada and Arizona will also see both major parties campaign fiercely on abortion and immigration. According to Harris, Republicans and Democrats in the Southwest will work to find ground with the non-partisans who will ultimately decide the outcome of November’s general election.
“There are enough independents in Nevada, where it would make a significant difference,” he said, adding there are many fewer independent voters in Florida.
Non-partisans account for more than 33 percent of active voter registrations in the state, making it the largest voting bloc in Nevada.
Guests: Adam Harris, editor, The Atlantic Magazine