Ballot Battleground: Nevada - KRNV

Latest Episodes:

Should recounts be automatic in close Nevada elections? Jul 10, 2024

Show notes

Should Nevada automatically recount results in close races? Or continue to make the candidates pay regardless of the margin? What about 'frivolous' recounts requested in races where the outcome will almost certainly never change? The debate over recount policy in the Silver State has reignited after multiple recounts in Washoe County after the primary. This week, host Ben Margiott interviews Deb Otis with FairVote, a nonpartisan policy group advocating for various electoral reforms. Ben and Deb chat about the history of recounts in statewide elections since 2000, how often they change outcomes and balancing the need for recounts in tight races against the burden they put on election administrators.

An analysis of statewide election recounts, 2000-2023 - FairVote

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Nasty political attacks the norm in northern Nevada now - how the Dignity Index ranks them (pt. 2) with Andre Wade and Dr. Amy Pason Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

Drag Queen Devon. Beth "Death" Smith. Veto Villain. The list of nasty and personal attacks, many of them launched by right-wing activist Robert Beadles, goes on and on. What does it do to the people who are targeted? Why are some taking this tactic, even though it's been largely unsuccessful? Where should we draw the line? In this two-part series, host Ben Margiott interviews candidates, activists and experts about the increasingly nasty political rhetoric and what can be done about it.

In episode 2, Andre Wade with Silver State Equality on the toll such attacks take on marginalized communities. Plus, we continue our conversation with Dr. Amy Pason about the Dignity Index, why it matters and how she would rank some attacks we've mentioned on that objective scale.

The Dignity Index

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Drag Queen Devon. Death Smith. Veto Villain — nasty political attacks the norm in northern Nevada now (pt. 1) with Beth Smith and Dr. Amy Pason Jun 26, 2024

Show notes

In episode 1, Beth Smith opens up about threats to her family's safety after ads attacked her for her cancer diagnosis. Plus, part 1 of our conversation with UNR's Dr. Amy Pason about the history and effectiveness of this kind of messaging.

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What did we learn from the Nevada primary? Top takeaways with reporters Gabe Stern and Tabitha Mueller Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

The dust has settled from the Nevada primary and the general election matchups are coming into focus. What did we learn from the messy GOP primary? What can we glean from the results of down ballot races? And what about that low turnout? Host Ben Margiott holds a reporter roundtable with the Associated Press' Gabe Stern and The Nevada Independent's Tabitha Mueller. What are the top takeaways from the June election? The group chats about Jeff Gunter refusing to endorse Sam Brown, Robert Beadles' rough night, Gov. Lombardo's influence, Election Day traditions and more.

Gunter refuses to back Brown after GOP primary, predicts Rosen win in Nevada

Washoe commissioner Andriola wins over far-right challenger in key Nevada county race

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Primary recap! Brown vs. Rosen matchup set, why I'm a 'sham journalist,' and Election Night wrap-up with reporters Kim Burrows and Audrey Mayer Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

The voters have spoken in the Nevada primaries and the matchup that could decide control of the U.S. Senate is set. It's officially Republican Sam Brown vs. Democratic incumbent Jacky Rosen in November. This week, we have a jam-packed Election Day recap - host Ben Margiott takes you out to the polls, to the registrar's office and to the big watch party in downtown Reno. Plus, why did a question we asked spark outrage on the right and prompt one candidate to label me a 'sham journalist'? And finally, an Election Night wrap-up with analysis and perspective from News 4 reporters Kim Burrows and Audrey Mayer.

Decision 2024: Real-time Nevada election results for June primary

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Vote vote vote! Nevada primary election in full swing Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

The 2024 primary election is in full swing with hundreds of polling places open across the Silver State for early voting. Most people though are taking advantage of the convenient mail ballot and sending it in that way. Host Ben Margiott visits one polling place in Reno and has an update on turnout so far. Plus, Washoe County registrar of voters Cari-Ann Burgess on the smooth in-person voting and how her office addressed a series of ballot errors. And Jennifer Willett with All Voting is Local joins to talk about her group's efforts to expand voting access including into jails.

Know Your Candidates 2024

Everything you need to know about early voting in Washoe County

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Early voting begins and Nevada’s changing electorate with UNR Prof. Jeremy Gelman May 29, 2024

Show notes

It is week 1 of early voting in Nevada's primary election as hundreds of thousands of voters get ready to whittle down the massive list of candidates for the November general election. We break down turnout so far and explain how most Nevadans are still choosing to vote by mail. Plus, host Ben Margiott has an extended conversation with UNR political science Jeremy Gelman about the GOP primary for U.S. Senate, other races he's watching closely and Nevada's changing electorate. How have Nevada’s demographics shifted in recent years? Does that mirror national trends? And what does that mean for November?

Know Your Candidates 2024 page

FiveThirtyEight Swing-O-Matic interactive

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Bonus! Meet the GOP candidates for U.S. Senate (part 2) May 28, 2024

Show notes

It's a crowded field of Republican candidates in the race for U.S. Senate in Nevada - 12 candidates filed for the chance to take on incumbent Democrat Jacky Rosen in November. If you listened to episode 15, you heard from 3 of the top 4 frontrunners - the one exception being Sam Brown, who canceled his interview and never rescheduled. On this bonus episode, host Ben Margiott interviews the remaining candidates that were willing to interview with us: Bill Conrad, E.T. Hamilton, Garn Mabey, Ronda Kennedy, Stephanie Phillips and Vincent Rego.

Skip to the following times to hear from a specific candidate:

Bill Conrad 1:32

E.T. Hamilton 8:50

Garn Mabey 17:40

Ronda Kennedy 24:25

Stephanie Phillips 32:45

Vincent Rego 44:30

Note: Barry Lindemann did not show up for his interview time and Gary Marinch never replied to multiple emails seeking an interview.

Know Your Candidates 2024 page

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It's primary time! How to participate plus how voter fraud complaints are investigated with Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar May 22, 2024

Show notes

Primary Election Day is less than 3 weeks away in Nevada. Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar joins the show to talk when and how to vote, how to register to vote or change your party affiliation and everything else you need to know before casting your ballot. Plus, a deep-dive on how the Secretary of State's office receives and investigates complaints of voter fraud. Spoiler alert: the number of complaints represents a tiny fraction of the over 1 million votes cast in 2022 - and many are resolved with no criminal action.

Read the full report here: 2024 Election Investigations Report Q1

Know Your Candidates 2024 page

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Meet the GOP candidates for U.S. Senate (part 1) May 15, 2024

Show notes

It's a crowded field of Republican candidates in the race for U.S. Senate in Nevada - 12 candidates filed for the chance to take on incumbent Democrat Jacky Rosen in November.

This week, we start our Know Your Candidates 2024 series by introducing you to the 3 GOP candidates that, according to a recent internal poll, have the best shot at upsetting Sam Brown, the wounded warrior widely considered to be the frontrunner.

(Brown initially signed up for an interview slot but canceled, citing a scheduling conflict. His team did not respond when we offered three other time slots on a different day.)

Host Ben Margiott interviews Jim Marchant, Tony Grady and Jeff Gunter about Yucca Mountain, abortion, the Trump hush money trial and more. In fairness to all candidates, we asked a series of similar questions. Stay tuned for extended interviews with several other candidates in the Republican primary in the coming weeks.

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