Ballot Battleground: Nevada

For the first time in his political career, Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks faces a serious challenger — and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

On this week’s Ballot Battleground: Nevada, we continue our two-part deep dive into the Republican primary that will decide who serves as the county’s top prosecutor.

This time: the incumbent’s case. Chris Hicks argues he deserves another four years, pointing to more than two decades as a prosecutor and his record leading the office since 2014.

We press him on key issues in the race — including conflicting claims about crime trends, criticism over charging decisions, whether his office is declining cases that should be prosecuted and questions about ethics and nepotism because of his wife's employment.

Wes Duncan’s case for Washoe DA: Crime, charging decisions and nepotism
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For the first time in Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks’ political career, he has a challenger — and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

On this week’s Ballot Battleground: Nevada, host Ben Margiott begins a two-part deep dive into the Republican primary that will decide who serves as the county’s top prosecutor.

First up: Sparks City Attorney Wes Duncan, who makes his case to unseat Hicks, pointing to concerns about charging policies, his claims that crime is rising, and accusations of nepotism involving Hicks’ wife.

Next week, we’ll bring you our full conversation with incumbent DA Chris Hicks.
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Nevada’s 2026 governor’s race is already shaping up to be a nail-biter. A new poll shows Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo essentially tied with the likely frontrunner, Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford.

Of course, a sizable share of undecided voters will be the deciding factor in the general election.

On this episode of Ballot Battleground: Nevada, host Ben Margiott goes inside the numbers with Mike Noble, founder and CEO of Noble Predictive Insights, to break down what this early polling tells us—and what it doesn’t.

Plus, a look at key down-ballot races and where voters stand on major ballot questions, including abortion rights and voter ID.

NVGOV: Lombardo Keeps Pace with Ford as Undecideds Hold the Balance
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There are less than 60 days until primary election day 2026, and Ballot Battleground: Nevada is shifting into full-on election mode.

This episode, we're diving into the mailbag to answer listeners' burning questions about the primary with News 4 Reno/Fox 11 morning show anchor Chris Murphy.

Can you vote in both partisan primaries? Why do we need new ballot marking devices? Why haven't we interviewed candidates yet? And why isn't Election Day on the weekend?

Host Ben Margiott and Murphy answer all those questions and more on an all-new show.

Why Americans vote on a Tuesday in November

Proposed amendment to restore full gambling loss deduction falls short in Congress
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In Nevada, elections are often decided by razor-thin margins — and a small batch of ballots can make all the difference.

In 2022, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto won by fewer than 8,000 votes, overtaking Republican Adam Laxalt days after Election Night as mail ballots continued to be counted, including some that arrived after Election Day.

Now, that narrow window is at the center of a major U.S. Supreme Court case that could reshape how ballots are counted in Nevada and beyond.

This week, we hear both sides of the debate: Democratic election attorney Bradley Schrager explains why he thinks Nevada’s system works, and RNC Election Integrity Communications Director Ally Triolo outlines why Republicans are challenging it.

Note: This episode was recorded before President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order that aims to create a national list of verified eligible voters. 
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