President-elect Donald Trump has won the state of Nevada in the presidential race, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump’s victory in Nevada is significant, as he lost the state in both of his previous runs for the White House. However, his previous defeats against Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden were by narrow margins, and Trump and the Republican Party have made inroads with key voting blocs in the state since then. Nevada elected a Republican governor in 2022, but Democrats managed to hold on in other races up and down the ballot.
Trump’s victory in Nevada is seen as a breakthrough for the GOP, as Democrats have dominated the state in recent years. Republicans had not won the presidential contest in Nevada since 2004. Trump made Las Vegas a key stop on the campaign trail, focusing on issues like his “no tax on tips” pledge, which appealed to a significant number of residents who work for tipped wages in the entertainment and hospitality industries. Harris also supported the proposal and promoted her backing in her visits to the state.
Trump’s win in Nevada comes after six Republican “fake electors” were indicted last year on forgery charges related to the 2020 election. A Nevada judge dismissed the case in June 2024, ruling that it was filed in the wrong venue. Nevada’s attorney general, Democrat Aaron Ford, appealed the ruling in July. The state relies heavily on mail-in voting, which Trump and Republicans have criticized in the past. However, the GOP made a concerted effort this year to encourage voters to use mail balloting, with Trump urging his supporters to cast their ballots in any way possible.
Overall, Trump’s victory in Nevada represents a significant shift in the state’s political landscape. Despite Democrats holding on in other races, Trump’s win is a major milestone for the GOP in a state they have struggled in recently. Trump’s focus on key issues like the “no tax on tips” pledge and his campaign efforts in Las Vegas played a role in his victory. The fallout from the Republican “fake electors” case and the ongoing debate over mail-in voting also factor into the broader political context of Trump’s win in Nevada.
