Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck
Aug 21, 2026 · 26 min · 9 segments
Mike Escobar at the KUNR studio on May 29, 2024.(Lucia Starbuck / KUNR Public Radio) Nonpartisan voter registrations first surpassed those of Republicans and Democrats in 2023, and the gap has kept…
Lucia StarbuckHostJohn RiceGuestMike EscobarGuestMarcy Cooper SmithGuestI think even just how you highlighted our numbers and, you know, just our presence throughout the state, I think an enormous race.
Oftentimes it's like nonpartisans, swing voters that get to decide these contests that are sometimes framed in strictly partisan terms.
Some were surprised that Flippo, a Vegas transplant, beat longtime Minden cattle rancher James Settlemire, who represented the area in the state legislature as well.
Do you think this outcome would have looked different if nonpartisans could have participated fully in the state's closed primary process? Marcy, what are your thoughts?
I think there were several races, not just this That's CT2 primary affected by the closed primary.
And sometimes when you just had only a Republican candidate or only a Democratic candidate, You couldn't even vote no matter what.
Well, I had been registered as a Democrat for most of my life, and I finally recognized that at the state level, the Nevada State Democratic Party and its candidates and representatives were not representing rural Nevada at all.
And I would imagine that both parties would redistrict to their favor whenever they have the opportunity.
But as Marcy pointed out, because They're not getting nonpartisan votes in the primaries.
I think even just how you highlighted our numbers and, you know, just our presence throughout the state, I think an enormous race.
Oftentimes it's like nonpartisans, swing voters that get to decide these contests that are sometimes framed in strictly partisan terms.
Some were surprised that Flippo, a Vegas transplant, beat longtime Minden cattle rancher James Settlemire, who represented the area in the state legislature as well.
Do you think this outcome would have looked different if nonpartisans could have participated fully in the state's closed primary process? Marcy, what are your thoughts?
I think there were several races, not just this That's CT2 primary affected by the closed primary.
And sometimes when you just had only a Republican candidate or only a Democratic candidate, You couldn't even vote no matter what.
Well, I had been registered as a Democrat for most of my life, and I finally recognized that at the state level, the Nevada State Democratic Party and its candidates and representatives were not representing rural Nevada at all.
And I would imagine that both parties would redistrict to their favor whenever they have the opportunity.
But as Marcy pointed out, because They're not getting nonpartisan votes in the primaries.
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