Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck

Why did Nevada go red for president for the first time in 20 years? What will Donald Trump’s second presidential term look like in the Silver State over the next four years, particularly for public lands, immigration, and education? And what makes Nevada purple? These key questions were answered in this month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada hosted by KUNR editor Vicki Adame, featuring political reporter Lucia Starbuck, senior correspondent Bert Johnson, and KNPR political reporter Paul Boger.

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So much happened this presidential election cycle, and that’s an understatement. With Election Day right around the corner, in this month’s episode of KUNR’s Purple Politics Nevada, host Lucia Starbuck checked in with voters featured on the show throughout the year to learn how they’re feeling now.

Carlos Pérez-Campbell, 28, was a guest in June, along with other nonpartisans, who make up the largest number of registered voters over both Democrats and Republicans. Pérez-Campbell registered as a nonpartisan to protest the two-party system, but the day Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, everything changed.

Almost every voter, Democrats, Republicans, and everyone in between, has said one of their top issues is the cost of living. That’s especially true for seniors on fixed incomes. Marsy Kupfersmith was part of the senior roundtable featured on the show in July and explained how she manages her budget each month, with half of it going toward rent.

Kupfersmith just wants to be heard. That’s also the case for Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Chairman Steven Wadsworth, whose top issues are mining and women’s rights. The tribe became the first in Nevada to endorse the Harris-Walz campaign. Wadsworth said it was necessary for the tribe’s exposure, to be recognized, and to have a voice.

Carson City resident Paola Loupe, an immigrant from Argentina, is voting for Trump for the third time. Like many other voters, her top issues are immigration and the economy. Since the show featured Loupe in May, there have been two assassination attempts on Trump’s life. The political climate is also something many voters have brought up during this election year.

Northern Nevadans across the political spectrum feel they can't have civil conversations about politics with their friends and neighbors. One person who sees that up close and personal is Lance Whitney, the chair of the Democratic Party in the very red Elko County. He also discussed the importance of candidates visiting rural communities.

Tune in to this month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck to hear these familiar voices as they gear up to vote.

Black voters are responding in different ways to seeing Kamala Harris become the first Black woman to be a presidential candidate for a major political party. For this month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada, host Lucia Starbuck breaks the misconception that this voting bloc is a monolith and speaks to community members about their top issues, such as upholding democracy, the high cost of living, and education.

Hear from two sisters, Sherrell Collins, a Reno resident and US Army veteran, and Beverly Johnson, a California resident volunteering for the Harris-Walz campaign in Nevada, about the importance of rebuilding the middle class and why they say democracy is synonymous with freedom. Angie Taylor, who is now running for state senate, is the first Black woman to represent Northern Nevada in the state assembly. She discusses what it means for herself and to see Harris break barriers in their political careers.

Polling shows that former President Donald Trump continues to gain support from Black men. Michael Minta, a political science professor at the University of Minnesota, says that presidential candidates’ messaging on criminal justice and prosecution contributes to that. At Black Wall Street in Reno, the nonprofit’s co-founder, Donald Griffin, and his son, James Griffin, outline what they like about Trump, such as his business-owner mindset, while the nonprofit’s other co-founder, RoMar Tolliver, says he might stay home this November.

There is one person who believes it’s crucial to get out the Black vote no matter who the ballot is cast for and to get involved in the political process. That’s Patricia Gallimore, the Reno-Sparks NAACP president, who wants to see more African Americans civically engaged. Listen to this month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada to hear from these Black voters about the issues they’re taking with them to the polls.

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One month before the Democratic National Convention, President Joe Biden announced he was no longer seeking re-election. He immediately endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, and Democrats across the country and in Nevada have rallied behind her and her recently selected running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

In this month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada, host Lucia Starbuck spoke to a political science expert and historian to add context to what the president’s decision means and with Democratic delegates as they prepare to head to the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford is passionate about standing up against the racist and sexist backlash Harris has faced. Erica Roth, a public defender and candidate for Assembly District 24, said she hasn’t felt this much energy among Democrats since 2008. And Aaron Sims, the Rural Nevada Democratic Caucus chair, wants to see the party take a progressive route.

You can also hear from Jeremy Gelman, an associate professor of political science at UNR, about Harris’ momentum, messaging, and how it will resonate with voters. One big question remains: How historic is this moment in history? Michael Green, the chair of the history department at UNLV and associate professor, argues this election is unique — and maybe not so unique.

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Voters over the age of 65 make up the largest voting bloc in Nevada when broken down by age. But do they feel heard by political candidates this election? In this month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada, host Lucia Starbuck spoke to seniors to find out. Listen to their concerns regarding democracy and how they’re navigating an increased cost of living.

Following the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Reno resident Ron Brooks said it has the potential to further erode democracy, but he hopes to see Trump change his tone with a unifying message. Incline Village resident Jacquie Chandler wants to see more eco-friendly policies in the Tahoe region, such as banning fertilized landscaping, building land-to-water transit, and creating wildlife viewing areas. At the Carson City Senior Center, Glade Myler and volunteer Wayne Walters share their thoughts on pocketbook issues and how they view the presidential candidates.

These voters will be crucial in deciding who gets sent to the White House and which party controls the U.S. Senate, according to a new national AARP report released in June. Maria Moore, state director for AARP Nevada, and Erin Neff, communications director, explain why this voting bloc is so motivated to vote, and what issues they’re thinking about heading to the polls, such as preserving social security and support for family caregivers.

Throughout the election, many eyes have been on President Joe Biden, his age, and his performance at the debate with Trump last month as he campaigns for re-election. Many Democrats have called for him to step aside. However, some senior advocates call this a distraction. This episode also includes a roundtable discussion with Andrea Pelto, a member of the Sparks Senior Advisory Committee; Donna Clontz who is on the AARP Nevada Executive Council; and sisters Marcy Kupfersmith and Kyle Waxman, who are both a part of the senior coalition of Washoe County, about health care costs and feeling dismissed by elected officials who are seniors themselves.

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There are more nonpartisan voters registered in Nevada than registered Democrats and Republicans, and that’s been the case since July of last year. However, they didn’t feel they had a voice in partisan races during the closed primary election earlier in June. In this month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada, host Lucia Starbuck spoke to nonpartisans about election reform, disdain for the parties, and issues such as the environment.

Hear from real estate agent Rossana Bertani-Lopey, who is disappointed in the parties and is looking for candidates who will address immigration, affordable housing, and infrastructure. Carson City retiree Cliff Ruddick, 62, said the parties are too extreme. Many find themselves all over the map on issues, such as Reno resident Azlynn McFadden, who works at a cannabis dispensary and supports the Second Amendment.

Some nonpartisans are also looking forward to Ballot Question 3 in November for open primaries and ranked-choice voting for top-of-ticket races in the general election – Marine Corps veteran Mike Escobar is a huge proponent. So is 28-year-old father Carlos Pérez-Campbell, who switched to nonpartisan following the last election as a form of protest.

This episode also includes Jackie Salit and Thom Reilly, the co-directors of the Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy at Arizona State University, who have been studying the increase of independents, how they’re dismissed, and their role in past and future elections, including here in swing state Nevada.

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Latino voters in Northern Nevada are voicing that their top issues are accessing economic opportunities and addressing immigration — but it goes beyond that — and while they’re committed to casting their ballots in November, what remains to be seen is who will earn their vote.

In this month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada, host Lucia Starbuck spoke to Latino business owners, attended a Cinco de Mayo celebration, and learned about get-out-the-vote efforts for Latinos in Northern Nevada.

You can hear from Reno resident Lilia Amador, who is concerned about the environment; Carson City resident Rene Ruiz, who has a one-year-old and is feeling the effects of the high cost of living; and beauty salon owner Ana Gallardo, all of whom are not excited about the presidential candidates. Meanwhile, Carson City resident Paola Loupe has made up her mind and plans to vote for former president Donald Trump for the third time.

The Latino Community Foundation gave organizations in three states, including Nevada, a total of $800,000 to mobilize Latino voters. The nonprofit’s CEO Julián Castro said Latinos, who make up more than a quarter of Nevada’s population, will be crucial in determining who wins the presidency. Daniel Corona, the former mayor of West Wendover now working for President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign, spoke about reaching Latinos in rural Nevada and improving access to health care.

Lastly, listen to a group discussion featuring Rossana Bertani-Lopey, Jeannette Caillaux-Dilles, Monica Peterson, Osvaldo Jimenez-Estupinan, and Claudia Ortega-Lukas, who have seen the impacts of immigration policy, and are looking for honest candidates with concrete solutions.

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June marks 100 years since Indigenous people were granted citizenship — and with that, the right to vote in the United States. However, the right to vote wasn’t fully expanded in every state until the 1960s. So, what issues matter most to Native voters in Nevada today?

In this month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada, host Lucia Starbuck spoke to Indigenous community members from several different tribes, traveled to a reservation outside of Reno, and attended a powwow to get their thoughts.

You can hear from Walker River Paiute Tribe members, including tribal activist Elveda Martinez and tribal poll worker Kelley Carter, who speak about the importance of accessing the ballot box. Whereas Josh Dini, who just returned from an 11-day Prayer Horse Ride throughout Northern Nevada communities heavily impacted by mining, isn’t convinced that voting is the most effective method.

Despite there being 28 tribes in Nevada, a swing state, many Indigenous people said they don’t feel heard by candidates and lawmakers. Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe chairman Steven Wadsworth voted for president for the first time in 2020 but now isn’t sure who’s listening, and fisherwoman Autumn Harry, who just organized the Red Dress Social Powwow, hasn’t seen any change since the last election, making her feel less likely to vote, and she isn’t the only reluctant voter. Twins Dwight and Everett George, members of the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe, also see direct community actions as more effective than voting.

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Later this year, Tesla will have to start paying property taxes for the first time in 10 years. Nevada gave the electric car manufacturing company more than $1 billion in tax breaks in 2014 to build its gigafactory at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center in Storey County. Now, Storey County has big plans to upgrade its aging infrastructure and pay back some debt.

This episode of KUNR Public Radio’s show Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck features Austin Osborne, manager of Storey County, on how the county is responding to its Civil War-era infrastructure, and Jacob Whiton, a researcher with the national policy resource center Good Jobs First, on the pros and cons of government subsidies.

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In February, Nevada will become the first state in the West to make its voice heard on who should run for president of the United States. The state-run Presidential Preference Primaries will take place on Feb. 6 for the two major parties: Republicans and Democrats. For Republicans, the primary will be non-binding, and instead, delegates will be awarded at the state Republican Party-run caucus two days later on Feb. 8.

This episode of KUNR Public Radio’s show Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck features Jim DeGraffenreid, a Nevada GOP national committee member, on what voters can expect at the caucus, and Sondra Cosgrove, a history professor at the College of Southern Nevada, to provide some historical context on the voting processes.

If you experience issues accessing this content, please contact KUNR at [email protected].