LAS VEGAS – Democrats just suffered Huge presidential defeat in Nevada For the first time in 20 years, the swing among working-class voters toward the Republicans was bolstered.
The result led to a reckoning about how they had failed. In interviews, top Democrats and their allies cited “messaging” problems, Kamala Harris’ late transition to the candidacy and Donald Trump’s unique ability to capitalize on the pain of post-pandemic rising costs. it was a heavy blow for many voters.
Still, they remain optimistic about their prospects in Nevada, noting that the red tide is over with Trump and that it hasn’t translated to other Republicans in the state. The special result helps them strategize to paint Nevada blue again in 2028.
“I certainly believe he’s very talented at targeting certain segments of the community and telling them what they want to know,” he said. He supported Trump. “And I think the proof will be in the pudding – if he can deliver on those promises.”
If Republicans don’t improve, Lee said, “it’s going to come back to haunt them in two years, four years.”
Although the Democratic presidential candidate lost, Sen. Jackie Rosen won the elections againand Democrats won all three closely divided Las Vegas-area House districts. Democrats also held their seats in the state Legislature, just shy of a supermajority.
Nevada’s “none of the above” ballot option was affected by ticket splitting and partial voting.
Harris lost Nevada despite receiving nearly 4,000 more votes than Rosen. The main difference? Many Trump supporters refused to check the box of Rose’s opponent, Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown. Brown got about 75,000 less votes than Trump.
A message to the working class
“Trump is a phenomenon. It is a brand. And he’s been with The Apprentice for 30 years in the WWF, etc. “When you lose the top of the ticket, you usually suffer. This did not happen.”
Nevada, with its large population of Latinos and voters without a college degree, was ground zero for two demographics that helped. Trump swept all seven battleground states.
according to NBC News Nevada exit pollsAlthough Trump lost Latin Americans by 26 percentage points in 2020, he gained 2 points this year. Among Nevada voters without a college degree, Trump has increased his lead from 2 points in 2020 to 10 points this year.
Pappageorge, whose union represents blue-collar workers in Sin City’s glamorous hotels and casinos, said Democrats suffer from “messaging problems” that allow Trump to appeal to working-class voters by fighting against “elitism.”
“Democrats need to get back to the basics of fighting for the issues and values of the working class,” he said, including both men and women “working class white, Black and Latino workers.” “Working-class voters don’t care about politics. They don’t watch CNN and Fox. They are worried about taking care of their families,” he said.
According to an NBC News exit poll, Trump led Nevada Latinos by 2 points, while they voted for Rosen by 7 points.
Republican hopes for the future
Republicans say Nevada’s vote for Trump marks the beginning of a shift toward a party the GOP can build.
“It’s a really big deal. We’ve seen Republicans win statewide since 2004, but the presidential election eluded us,” said Jeremy Hughes, a GOP strategist who works on Nevada races. “When you look to 2020, 2022 and 2024, you see a trend that anyone would be foolish to ignore.”
Asked about the GOP’s failure to change the ballot, Hughes said, “It’s still a work in progress. It’s hard to beat incumbents. But if we continue to execute in 2026 and beyond, success will build on success.”
He added that Republicans can begin to prove Democrats wrong by re-electing GOP Gov. Joe Lombardo in 2026.
Other Republicans said resources were an issue during the vote.
“Brown was overspent. He closed the gap, but the cavalry probably came about a week too late,” said a national Republican strategist who works on Senate races, speaking on condition of anonymity to speak openly about his party.
The strategist said the House GOP machine “hasn’t spent a dime” in Nevada this year, but added, “Republicans should be optimistic about Nevada down the road. Voter registration trends show that.”
The Democrats’ road map
Defying the odds to win in 2022, D-Nev. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said Democrats must deal with a growing number of vocal voters.
“Nevada now has more nonpartisans or independents than ever before, more than a third of them. And that’s why we need to know who they are,” he said. “At the end of the day, you have to target your message to those voters and talk about the issues they care about. That’s why Jackie won.”
“Nevada races are always competitive and close. This will not change. We have always had close presidential races,” said Cortez Masto. “But at the end of the day, do I have the confidence in the Democratic ground game, the infrastructure, and the confidence to knock on doors and talk to our constituents? I have faith in it. That’s part of why we’re so successful.”
Rosen said he won because he delivered results on tourism, wildfire mitigation, infrastructure, a new Veterans Affairs hospital in Reno and solar, wind and geothermal jobs.
Harris, he said, suffered from bad luck.
“Of course, there are bigger questions. I will say this as a woman: Are people ready for a woman president? Rosen said. “This was a unique election cycle because President Biden withdrew 100 days before the election.”
Josh Marcus-Blank, a Democratic operative who worked for Cortez Masto in 2022 and Harris’ 2024 campaign, said his party maintains a “roadmap to win Nevada” with a diverse coalition of voters and an agenda focused on the economy, housing and housing. cost of living.
“At the same time, this is a state where voters have consistently stood up for reproductive freedom, and whether it’s on the ballot or not, abortion rights will continue to be a big part of Democratic campaigns going forward,” he said.
Pappageorge praised Harris for running a strong campaign against long odds. He said that while Biden-Harris’ policy record on blue-collar workers is strong, many don’t realize it.
“Joe Biden was the most pro-union, pro-worker candidate and president we’ve ever seen in our lifetime,” he said. “But overall, the Democratic Party has missed the mark and they will have to reevaluate their commitment to working-class voters.”