Ballots are in the mail, and early voting begins Saturday, May 23. The 2026 primary election is underway.
With hundreds of names appearing on ballots across the state, KNPR helped Nevadans get ready to vote by breaking down key races and issues with two reporters who have been thinking about the primaries for months already.
One race that has garnered significant attention is the search for a replacement for Republican Congressman Mark Amodei. Amodei announced he would not seek reelection as Northern Nevada's representative in Congress. More than two dozen candidates announced their candidacy for the office.
KRNV-TV Politics Reporter Ben Margiott says a handful of frontrunners will likely get the Republican nomination, including Retired Lieutenant Colonel David Flippo and James Settlemeyer, the former director of Nevada's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, former Senate minority leader, and rancher from Douglas County. And while Democrats are optimistic they have a shot at the congressional seat now that Amodei is retiring, Margiott says the money is still on the GOP to retain the seat.
"We're likely to see Flippo and Settlemeyer in some order," said Margiott. "How that exactly plays out, that's why we have to wait and see... Democrats are kind of sensing an opportunity, albeit I would say a small one, to flip this seat, because it is so heavily Republican."
The Democratic primary for Nevada's Attorney General also stands out as a race to watch. State Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro and State Treasurer Zach Conine have campaigned since announcing their candidacy in mid-2025, scrambling to build support amongst fellow Democrats. Nearly a year later, it remains anyone's nomination.
"This is a race that has divided a lot of Democrats," said the Nevada Current's Deputy Editor April Corbin Girnus. "You've seen dual endorsements from several groups, you've seen some people picking a side, but it's really a competitive race, and getting kind of ugly."
As for the issues, Nevadan's continue to voice concerns over pocketbook issues such rising prices.
"Voters are obviously worried about the economy and gas prices and affordability and housing," said Corbin Girnus. "It's sort of the same issues we've seen a lot of the time, but they really want concrete plans on that. That's the thing that I've heard from candidates and from voters."
Concerns over data centers also keeps popping up said KRNV-TV's Margiott.
"Whether candidates are for or against data centers, as AI continues to grow, these centers are moving to Northern Nevada," he said. "That's going to be an issue that voters are paying very close attention to."
Guests: April Corbin Girnus, deputy editor, The Nevada Current; Ben Margiott, reporter and host, KRNV and Ballot Battleground: Nevada
