In a politically divided region in northern Nevada, the Washoe County Board of Commissioners is facing a contentious battle over the appointment of its elections director earlier this year. The commission, which oversees Nevada’s second most populous county, approved the new director by a split vote, with Democrats and a moderate Republican in favor, and two Republican commissioners against. These two Republicans have raised doubts about elections and are supported by a wider movement promoting election conspiracy theories. Now, this movement is attempting to unseat Republican Commissioner Clara Andriola in the upcoming primary to create a majority on the board, which could have national implications due to the county’s importance in presidential and U.S. Senate battleground states.
The attacks against Andriola within her own party have left her disheartened, as she believes that elections should not be a partisan issue. The chair of the commission, Alexis Hill, a Democrat, has condemned these attacks as unfounded and damaging to democracy, as they undermine trust in elections. Despite this, she acknowledges that the office is a target for conspiracy theorists seeking to influence the outcome of elections at both the local and national levels. The situation in Washoe County is reflective of similar dramas playing out in other politically mixed regions, such as Arizona, where conspiracy theorists have targeted local boards and election offices in recent years.
A wealthy far-right activist, Robert Beadles, has been backing the two Republicans on the commission who voted against appointing the elections director and is spearheading the effort to unseat Andriola. His goal is to create a far-right majority on the commission, which oversees government operations in the county. Beadles has a history of spreading rumors, filing lawsuits, and leading movements to discredit election results and overhaul the elections department. This has led to tense and heated commission meetings, with claims of stolen votes, conspiracy theories about voting machines, and accusations of treason against local officials. The upcoming primary will determine the candidate favored to win the seat in November, covering much of Reno and neighboring areas.
One of the primary challengers to Andriola, Tracey Hilton-Thomas, has expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the 2020 election results, though she later partially walked back those claims. Despite multiple reviews affirming Biden’s win and no evidence of widespread fraud, Hilton-Thomas remains critical of the Washoe County Registrar of Voters office, accusing it of bypassing state laws and wasting resources. The heated rhetoric and attacks from within the commission have made running the elections department a challenge for the newly appointed director, Cari-Ann Burgess. Despite the hostility, Burgess remains dedicated to ensuring that democracy prevails and works to insulate her staff from the ongoing vitriol.
The upcoming primary in Washoe County reflects a broader trend of election conspiracy theories and attacks on election officials in swing states like Nevada and Arizona. The efforts to influence local elections could have far-reaching implications for national politics, particularly in swing counties like Washoe County. As the battle for control of the Washoe County Commission continues, the outcome of the upcoming primary will determine the direction of the county’s oversight of elections and its impact on democracy. The tension between election officials, local activists, and conspiracy theorists underscores the challenges faced in maintaining trust in the electoral process and ensuring fair and accurate elections.
