Ballot Battleground: Nevada

Attack ads, tight internal polling and late candidate dropouts.

With in-person early voting underway in Nevada, it's crunch time for the 2026 primary election and in northern Nevada's most consequential race for the 2nd Congressional District, the drama is only intensifying.

Ben Margiott talks with The Nevada Independent’s Mini Racker about the latest developments shaping one of Nevada’s marquee 2026 contests, including the collapse of alliances inside the anti-establishment lane, escalating attacks between Republican candidates and what we can glean from early voting.

Plus, a quick look at the southern Nevada House races, including why President Donald Trump has waded into some races and not others.
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Primary election day in Nevada is less than three weeks away and thousands of mail ballots have already been cast.

This week on Ballot Battleground: Nevada, we’re taking a break from candidate interviews and campaign issues to bring you a how-to guide for newer voters.

Washoe County registrar of voters Andrew McDonald joins the show to answer all your top voting questions. We cover when and where you can vote, how Nevada’s closed primary system works, what you need to bring to the polls, and the different ways to cast your ballot — including mail voting, early voting and on Election Day.

We also talk about new voting machines, accessibility improvements like curbside voting and have details on the new Washoe County 'I Voted' sticker.

Whether you’re a first-time voter, recently moved or just need a refresher before June 9, this episode is designed to help you make a plan and cast your ballot with confidence.

Know Your Candidates 2026: Full candidate interviews and race previews
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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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