In Nevada, Cost Of Living And Immigration Are Key Issues

Summary

The NPR Politics Podcast: In Nevada, Cost Of Living And Immigration Are Key Issues

Host and Contributors:

• Miles Parks – Covers voting.
• Frank Ordonez – Covers the campaign.
• Lucia Starbuck – From KUNR in Reno, covering swing state Nevada.

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Introduction

In the episode titled "In Nevada, Cost Of Living And Immigration Are Key Issues", NPR's political analysts delve into the pivotal factors shaping Nevada's electoral landscape for the 2024 U.S. elections. Hosted by Miles Parks and Frank Ordonez, alongside Lucia Starbuck, the discussion centers on Nevada's unique demographics, economic challenges, and the critical Senate race.

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Demographics of Nevada

Lucia Starbuck provides a comprehensive overview of Nevada's diverse population:

• Ethnic Diversity: "More than a quarter of Nevada are made up of Latino residents. We also have 10% of residents who are Asian Americans and African Americans," [01:53].

• Indigenous Presence: The state is home to 28 indigenous tribes, highlighting the importance of native-centric issues.

• Voter Registration: A significant portion of Nevada's electorate consists of unaffiliated voters. "There are more people registered as nonpartisan than there are Democrats and Republicans," [02:16], making Nevada a highly competitive swing state.

• Geographical Distribution: Over 2 million residents live in southern Nevada around Las Vegas, while northern Nevada, including Reno-Sparks, houses around half a million. The remaining population resides in rural areas [02:40].

Frank Ordonez adds, "Clark County... is kind of a mirror of the demographics of the country. It's very, very diverse... a huge working-class town," [03:39], emphasizing the area's reflection of national trends.

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Political Landscape and Election 2024

Nevada has not favored Republican presidential candidates since 2004. However, recent trends suggest a more hopeful outlook for Republicans:

• Early Voting Advantage: "Republicans are in the lead. More Republicans have turned in those ballots," [04:14].

• Candidate Engagement: Both major parties are intensifying their efforts in Nevada. "Everyone come through town... Jill Biden... Trump and J.D. Vance," [07:24], indicating the state's growing importance.

Frank Ordonez notes the economic factors influencing voter sentiment: "The state was hit so hard by Covid... one of the higher unemployment rates in the country," [05:39], making economic policies a focal point of campaigns.

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Key Issues: Economy and Cost of Living

Economic challenges, particularly in Las Vegas and surrounding areas, are central to voters' concerns:

• Impact of Covid-19: The pandemic severely affected Nevada's tourism and hospitality sectors. "The Vegas Strip shut down for a few months... the economy is just a huge issue for Nevadans," [05:39].

• Cost of Living: "Nevadans are really struggling. They tell me to pay for basic things," [05:49], with candidates like Trump addressing these issues directly: "If your life has gone downhill in the last four years, vote for me," [05:49].

• Union Influence: The culinary union remains a powerful force in mobilizing Democratic voters. "Hundreds of thousands of doors are knocked on by union workers... It's a huge advantage for Harris," [06:34].

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Senate Race: Jackie Rosen vs. Sam Brown

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the tight Senate race between incumbent Democrat Jackie Rosen and Republican challenger Sam Brown:

• Jackie Rosen: Rosen is portrayed as a pro-union and pro-access to reproductive healthcare advocate. "She is able to get things done," [09:44], with support from both Democrats and certain Republicans.

• Sam Brown: A retired Army Captain aligned with the Trump campaign, Brown emphasizes border security and immigration. "He is pro closing the border," [09:44].

• Key Issues:

  • Immigration: Both candidates address immigration, but with differing approaches. Brown ties his campaign closely to Trump's stance, advocating for stricter border control [11:18].

  • Abortion: Post-Roe v. Wade, abortion remains a contentious issue. "You've seen Brown's wife go on national media talking about getting an abortion in her 20s and having Sam Brown support," [09:44], highlighting the nuanced positions within Nevada.

• Candidate Authenticity: Brown faces scrutiny over his Nevada ties. "This is Sam Brown's second time running for U.S. senate in Nevada, but before that he ran for office in Texas," [09:44], raising questions about his commitment and understanding of local issues.

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Immigration's Role in Nevada Politics

Immigration is a polarized issue in Nevada, reflecting the state's diverse population:

• Voter Perspectives: "They want to see immigration streamlined, they want to see the process fixed," [11:38], yet opinions remain divided.

• Latino Community:

  • Diverse Views: Frank Ordonez emphasizes that "Latinos are not a monolith," [12:52]. Differences in immigration experiences, such as those between long-established families and recent immigrants, shape voting behaviors.

  • Impact of Rhetoric: Daniel Corona expresses concern over Trump's immigration rhetoric: "Trump is using Latinos as the boogeyman... worried about his nieces and nephews and how Latinos will be treated in the country," [12:34].

• Candidate Messaging: Republicans attempt to engage second-generation Americans, leveraging their voting patterns. "Latinos whose parents or grandparents moved in... have voting records that are more similar to every other American," [13:00], presenting an opportunity for GOP outreach.

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Conclusion

The episode underscores Nevada's critical role as a swing state with its intricate demographic makeup and pressing economic issues. Cost of living and immigration are at the forefront of voters' minds, influencing the tightly contested Senate race and the broader electoral dynamics. As candidates from both parties intensify their campaigns, Nevada stands as a microcosm of national political trends, reflecting both diversity and division.

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Notable Quotes:

• Lucia Starbuck [01:53]: "More than a quarter of Nevada are made up of Latino residents. We also have 10% of residents who are Asian Americans and African Americans."

• Frank Ordonez [03:39]: "Clark county... is kind of a mirror of the demographics of the country. It's very, very diverse... a huge working-class town."

• Lucia Starbuck [05:49]: "If your life has gone downhill in the last four years, vote for me."

• Lucia Starbuck [09:44]: "She is able to get things done."

• Daniel Corona [12:34]: "Trump is using Latinos as the boogeyman... worried about his nieces and nephews and how Latinos will be treated in the country."

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This comprehensive analysis provides listeners with an in-depth understanding of Nevada's political climate, the key issues at stake, and the dynamics influencing the 2024 elections. Whether you're a political enthusiast or simply seeking to grasp the nuances of Nevada's electorate, this episode offers valuable insights into one of America's most influential swing states.

Transcript

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[James Edward Mills]

Hi, this is James Edward Mills, the official photographer of the 2024 U.S. capitol Christmas tree, and I'm on the island of Ketchikan, Alaska, in the Tongass National Forest. This year, the People's tree is a beautiful 81 foot Siska Spruce. This podcast was recorded at 1:06pm on.

[Miles Parks]

Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

[James Edward Mills]

Things may have changed by the time you hear this, but I'll be making my way across the country to deliver my 10th Capitol Christmas tree to the U.S. capitol Building in Washington, D.C. here's the show.

[Frank Ordonez]

I love it.

[Miles Parks]

I feel like summer's finally over. We're talking about Christmas already. There's something kind of tragic about that timestamp. It's very nice, but as a Florida boy, I'm a little sad. I'm not gonna lie about it.

[Frank Ordonez]

Oh, I'm ready for fall. I'm ready for winter.

[Miles Parks]

Hey there. It's the NPR Politics podcast. I'm Miles Parks. I cover voting.

[Frank Ordonez]

I'm Frank Ordonez. I cover the campaign.

[Miles Parks]

And Lucia Starbuck from member station KUNR in Reno is here with us as well. Hey, Lucia.

[Lucia Starbuck]

Hey, thanks for having me. I cover swing state Nevada.

[Miles Parks]

I know. We are so excited to have you to talk about swing state Nevada. It is the smallest of the swing states by electoral votes, but not by geography or influence. So we are giving Nevada its due today on the podcast. And I guess I'm hoping you can start by big picture explaining the demographics of the state. It's a fascinating state, as you know. As somebody who covers it, can you tell us a little bit about kind of what the demographics of the state and the electorate look like?

[Lucia Starbuck]

Yeah. More than a quarter of Nevada are made up of Latino residents. We also have 10% of residents are Asian Americans and African Americans. And then it's also very native centric. There are 28 indigenous tribes in Nevada, also a large group of naturalized citizens. So there are so many different groups of voters that that can really have large influences in the election.

[Miles Parks]

And there's a big group of unaffiliated voters. Right. Too. People who kind of don't identify with one of the two major parties.

[Lucia Starbuck]

Yes. There are more people registered as nonpartisan than there are Democrats and Republicans.

[Miles Parks]

So Lots of people to fight over.

[Lucia Starbuck]

Yes.

[Miles Parks]

Are there big differences in terms of the state, like I mentioned, in this giant state? I imagine that some of those differences show up when you look at the geography too.

[Lucia Starbuck]

Yeah, you can kind of think of Nevada in a couple different ways. So there's a little over 3 million people here. A majority of that, over 2 million people live in southern Nevada in the Las Vegas area. If you take a seven hour drive up north to Reno Sparks, where I am, there's about half a million people here. And then the rest of the state is very rural.

[Frank Ordonez]

Just adding to that, you know, I've spent a lot of time in Clark county, the largest county, which is where Las Vegas is. What's so interesting to me is just kind of how it is kind of a mirror of the demographics of the country. It's very, very diverse. Big Latino community, big Asian American community. Also just a huge working class town. So many people working in the casinos and the hospitality industry. And I think that's one of the reasons why there's so much interest from both parties, but particularly Trump and the Republicans trying to kind of tap into that working class group that, you know, Trump has really put at the heart of his campaign.

[Lucia Starbuck]

Yeah. And a little bit outside of Las Vegas, you have. It's a little bit of a more diverse economy. You have gold and silver mining. The beginning of the lithium boom is really taking place in Nevada. Several lithium mines have been approved, but also a lot of warehouse jobs. One of Tesla's gigafactories is here making electric batteries. It's a little bit more diverse outside of Las Vegas, but yeah, the state is very dependent on entertainment and tourism that comes out of Clark county in Las Vegas.

[Miles Parks]

Well, Republicans have not won the state at the presidential level since 2004. But do you get the sense, Lucia, that they are more hopeful this time around?

[Lucia Starbuck]

They're definitely more hopeful. And that's because early voting has already started and Republicans are in the lead. More Republicans have turned in those ballots. This is kind of the first time we've really seen the Republican Party and the Trump campaign telling their base to vote early. I was at a JD Vance rally this summer and he was already telling people in the crowd to vote early. I mean, it was early voting hadn't even taken place yet. Ballots hadn't even been sent yet. So the Republicans have a lead and Trump is really capitalizing on that, is telling people that he's going to win Nevada. But I do try to push that, push back on that. We are still very purple if you look at last election, Nevada reelected, it's one of its Democratic senators, and then kicked out its Democratic incumbent governor and elected a Republican governor. So you see people split the ticket.

[Frank Ordonez]

I think the, you know, the kind of the economic situation in the state, particularly again in Clark county, is kind of, kind of ripe for Republicans, especially Trump's message. I mean, the state was hit so hard by Covid. You know, the Vegas Strip shut down for a few months. Of course, you know, the rate has come way down, but it's still one of the higher unemployment rates in the country. So the economy is just a huge issue for Nevadans and people in Las Vegas across the state. And I mean, there's really, it's a reason why Trump went to Las Vegas to unveil his plan on eliminating taxes on tips, because it is a pitch that works with this community because, again, of so many people who are in the casino and hospitality industry.

[Lucia Starbuck]

Yeah, cost of living is something that I hear from all voters all over the political spectrum. Nevadans are really struggling. They tell me to pay for basic things. And, yeah, I think that's definitely something you've seen Trump talk about when he comes to Nevada. If your life has gone downhill in the last four years, vote for me. When J.D. vance was here the first time, he said, send your gas bill to Harris. It's a huge issue for Nevada voters.

[Miles Parks]

Well, Franco, one of the big reasons that Democrats have been so successful over the last couple decades in Nevada is the culinary union. The membership in the union is tens of thousands of people, and they have been really successful at mobilizing those people to impact political results. Is that still the case here in 2024?

[Frank Ordonez]

Absolutely. I mean, it's kind of like the Democrats not so secret weapon in Nevada, hundreds of thousands of doors are knocked on by union workers. These union workers actually take off from work. The union pays their salary, and they just go six days a week, knocking on doors full time, every day, speaking out, mostly going to other union workers to kind of get them to get out the vote. It is a huge advantage for Harris. It's a huge advantage for the Democrats, and it's been a big reason, you know, they've been able to, you know, to keep the state purple, frankly.

[Miles Parks]

Well, Lucia, how have the candidates been viewing Nevada? Have they been making visits this year, or are they expecting to make visits leading up to Election Day?

[Lucia Starbuck]

Oh, my goodness, yes. For me, the election started, like, in 2023.

[Ira Glass]

It feels like.

[Lucia Starbuck]

Yeah, especially as the election gets closer. I mean, we have seen just about everyone come through town for from the Democrats, we've seen second Gentleman Doug Emhoff a couple times. We've seen Minnesota Governor Tim Walls a couple times, Jill Biden a couple times, actors and actresses. And same thing for the Republicans. We've had Trump and J.D. vance several times. A big one is Harris and Trump will both be on Nevada on Halloween one day before early voting officially ends. And it's a really big deal, actually for northern Nevada because Harris hasn't been here since April of 2023 when she was vice president, she was talking about access to reproductive healthcare. So this will be her first time this election cycle coming to Reno, which is a really big deal.

[Miles Parks]

Okay. Let's leave it there for a second. We're going to take a quick break and more in Nevada when we get back.

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[Miles Parks]

I voted for her.

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[Miles Parks]

And we're back. And I want to talk about the Senate race there in Nevada. Lucia. Incumbent Senator Jackie Rosen had been seen as kind of one of the potentially vulnerable Democrats running for reelection this cycle. And I'm wondering if you can just tell us what the state of the race is and who she's running against.

[Lucia Starbuck]

Yeah, that's another tight race. She is Nevada's Democratic incumbent senator. Her big issues are, you know, pro union, pro access to reproductive health care. She's received endorsements from Republican mayors like the rural Ely mayor and the Sparks Mayor are both saying that she is able to get things done. She is running against us Retired Army Captain Sam Brown. He has really tied his campaign to the Trump campaign. He is pro closing the border. What makes it really interesting is something that really matters to Nevadans is how long you've been in Nevada or how Nevada and you are or how up to date you are on Nevada issues. So this is Sam Brown's second time running for U.S. senate in Nevada, but before that he ran for office in Texas. That's a really big sticking point to people of how Nevada new are. Another thing that's playing out is access to abortion. You've kind of seen since Roe v. Wade was overturned. While Republicans say, you know, I'm personally anti abortion, they know that it's, you know, it's not super popular to be very anti abortion in Nevada. In 1990, voters voted to make abortion legal under state law up to 24 weeks. That passed. So a lot of Republicans are kind of leaning on, well, it's state law, and I'm not going to do anything to change that. The voters have already decided. You've seen Brown's wife go on national media talking about getting an abortion in her 20s and having Sam Brown support. So that's been a really interesting issue to see play out in the U.S. senate race.

[Miles Parks]

Wow. And you mentioned a second ago, immigration has come up a lot in that race as well. And I am curious about how that issue plays in Nevada. I'm always curious to hear about the different ways people kind of perceive the issue of immigration. Considering Nevada has such a large Latino population, how does the immigration come up politically there?

[Lucia Starbuck]

What I get from voters is this kind of consensus that they want to see immigration streamlined, they want to see the process fixed. That's kind of what I hear from a lot of people. But people are still very divided on the issue. You have many Republicans saying, close the border. And yeah, as you mentioned, a large immigrant population in Nevada, Latino population in Nevada. And also just divided on this issue and how the candidates are talking about it. I interviewed Paola Loop. She's an immigrant from Argentina, is going to vote for Trump for the third time this election. And her big thing is that she says she immigrated the right way.

[Daniel Corona]

If you're having a hard time in your country and we as a country are able to provide some help, by all means, go for it. But when we don't even know who's crossing the border, it's a slap in the face to all of us who did it the right way. And it is a slap on the face to the citizens that were here before.

[Miles Parks]

I think that is so interesting. I'm always interested to hear kind of how the Latino community does take in all of this messaging that's coming at them from mostly from Republican candidates. Franco, have you what is your reporting shown about kind of the differences across this kind of very broad demographic?

[Frank Ordonez]

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I feel sometimes like a broken record. But, you know, I say it over and over that Latinos are not a monolith. And, you know, hearing from her, I think, you know, speaks to that very well. I mean, there's a very big difference between an Argentinian who came maybe a few decades ago versus a recent immigrant from Central America. A lot depends on were you born in the United States or not. Education, income. There's so many different backgrounds of Latinos that kind of shape how they vote politically. And one big one and one that in Nevada that the Trump campaign is focusing on is, you know, second generation Americans, people who, you know, we're talking about Latinos whose parents or grandparents moved in. And there's a large group of them in Nevada and across the United States. And, you know, they have voting records that are more similar to every other American. So I think this is something that Republicans have kind of see and see an opportunity here. But it is just speaks to how, you know, Latinos vote in very different ways. And, you know, with the border is not, you know, it's not just on immigration.

[Lucia Starbuck]

Yeah. As Franco mentioned, some Latino families have been in Nevada for generations. Some Latinos are also just completely disgusted by some of the comments coming from Trump's campaign. I spoke to Daniel Corona. He's the former mayor of rural West Windover, which is near the Nevada Utah border. He's now working for the Harris campaign. And I talked to him shortly after Trump initially pledged to do mass deportations. He just said Trump is using Latinos as the boogeyman. And he's really worried about Trump's rhetoric, increasing bullying, hate, racism. And he's worried about his nieces and nephews and how Latinos will be treated in the country. So, yeah, immigration is definitely playing out in Nevada. Just kind of the whole spectrum of where people stand.

[Miles Parks]

All right, well, let's leave it there for now. Lucia Starbuck, thank you so much for joining us from Kunr Reno.

[Lucia Starbuck]

Thank you so much for having me. Always a pleasure to talk Nevada politics.

[Miles Parks]

Yeah, we'll talk again soon. I'm Miles Parks. I cover voting.

[Frank Ordonez]

I'm Franco Ordonez. I cover the campaign.

[Miles Parks]

And thank you for listening to the NPR Politics Podcast.

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