Elections

Reporting from the campaign trail from 2016 to 2020.

Longform:

“Biden’s victory, key House wins upheld Nevada’s blue wall while Republicans chipped away at it down ballot” | The Nevada Independent | Nov. 15, 2020

“From East Las Vegas to Summerlin, a divided Nevada shows its stripes before Election Day” | The Nevada Independent | Nov. 1, 2020

“In high-stakes election, Biden, Trump court Nevada’s growing Asian American and Pacific Islander communities” | The Nevada Independent | Oct. 25, 2020

“After decades of backing Republican presidential candidates before swinging blue for Obama, Clinton, Washoe again a battleground in 2020” | The Nevada Independent | Oct. 11, 2020

“Pandemic may narrow Trump, Biden race in Nevada as Republicans campaign in person, Democrats stay virtual” | The Nevada Independent | Aug. 30, 2020

“After Iowa, Nevada Democrats entirely redesigned their caucus process in two weeks — and it mostly worked” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 25, 2020

“Smart, early organizing in communities of color helped propel Sanders to victory in Nevada” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 24, 2020

“Nevada Democrats are promising the most expansive, accessible caucus. What does the past tell about the future?” | The Nevada Independent | Jan. 26, 2020

“Indian Country, long an afterthought in campaigns, is positioning itself as a force to be reckoned with in 2020” | The Nevada Independent | Dec. 22, 2020

“Thousands of Culinary workers keep the Strip running. Now, Democratic presidential hopefuls need their help too.” | The Nevada Independent | Dec. 12, 2019

“As Republicans eye Nevada, the state’s battleground status may come down to one man: Joe Biden” | The Nevada Independent | Nov. 10, 2019

“Presidential hopefuls cite labor in opposition to Medicare for all, but what do Nevada’s unions want?” | The Nevada Independent | Oct. 27, 2019

“Wounds from 2016 Democratic caucuses remain raw for some Sanders supporters despite state party salve” | The Nevada Independent | Aug. 4, 2019

“After bitter 2016 cycle, Nevada Democrats overhaul caucus process to build a bigger tent” | The Nevada Independent | March 19, 2019

“Anatomy of a blue wave: Why Nevada Democrats won decisively in races that were supposed to be close” | The Nevada Independent | Nov. 14, 2018

“How first-term congresswoman Jacky Rosen defeated incumbent Dean Heller to become Nevada’s next U.S. Senator” | The Nevada Independent | Nov. 14, 2018

“Washoe turns Republicans blue” | The Nevada Independent | Nov. 11, 2018

“Old attacks, new political climate play in race for Nevada’s swing House seat” | The Nevada Independent | Oct. 24, 2018

“Enthusiastic Trump supporters not quite as enthusiastic about Nevada’s midterm election” | The Nevada Independent | Sept. 23, 2018

“The Asian American, Pacific Islander communities have been mobilizing for decades; now parties, campaigns are increasingly courting their votes” | The Nevada Independent | July 29, 2018

“With an eye on the successes of 2016, Nevada’s Democratic machine gears up in hope of another blue wave” | The Nevada Independent | June 10, 2018

“A businessman, a state senator and a former television reporter face off in a crowded, heated Republican congressional primary” | The Nevada Independent | June 7, 2018

“Republicans stepping up their ground game, building a volunteer army ahead of the 2018 election” | The Nevada Independent | June 3, 2018

“Nevada Democrats won the battle; Trump won the war” | Las Vegas Sun | Nov. 9, 2016

“Democrats Rosen, Kihuen flip House seats blue” | Las Vegas Sun | Nov. 9, 2016

“Big hurdles remain for CD3 candidates as they make final pitch to voters” | Las Vegas Sun | Oct. 27, 2016

“Mormon sensibilities in Nevada bristle at the thought of backing Trump” | Las Vegas Sun | Aug. 24, 2016

“Nevada delegates continue quest for unity” | Las Vegas Sun | July 27, 2016

“Wounds from a bruising primary election are slow to heal as GOP seeks unity” | Las Vegas Sun | July 20, 2016

“For front-runners in Nevada’s 4th Congressional District, it’s all about ground game” | Las Vegas Sun | June 10, 2016

“Showdown in Nevada: Roberson-Tarkanian race reflects schism in GOP” | Las Vegas Sun | May 3, 2016

“Contest shifts from dueling pep rallies to caucus rooms” | Las Vegas Sun | Feb. 20, 2016

Political profiles:

“From an Elko Basque festival to the Las Vegas storm drains, Castro shoots the moon in Nevada” | The Nevada Independent | Spet. 15, 2019

“Home means Nevada to Cory Booker” | The Nevada Independent | July 14, 2019

“Jacky Rosen: From politically invisible to the center of a critical Senate race” | The Nevada Independent | Oct. 15, 2018

“Dean Heller goes to Washington, but would he rather be home?” | The Nevada Independent | Oct. 14, 2018

“America’s 11 Most Interesting Mayors — Hillary Schieve” | Politico Magazine | June 25, 2017

“Compton to Carson: Jason Frierson’s historic path to power” | The Nevada Independent | Jan. 17, 2017

“The unparalleled political life of Harry Reid” | Las Vegas Sun | Dec. 19, 2016

“Straight-talking, sometimes to a fault, Cresent Hardy reaches out to unlikely supporters” | Las Vegas Sun | Sept. 21, 2016

Presidential candidate interviews:

“After hinting opposition to Obama deportation policy, Biden says he ‘probably shouldn’t have said that’” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 21, 2020

“Steyer: One goal of winning Nevada, South Carolina is to prove he can ‘beat Bloomberg on the economy’” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 15, 2020

“Buttigieg hoping to earn ‘credibility’ with black voters, capture support of those just tuning into the race” | The Nevada Independent | Jan. 12, 2020

“Booker laments Bloomberg ‘juicing up’ poll numbers with personal wealth while Harris drops out over funding woes” | The Nevada Independent | Dec. 20, 2019

“Harris says she is ‘not going to focus on the gossip’ after reports of campaign turmoil,’ is ‘very much in the game’” | The Nevada Independent | Nov. 19, 2019

“Steyer calls Warren health care plan a ‘huge risk,’ weighs in on Anaconda Copper Mine contamination” | The Nevada Independent | Nov. 6, 2019

“Buttigieg: ‘Meaning’ of Medicare for all has changed; ‘good chance’ Facebook, other tech companies broken up if he becomes president” | The Nevada Independent | Oct. 25, 2019

“Buttigieg says Nevada ‘absolutely’ a priority in 2020, commits to no funding for Yucca Mountain” | The Nevada Independent | Aug. 6, 2020

“Biden says Democratic millennials are not ‘a generation of socialists,’ draws distinction with Sanders on health care” | The Nevada Independent | July 20, 2019

“Sanders noncommittal on sex work, highlights tribal outreach” | The Nevada Independent | July 6, 2019

“Warren ‘uneasy’ over expansion of online gaming, commits to no funding for Yucca” | The Nevada Independent | April 6, 2019

“Klobuchar voices support for national popular vote hours after Sisolak veto” | The Nevada Independent | May 30, 2019

“Booker calls for death penalty repeal, opposes Justice Department opinion on online gaming” | The Nevada Independent | April 12, 2019

Election scooplets and mini-features:

“Buttigieg’s campaign alleges numerous errors in caucus vote-counting” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 23, 2020

“Precinct 1612: How Democrats caucused in one classroom at Durango High School” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 23, 2020

“Nevada Democrats ask volunteers to sign non-disclosure agreements ahead of caucus” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 21, 2020

“After error-riddled Iowa results, Nevada Democrats telegraph process for correcting miscalculations” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 21, 2020

“‘All hands on deck:’ Nevada Democrats process tens of thousands of early votes, host trainings ahead of Saturday caucus” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 21, 2020

“Nevada Democrats notify 1,000 early caucusgoers of voided ballots, most for lacking a signature” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 20, 2020

“Nevada Democrats begin demonstrating live caucus calculator tool to campaigns, volunteers” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 18, 2020

“Culinary Union officials face profanity-laced attacks after scorecard says Sanders would ‘end’ their health care” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 14, 2020

“In new flyer, Culinary Union warns members Sanders would ‘end’ their health care if elected president” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 11, 2020

“Nevada Democrats to use scannable ballot for early voting, iPad with Google Forms for check in” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 11, 2020

“It’s Ne-VAY-duh: How one small Iowa town is gearing up for the Democratic presidential caucus” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 3, 2020

From the trail:

“Trump’s bullishness on a Nevada victory belied by attempts to sow doubt in the electoral process” | The Nevada Independent | Oct. 28, 2020

“Pence paints Biden as ‘Trojan horse for the radical left’ in Boulder City day after vice presidential debate” | The Nevada Independent | Oct. 8, 2020

“Harris criticizes Trump’s handling of COVID-19, touts Biden’s coronavirus response plan at roundtable in first Nevada visit as VP nominee” | The Nevada Independent | Sept. 15, 2020

“Trump rallies thousands of supporters at indoor rally in defiance of state COVID-19 health rules” | The Nevada Independent | Sept. 13, 2020

“Trump sows doubt on election integrity with false assertions at Douglas County rally amid coronavirus pandemic” | The Nevada Independent | Sept. 12, 2020

“Trump: Democrats ‘100 percent’ want to take away union health plans; ‘a lot of tricks’ being played with mail-in voting” | The Nevada Independent | Aug. 31, 2020

“Gloves come off, Bloomberg joins in final Democratic presidential debate before Nevada’s caucus” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 20, 2020

“After starting early, strong in Nevada, Warren hopes for a comeback in the Silver State” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 18, 2020

“With wind in his sails, Buttigieg hoping to make electability case to Nevada’s voters of color” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 17, 2020

“Despite losses in Iowa, New Hampshire, voters in Nevada aren’t ruling out Biden yet” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 15, 2020

“Victories, defeats in New Hampshire set stage for Nevada’s first in the West caucus” | The Nevada Independent | Feb. 11, 2020

“South Carolina Sen. Graham urges support for Heller to make Democrats ‘pay a price’ for delaying Kavanaugh confirmation” | The Nevada Independent | Oct. 26, 2018

“Sanders urges Nevada progressives to support Rosen to end ‘one-party rule’ in Washington, D.C.” | The Nevada Independent | Oct. 25, 2018

“At election kickoff rally, Biden tells Democrats to stop moping, start voting” | The Nevada Independent | Oct. 20, 2018

“Debate: Heller faces questions on health care, Trump while Rosen defends short record, fundraising” | The Nevada Independent | Oct. 19, 2018

“Trump Jr. touts importance of electing Republicans to ‘keep this winning going’ at fundraiser benefitting Tarkanian” | The Nevada Independent | Sept. 27, 2018

“At Las Vegas rally, Trump says he has ‘no better friend in Congress’ than Heller” | The Nevada Independent | Sept. 20, 2018

“Campaign rave among final early-vote pitches by Trump, Clinton family members” | Las Vegas Sun | Nov. 4, 2016

“Trump plugs Interstate 11, Nellis Air Force Base during Las Vegas rally” | Las Vegas Sun | Oct. 30, 2016

“How presidential candidates came full circle in final debate” | Las Vegas Sun | Oct. 20, 2016

“Hillary Clinton campaigns with casino workers, guests on Strip” | Las Vegas Sun | Feb. 13, 2016

Other:

“Indy 2020” newsletter | The Nevada Independent | Oct 15, 2019 — Feb. 25, 2020 (biweekly)