As a result of the midterm elections, the blue wave washed across the nation. Nevada joined in with a sweeping victory for the Democrats. Let’s take a look at several of the candidates that turned the state blue.
Congressional District 2
Teresa Benitez-Thompson flipped the Northern Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District seat blue for the first time since it was created in 1980. Benitez-Thompson led the race with 50.26% of votes, while Republican candidate David Flippo had 44.29%. In her most recent visit to the University of Nevada, Reno, she showed concern for employment issues among college graduates. Benitez-Thompson has worked as a social worker and chief of staff for Attorney General Aaron Ford.
Governor
Democrat Aaron Ford will move up from his current position as the state’s attorney general to the gubernatorial seat for the next four years. Ford is Nevada’s first Black governor and the first Black governor west of the Mississippi River. Throughout his campaign, he vowed to focus his efforts on the state’s affordability crisis if elected. Receiving 51.7% of the votes, he defeated Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo.
Lieutenant Governor
Democrat Sandra Jauregi won the Lieutenant Governor race with 54% of votes against Republican incumbent Stavros Anthony. Jauregi will step up into the second highest executive office in the state from her current role as the Democratic majority leader of the Nevada Assembly. Throughout her campaign, she has said she will prioritize increasing tourism and improving workforce development.
Secretary of State
Francisco “Cisco” Aguilar won reelection for Secretary of State in Nevada. The Democratic candidate received 57% of the votes. His Republican challenger Jim Marchant had 39%. Aguilar said he plans to ensure elections are fair and transparent while also modernizing business filings. He is an attorney and previously founded sports marketing and agency company Blueprint Sports & Entertainment.
State Treasurer
Democrat Tya Mathis-Coleman defeated Republican candidate Drew Johnson in the state treasurer race. Mathis-Coleman received 55% of the votes. Throughout her campaign, she said she will prioritize financial transparency. Mathis-Coleman will become the first Black woman to hold a statewide seat. She previously served as the deputy treasurer of Nevada leading the College Savings Division.
Attorney General
Democrat Nicole Cannizzaro received 56.5% of the votes, winning the attorney general seat against Republican candidate Adriana Guzmán Fralick. Cannizzaro has served as prosecutor in Clark County and has a decade of experience in the Nevada Legislature. While campaigning, she pledged to address a variety of public safety issues, including tackling drug and human trafficking, preventing gun violence and protecting kids online.
Reno Mayor
Kate Marshall has been elected as City of Reno’s next mayor. Marshall received about 61% of the votes while her opponent Kathleen Taylor got 39%. Although the mayoral seat is nonpartisan, Marshall is a Democrat while Taylor is a Republican. Marshall will be taking over from current Mayor Hillary Schieve, who has termed out. Schieve first took office in 2014. Marshall has served as Nevada’s state treasurer and lieutenant governor, and campaigned on tackling the city’s housing crisis, addressing the $26 million budget shortfall and creating a proactive wildfire response plan.
