May 2026
Why Your Vote In Nevada’s Primary Election May Matter More Than You May Think By Mary Lau
For Nevada Voters: In Many Districts, the Primary IS the Election When most Nevada voters think about elections, they focus on the November general election. But in an increasing number of leagislative districts across the Silver State, the real decision about who will represent you in Carson City is made months earlier—in the June primary election. Here’s what every Nevada voter needs to understand: In heavily partisan districts where one party dominates voter registration, whoever wins that party’s primary almost always wins the general election. This means if you’re not voting in the primary, you’re missing your only real opportunity to choose your representative. The 2024 Evidence: Primaries That Decided the Winners The 2024 Nevada state legislative elections provide clear evidence of this pattern. While Nevada saw several nail-bitingly close general election races, including Assembly District
to Perkins’ 27.7% (1,794 votes). Once Neal secured the Democratic nomination in this heavily Democratic district, the November general election was essentially a formality. The voters who showed up in June made the real decision about who would represent District 4.
Mary Lau 12 where Democrat Max Carter II defeated Republican Nancy Roecker by just 277 votes, many other districts were essentially decided in June’s primary. Senate District 4: The Real Race Happened in June In North Las Vegas’s Senate District 4, incumbent Democrat Dina Neal faced a serious challenge—not from a Republican in November, but from Nevada System of Higher Education Regent Laura Perkins in the June Democratic primary. Top North Las Vegas officials backed Perkins following disputes with Neal, making this a consequential race. Neal won the primary with 72.3% (4,671 votes)
Senate District 15: Another June Decision Similarly, in Senate District 15, Angie Taylor won a competitive three-way Democratic primary with 63.9% of the vote, defeating Naomi Duerr (33.6%) and Johnny Kerns (2.5%). With 11,287 total votes cast in the primary and the Continued on page 2
INSIDE Assemblymember Joe Dalia......................................... 4 Candidate Maria Teresa Hank....... 5 Former Senator James Settelmeyer........................ 5 Nevada News.................................. 6 National News................................ 7 Candidate George Harris.............. 9 NV Energy Notice of General Consumer Sessions........................ 5