There are more nonpartisan voters registered in Nevada than registered Democrats and Republicans, and that’s been the case since July of last year. However, they didn’t feel they had a voice in partisan races during the closed primary election earlier in June. In this month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada, host Lucia Starbuck spoke to nonpartisans about election reform, disdain for the parties, and issues such as the environment. Hear from real estate agent Rossana Bertani-Lopey, who is disappointed in the parties and is looking for candidates who will address immigration, affordable housi ..read more

Latino voters in Northern Nevada are voicing that their top issues are accessing economic opportunities and addressing immigration — but it goes beyond that — and while they’re committed to casting their ballots in November, what remains to be seen is who will earn their vote. In this month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada, host Lucia Starbuck spoke to Latino business owners, attended a Cinco de Mayo celebration, and learned about get-out-the-vote efforts for Latinos in Northern Nevada. You can hear from Reno resident Lilia Amador, who is concerned about the environment; Carson City residen ..read more

June marks 100 years since Indigenous people were granted citizenship — and with that, the right to vote in the United States. However, the right to vote wasn’t fully expanded in every state until the 1960s. So, what issues matter most to Native voters in Nevada today? In this month’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada, host Lucia Starbuck spoke to Indigenous community members from several different tribes, traveled to a reservation outside of Reno, and attended a powwow to get their thoughts. You can hear from Walker River Paiute Tribe members, including tribal activist Elveda Martinez and tri ..read more

Storey County manager Austin Osborne at his office at the Storey County courthouse in Virginia City, Nev., on Jan. 30, 2024.(Lucia Starbuck / KUNR Public Radio) Later this year, Tesla will have to start paying property taxes for the first time in 10 years. Nevada gave the electric car manufacturing company more than $1 billion in tax breaks in 2014 to build its gigafactory at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center in Storey County. Now, Storey County has big plans to upgrade its aging infrastructure and pay back some debt. This episode of KUNR Public Radio’s show Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia St ..read more

Nevada Democratic U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto in the Senate studio at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7, 2023. (Courtesy of Tony Hernandez) Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck is KUNR’s monthly show about Nevada politics and the 2024 election. This episode features Nevada Democratic U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and her health care accomplishments, thoughts on the clean energy debate, and how she says the party can re-energize the Latino vote. Click here for a transcript of the audio story. Web Overview The senator highlighted three main issues she tackled this ..read more

The homepage of Transparency in Politics.(Lucia Starbuck / KUNR Public Radio) Purple Politics Nevada with Lucia Starbuck is KUNR’s monthly show about Nevada politics and the 2024 election. This episode is about a lesser-known truth: political candidates don’t undergo background checks, and one Nevada-based organization’s efforts to change that. Click here for a transcript of the audio story. Episode Overview To file for candidacy in Nevada, a small list of conditions must be met that vary by office, including age and residency restrictions, one must be eligible to vote, and pay a filing fee. T ..read more

KUNR’s Lucia Starbuck (right) moderated a discussion with NPR’s Domenico Montanaro about Nevada politics and the 2024 election during KUNR’s 60th Anniversary event at Reno Little Theater in Reno, Nev., on Oct. 10, 2023.(Maria Palma / KUNR Public Radio) Purple Politics Nevada is back! Season 2 will focus on Nevada politics and the 2024 election. For the first episode, host Lucia Starbuck spoke with NPR’s senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro about the Silver State’s role in the 2024 election, the presidential primary, and issues on the minds of voters and candidates. Clic ..read more

Journalists Paul Boger (from left), Tabitha Mueller, Lucia Starbuck and Naoka Foreman prepare for Third House, a traditional spoof of the Nevada Legislature in Carson City, Nev. on June 1, 2023.(Joey Lovato / The Nevada Independent) Purple Politics Nevada is KUNR’s weekly show about the 2023 Nevada Legislative Session. In this week’s episode, KUNR news editor Vicki Adame is in the host seat to interview democracy reporter Lucia Starbuck about her experience covering the 2023 legislative session. Click here for a transcript of the audio story. Episode Overview This was Starbuck’s first time cov ..read more

KUNR’s Pints & Purple Politics event on Wednesday, June 14, in Reno, Nev., was moderated by Lucia Starbuck (from right) and featured Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar and Treasurer Zach Conine.(Maria Palma / KUNR Public Radio) KUNR held its third Pints & Purple Politics event tied to the 2023 Nevada Legislative Session on Wednesday at Reno Little Theater. Purple Politics Nevada host Lucia Starbuck moderated the conversation with two of Nevada’s top Democrats: Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar and Treasurer Zach Conine. This week’s episode of Purple Politics Nevada recaps the e ..read more

UNR President Brian Sandoval in Reno, Nev., on June 1, 2023.(Lucia Starbuck / KUNR Public Radio) Purple Politics Nevada is KUNR’s weekly show about the 2023 Nevada Legislative Session. In this week’s episode, host Lucia Starbuck speaks with former Republican Governor and current University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) President Brian Sandoval about the institution’s dual credit program, potential film study opportunities, and legislature-approved raises for state employees. Click here for a transcript of the audio story. Episode Overview Sandoval is nearing his third year as the head of the universit ..read more