Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck

Meet the Democratic primary candidates for governor in Nevada

Alexis Hill (left) and Aaron Ford are Democratic candidates for Nevada governor in the 2026 June Primary. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5fe4b72/2147483647/strip/false/crop/900x500+0+0/resize/792x440!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F79%2Ff3%2F82d3233a485c9f1702ff58dbcc05%2Fppnv-web-cover-1.png] Alexis Hill (left) and Aaron Ford are Democratic candidates for Nevada governor in the 2026 June Primary.(Headshots courtesy of Alexis Hill and Aaron Ford) The June Primary is right around the corner, and mail ballots have been sent out. This month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada, hosted by KUNR’s Lucia Starbuck, focuses on the Democratic race for governor. Two current elected officials – Attorney General Aaron Ford and Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill – want to advance to the general election to most likely challenge incumbent Gov. Joe Lombardo. Listen to the show to learn about their policy priorities on health care, housing, immigration, and data centers.

Guests discuss partisan dynamics in the CD2 primary and Nevada’s proposed voter ID law

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2018, file photo, people vote at a polling place in Las Vegas. Nevada, the third state to vote on the presidential primary next year, is supposed to offer Democrats something different. It's more diverse than largely white Iowa and New Hampshire. Its population is working class, urbanized and increasingly blue. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b698062/2147483647/strip/false/crop/4773x3062+0+0/resize/792x508!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2Fdf%2F44dc453147a8adbb1969e8e14c2f%2Fap19341010827377.jpg]FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2018, file photo, people vote at a polling place in Las Vegas. Nevada, the third state to vote on the presidential primary next year, is supposed to offer Democrats something different. It's more diverse than largely white Iowa and New Hampshire. Its population is working class, urbanized and increasingly blue. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)(John Locher / AP) On this month’s Purple Politics Nevada, guest host Bert Johnson spoke with UNR Associate Professor of Political Science Jeremy Gelman about the wide-open primary for Northern Nevada’s Congressional District 2. Gelman broke down the likely frontrunners from both major parties and the role national politics could play in the race. Then, David Gibbs from Repair the Vote and Kerry Durmick from All Voting is Local Action joined the show to discuss Ballot Question 7, which would amend the Nevada Constitution to require photo ID at the polls. Listen to the full episode to hear their positions on the measure, which passed in 2024 with 73% voter approval.

Meet the Democratic candidates for Nevada’s Attorney General

Zach Conine (left) and Nicole Cannizzaro are the two Democratic candidates for Nevada Attorney General in the 2026 June Primary. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5ed993b/2147483647/strip/false/crop/900x500+0+0/resize/792x440!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F35%2Fe6%2Ffa35635d4a6cad9314680c86e7d6%2Fppnv-web-cover.png]Zach Conine (left) and Nicole Cannizzaro are the two Democratic candidates for Nevada Attorney General in the 2026 June Primary.(Headshots courtesy of Zach Conine and Nicole Cannizzaro) The June Primary is less than three months away. This month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada, hosted by KUNR’s Lucia Starbuck, focuses on the Democratic race for attorney general. Two current elected officials – Nevada Treasurer Zach Conine and Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro – want to advance to the general election to become the state’s top law enforcement officer, but only one candidate can. Listen to the show to learn about their policy priorities.

ACA insurance subsidies expired. Now what?

Stethoscope on the dollars. Medical costs. Healthcare payment concept. Concept of analysis of the market and economy and interest rates. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e687145/2147483647/strip/false/crop/6016x4016+0+0/resize/791x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F08%2Fa3%2Fe4cbeec24faeac4aefe23a5227ed%2Fadobestock-275349956.jpeg]Stethoscope on the dollars. Medical costs. Healthcare payment concept. Concept of analysis of the market and economy and interest rates.(spyrakot / Adobe Stock) Federal subsidies for insurance under the Affordable Care Act expired, causing monthly premiums to spike; Nevada state employees are potentially facing a steep increase, and small businesses are feeling the brunt of rising health insurance costs, too. How does this hurt health equity and where do we go from here? In February’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada, host Lucia Starbuck speaks with Nevadans facing steep increases in their health insurance bills and explores the possibility of universal health care. Guests: Aquious Plumbing owner Luke Paschall, musician Catherine Matovich, and health care reform advocate Dr. Joseph Jarvis. This episode was published with the assistance of the Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS) Health Journalism Fellowship, supported by The Commonwealth Fund.

Season 4 of Purple Politics Nevada returns live with a 2026 election look-ahead

[https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cb9b2f6/2147483647/strip/false/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F79%2Fe0%2Fac17db114935ae7dafff0f8afe62%2Fearly-voting-primary-election-2022-washoe-county-lucia-starbuck.jpg](Lucia Starbuck / KUNR Public Radio) The countdown to the 2026 election has begun. Season 4 of Purple Politics Nevada, hosted by KUNR’s Lucia Starbuck, kicked off with what the state might expect for the midterms. This month’s live show examined the gubernatorial race, the role of nonpartisan voters, and the top issues facing Nevadans, including the economy and immigration. Guests: College of Southern Nevada history professor Sondra Cosgrove and Emerson College Polling senior director Matt Taglia.