Last updated on May 7th, 2026
This ‘Meet the Candidates’ feature provides links to Sun Valley Insider articles introducing local candidates for the 2026 midterm election cycle in Washoe County, Nevada. (Candidates wishing to be featured herein may contact us for details.)
Primary vs. General
Not all candidates running this year will appear on the Primary election ballot (on June 9, 2026), since the purpose of the primaries are to determine which one nominee from each of the 2 major political parties will run in the upcoming General election (in November) with one nominee from each of the 5 recognized political parties in Nevada with ballot access (Republican Party, Democratic Party, Independent American Party, Libertarian Party of Nevada, and No Labels Party), if applicable.
Only the Republican and Democratic parties hold primaries. (The other 3 minor parties select their nominees via conventions.) For parties with only one candidate in any given race, that candidate will automatically become the nominee and advance to November—hence their name will not appear on the primary ballot in June. Their names, however, will appear on the November ballot.
Did someone already win?
Yes. In races where only one total candidate is running (unchallenged), they bypass the Primary and the General elections, and are automatically declared the winner. In Sun Valley, for example, congrats are in order to Mark Neumann and Michael Revty, who were the only 2 candidates running for two available seats on the SVGID board. Thus, they have both won already.
Can Independents or Nonpartisans vote in the Primary election?
Only for nonpartisan races. Since Nevada has a “closed primary” for the Republican and Democratic primary elections, only registered voters within those 2 major parties may vote for candidates within their declared party. (In other words, a Democrat or an Independent cannot vote for a Republican, even if they like them and want to. In fact, when they go to the polls in June, their ballot will not even show candidates from other parties.)
Thus, Nevada voters registered as Independents (meaning a member of the Independent American Party—a minor, 3rd party) cannot vote in the Republican or Democratic primary elections. Likewise, if someone is registered as a Libertarian, or a Nonpartisan (Unaffiliated, No Political Party, or NPP), they also cannot vote for republicans or democrats in June.
In November, however, you can vote for whomever you like, regardless of their party or your chosen affiliation.
What is a Nonpartisan race?
‘Nonpartisan’ is a status for certain public offices (like judges, city managers, school board members, sheriff, etc.) where the roles are to be performed with neutrality, objectivity, and impartiality—regardless of current national leadership or politics. Candidates interested in such roles aren’t representing a party at all—they are running for offices where political affiliation is legally excluded from the role.
Those registered to vote in Nevada as Nonpartisans (Unaffiliated/No Political Party), Independent, Libertarian, or No Labels are limited during the primary election to voting in nonpartisan contests (e.g., judges, sheriff, etc.) only.
Meet the Candidates
Here they are, in reverse order of publication.
(More to come…)
Editor’s Note: The “Meet the Candidates” series on Sun Valley Insider is provided as a free, public service for voter information purposes. No monetary incentive is asked, received, or provided. Sun Valley Insider does not endorse or support any political candidates. The 2026 Primary election in Nevada is on Tuesday, June 9.
Photo credit: Top photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.
Related Article:
Related Links:
Election 2026 (This Is Reno)
Election Archives (This Is Reno)
Nevada’s June primary is coming up fast. How to vote (RGJ)
Nevada candidates set: See who will appear on Washoe County ballots (RGJ)
Voter Registration Form (Nevada Secretary of State)
View your Sample Ballot (Washoe County)
Check your Voter Registration Status (Nevada Secretary of State)
