In a deep purple county in the purple state of Nevada, voters find reasons for hope
Welcome to "7 Counties in 7 Days," a cross-country road trip to 7 pivotal counties in 7 battleground states. Today's stop: Washoe County, where swingy voters will likely decide who wins Nevada.
RENO, Nev. ― James and Claudette Deatherage loved their short time in South Carolina where, as Republicans, they fit right in.
That state has voted for a Republican for president in every election for the past 50 years.
“Everybody had the same beliefs," James said. "It was brilliant, it was fun.”
In Reno, there’s more political friction ― and less fun.
At a JD Vance rally in July, James got a small sign promoting former President Donald Trump and put it on his fence in west Reno.
“Within 24 hours, it was gone,” Deatherage said. “It’s disheartening.”
With a Republican governor and two Democratic U.S. senators, Nevada is a true battleground state where either Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris could win. And Washoe County ― home to Reno ― is the most politically divided county in the state.
Polls show Trump and Harris in a statistical tie in Nevada, with each candidate coveting the state's six electoral votes.
Nevada’s rural counties vote reliably and heavily Republican, while Clark County ― home to Las Vegas ― leans Democratic. That puts Washoe County in a key role for deciding which way Nevada goes.
Part of what makes Washoe County so swingy is its political makeup: 32% of its registered voters are Republican, 30% Democratic, 30% nonpartisan and 8% some other party such as Independent American, Libertarian or Green.
Its county commission has a Republican majority, while the seven-member Reno City Council has only one Republican member.
The county's voters are as diverse demographically as they are politically, and the motivations that they say will drive them to the polls in November are all over the map ― from the economy to crime to border security to health care and the preservation of America's democratic institutions.
Not better off economically than 4 years ago
Recent polls show the economy is far and away the top issue Nevadans cite as influencing their eventual vote. Although the U.S. unemployment rate is near historic lows at 4.2%, Nevada ranks worst at 5.4%.
Compounding the financial anxiety, Reno's median home sale price hit a record $672,500 in July, leaving thousands without the means to own a home.
“The economy is the biggest driver that's going to get people to the polls,” said Deatherage, who moved to Reno after he retired as a San Francisco Bay Area firefighter. “The question is: Are you better off today than you were four years ago? And we're clearly not.”
Claudette Deatherage, also a Republican, said their income doesn’t go as far as it did when Trump was in office.
“I wish I could retire early, but because of the daily cost of living, I have to work,” she said.
Jafeth Sanchez, a Democrat, feels the effects of inflation.
“We're both employed,” she said of herself and husband, Christopher. “We have two kids, and we're seeing increases in prices. … It’s hard being homeowners, with how to approach carrying out a budget or saving for the future.”
A nonpartisan who works in financial planning, Joey Bray says he is no better off than he was four years ago but it won't affect his vote. The Federal Reserve controls interest rates regardless of the party in power, he said.
“I would have been in this same position whether the Republican or Democrat was in office the past four years,” said Bray, a Navy veteran. “Presidents don't have a direct lever to control these prices that we're seeing."
Crime and the border inspire Republican couple to vote
For Claudette Deatherage, public safety is a main driver getting her to the polls in November.
“Since the Biden administration took over, there have been a lot of changes in terms of police presence,” she said.
“You can feel it, and I can see it. Why does everybody have to have a bodyguard nowadays? Why does everybody have to have police presence at all times whether you're watching a sports event or a concert?
"It wasn't like that before.”
In 2019 in Washoe County, there were 2,142 violent crime cases, according to the state. By 2023, that number had increased 16% to 2,483 violent crimes. Property crimes rose 20% during the same period while the county's population rose 11%.
Her husband believes what’s happening at the border is being felt in Nevada.
“The open border has created an incredible amount of murder and crime and rape. I personally believe that the administration has blood on its hands,” James Deatherage said.
“The crime, the human trafficking, the sex trafficking of kids, as well as the fentanyl problem all come across the border. We have to shore up the southern border.”
Opportunity, health care access and religion inspire Democratic couple to vote
As a naturalized citizen who came to the United States from Mexico as a child, Sanchez is optimistic about America’s future.
Her devout Christian faith manifests in the belief that “you love everyone, and you welcome everyone and you support everybody,” she said.
She sees Kamala Harris and Tim Walz as being more inclusive and better at supporting education and health care access. That, she says, aligns best with her family’s values.
Her husband agreed.
“As far as the Trump side, there's a big inequality issue,” said Christopher Sanchez, a member of the Walker River Paiute Tribe.
“Harris and the Democratic Party address (inequality) more ― that it's better to try to help everyone ― as opposed to Trump's policies where ‘these people’ are being given a better opportunity and ‘these other people’ are having certain rights taken away," he said.
"I can't get with that.”
What’s getting this nonpartisan couple out to vote?
Newlyweds Joey and Maddie Bray were undecided about their pick for president. They wanted to wait for the Harris-Trump debate to decide who would better handle the nation’s finances.
To them, neither party is great on the issue.
According to U.S. Treasury data, Trump contributed $8.2 trillion to the national debt during his four years in office while Joe Biden ― through Aug. 8, 2024 ― has contributed $6.7 trillion.
“I would love to see a party take control of the budget, but whichever one goes in is still going to spend way more than what we take in,” Joey said.
In Nevada, Democrats are hoping a ballot initiative to enshrine abortion rights in the state’s constitution will drive women to the polls. For Maddie, though, abortion is not the deciding issue.
“I think women should have their right to their own body, but I don't think that's a reason why I should just go to that side,” she said.
“I'm right in the middle,” she said, adding that she sides with the positions that make the most sense regardless of which party puts them forward.
After watching the last presidential debate, Joey came to a new conclusion about what issue would decide his vote: election denial.
“We have a lot of people backing false claims that are hurting our democracy,” he said, “whereas, we have one of the strongest documents, albeit flawed, but one of the strongest documents in the world that we need to respect” ― the U.S. Constitution.
He thought Harris showed in the debate that she can control herself.
“And I just realized watching how Trump performed that I would prefer not to see him in that office for another four years, talking the way he was and acting the way he did,” Bray said.
What gives these Washoe County couples optimism?
One thing that gives the Brays hope in these divisive times is Nevada’s ballot question on ranked-choice voting and open primaries.
Right now, Nevada has closed primaries. In races where candidates must declare party affiliation ― such as for Congress, the state legislature and county commission ― only Republicans and Democrats can vote in their respective primaries.
That leaves nonpartisans such as the Brays without a voice in who is competing for the most consequential seats.
“The thing that gives me the most optimism would be open primaries and some ranked-choice voting ― hopefully that can appeal to more moderate candidates who can be elected into office,” Joey Bray said.
Jafeth Sanchez is hopeful because she sees so many young people getting engaged in politics and promoting policies that open up opportunities for everyone.
“I know there's more access to misinformation,” she said, “but there's also so much opportunity to be informed.”
Christopher Sanchez is optimistic as well.
“I feel like we’re headed in the right direction in terms of people being more comfortable with who they are and people being treated equally, being given equal opportunity,” the father of two said.
The Deatherages don’t see much positive happening in the country these days. What gives them hope is the thought of Trump back in the White House.
“People are more aware and are getting more engaged,” Claudette Deatherage said.
For James Deatherage, Trump’s running mate gives him hope.
In Ohio Sen. JD Vance, he sees someone living the American dream with his journey from a difficult childhood to the Marines, the Ivy League and the U.S. Senate.
“That's what makes me excited and happy about politics ― it’s to see the difference that politicians can make in people's lives," he said.
"You get the right politician in there, good things happen.”
More: How Nevada and Washoe County have voted in every presidential election since 1980
Mark Robison is the state politics reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal, with occasional forays into other topics. Email comments to mrobison@rgj.com or comment on Mark’s Greater Reno Facebook page.