As the 2024 election drew to a close, it became clear that Donald Trump’s return to the White House was bolstered by an unexpected but crucial victory: flipping Nevada from blue to red. The Silver State, which hadn’t gone Republican in two decades, became a focal point in Trump’s successful comeback.
At Howard University, however, supporters of Kamala Harris, who had hoped to make history as the first female president, quietly filed out after her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, announced that she would not be addressing them that night. The somber announcement underscored a night of frustration for Democrats, especially as Nevada, once a Democratic stronghold, slipped from their grasp.
For those crazy enough to be awake, Clark updated with 167K votes and it’s over for Harris in NV. What Trump did was remarkable and I couldn’t have (didn’t) predicted it: He played her to a draw in Clark w/900K votes counted. These indies are not who we thought they were.
— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) November 6, 2024
Nevada’s shift to Trump points to a broader story of economic discontent among voters, a theme that became a linchpin of his campaign. Trump’s “No Tax on Tips” proposal resonated deeply with Nevada’s service industry workers, from casino employees to hospitality staff, many of whom were hit hard by pandemic-era shutdowns and the inflation that followed. Even Harris had endorsed the proposal, acknowledging its appeal among voters concerned with rising costs and stagnant wages. Yet, despite her support for this policy, the economic message championed by Trump struck a deeper chord, particularly among working-class Nevadans who have seen their real income shrink under rising costs.
The economic pressures facing Nevada were significant: since 2021, inflation has forced the average Nevada family to pay nearly $1,200 more per month just to maintain their standard of living. Trump’s promise of economic stability and growth hearkened back to what many Nevadans viewed as the “good times” of his first term—a period marked by lower inflation and relative economic security.
Trump’s appearances in the state, from large rallies in Las Vegas to smaller business roundtables, reinforced his commitment to Nevada voters’ financial concerns, cementing his appeal among working-class voters feeling the pinch of high prices.
Trump’s victory in Nevada also highlighted the limitations of Harris’s strategy, which relied heavily on abortion rights as a core message. In Nevada, where abortion rights are protected by state law, Harris and her surrogates emphasized the importance of “reproductive freedom,” painting Trump as a threat to women’s autonomy.
However, many Nevada voters, while supportive of abortion rights, were more preoccupied with immediate financial challenges. The state’s pro-abortion constitutional amendment did attract support, but it wasn’t enough to shift the overall political tide in Harris’s favor.
Kamala Harris Campaign Co-Chair:
“You won’t hear from the Vice President tonight.” pic.twitter.com/m1sIsn7JqS
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) November 6, 2024
For many Nevadans, the economic issues loomed larger than social ones. Long-time Nevada residents and recent California transplants alike voiced concerns about inflation, gas prices, and grocery costs, each of which had eroded their financial well-being. Mesquite resident Sue Berkey, for instance, cited inflation’s effect on her family’s finances despite recent gains from selling property.
Like many others, Berkey saw Trump as the answer to the nation’s economic woes, viewing his policies as a return to stability. Another voter, Wally Pousy, shared similar sentiments, saying he and his wife had seen little financial improvement over the past four years and were hopeful that Trump could turn things around.
