Nevada Independent: Signs of Hope

The left wing of the Democratic Party is ascendant nationwide, with youth voters and viral social media posts propelling victories by progressives and socialists in New York City, NewJersey, and Washington, D.C.

But despite its diverse, working-class population, Nevada has not yet seen similar success for its most progressive candidates. That showed in this year’s primaries, with numerous left-leaning candidates — many of them running for the first time and raising far less money than their opponents — falling short in major Democratic primary races.

Yet progressive organizers point to improved margins by longshot challengers to entrenched incumbents, and upset victories where progressives won open seats — including real estate professional Minja Yan in a Democratic primary for Clark County Commission, and software developer and Medicare For All supporter Alex Pereszlenyi in a Democratic primary for Assembly.

Progressives say these results hint at a new way forward for the Democratic Party after its 2024 walloping. Candidates and operatives who spoke to The Indy argued that while progressives sometimes struggle to fundraise, they can make up for that disadvantage in downballot races with committed canvassing operations, bold policy solutions and personal connections with voters.
Some of the progressives who ran in the primaries are “organizers at heart,” said Laura Martin, the former executive director of Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. “They know how to run campaigns, how to win campaigns,” she said.

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