Amid ongoing controversies over election administration, Nevadans will choose their next secretary of state — the official who oversees election procedures and certifies statewide results.
Democratic incumbent Cisco Aguilar will face Republican Jim Marchant — a well-known election denier.
The race is critical because the position oversees voting in Nevada, a key battleground state. If Marchant wins, it could reshape how Nevada administers — and certifies results — for the 2028 presidential election.
History between the two
It’s not the first time Aguilar and Marchant have faced off. Both ran for the seat in 2022 and Aguilar won the election by roughly 23,100 votes.
During Aguilar’s tenure, he’s advanced efforts to improve voter turnout and streamline election administration. He also helped pass a 2023 law that makes it a felony to harass election officials, led the Silver State through the 2024 presidential election and organized a polling location at Allegiant Stadium, expanded language-access support and increased young voter turnout above the national average.
Nevada ranks second in the nation for election security.
“Nevada is a national leader in running safe, secure and accessible elections,” said Aguilar. “Since I took office in 2023, we have strengthened cybersecurity, improved processes for in-person and mail voting, and increased transparency for the public.”
Marchant, on the other hand, plans to fundamentally reshape the current election system in Nevada. If elected, he’s promised to:
- Implement strict voter ID rules requiring proof of citizenship
- End electronic voting machines and restore paper ballots
- Require hand-counted ballots
- Require all Nevada voters to re-register
- Advocate for single day voting
Marchant served in the Nevada State Assembly from 2016 to 2018. In 2020, he unsuccessfully ran to try to unseat Rep. Steven Horsford (D). He alleged voter fraud and sued to overturn the result, but the judge rejected the request.
During the 2020 election, former President Joe Biden won Nevada by fewer than 34,000 votes. Marchant said that if he had been in office then, he wouldn’t have certified the results.
He was later photographed with state Republican officials holding a fake election certificate that falsely claimed President Donald Trump won Nevada.
What it means for voters
Nevada is also navigating tensions with the Trump administration.
In December, the Trump administration sued Nevada to obtain residents’ personal information, including driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers. Aguilar called the request an “unprecedented” intimidation tactic to obtain sensitive voter information.
On July 7, the Justice Department sent letters to state election officials across the country, warning that if noncitizens vote during the midterms, officials could face criminal penalties.
The administration continued to escalate tensions, as Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Aguilar that up to 15,903 non-citizens might be registered to vote in a July 17 letter. Aguilar asked for proof of data, but federal officials have not provided additional detail.
The Secretary of State seat is one Republicans are vying to win — especially in Nevada as the swing state will help decide who wins the 2028 presidential election. If Marchant is elected, he has indicated he will support the Trump administration’s efforts to implement stricter voting laws, as the Save America Act has stalled in the Senate.
At Trump’s Aug. 5 rally in Las Vegas, he urged constituents to elect his endorsed candidates this November and specifically gave a shout out to Marchant.
“A very special man, I wish you’d get him in office because he’s incredible,” Trump said. “I’ve known him so long and he’s got to get in.”
Early voting runs from Saturday, Oct. 17 through Friday, Oct. 30.
Nevadans can also vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nevada allows same-day voter registration, and anyone in line by 7 p.m. can still vote, even after polls close.
