Swing state primary reveals deep frustration: No 'tangible dream anymore'

Outside a voting center in Downtown Summerlin in Las Vegas Tuesday, Democratic voter Lenny Lither said he sees problems with both Democrats and Republicans when it comes to solving economic issues.

“The economy’s not great right now,” Lither said. “I don’t want us to go more into war with Iran than we already [are]. I want us to focus on the economy here at home, and I don’t feel we are. I don’t feel like either side has really shown me a plan…”

Lither isn’t alone. The Nevada Current spoke to voters as they cast their ballots in Tuesday’s primary election. Many said the state of the national economy is at the forefront of their minds. The rising cost of food, housing, and gas are causing anxiety among voters, and they are looking for candidates who are willing to find solutions.

As the U.S. enters four months into the ongoing war with Iran, Donald Trump has seemingly no plan to end the conflict anytime soon. After repeated promises of peace treaties, followed by continuous attacks even as a cease fire has been declared, Trump has failed to pinpoint the end of the war.

“You know, even with gas prices, [Nevada’s] governor was like ‘oh yeah gas prices are bad here ‘cause of Governor Newsom’,” Lither said in reference to comments Joe Lombardo has made. “Like, no, this is Nevada, gas prices were up when we interfered with Iran, it’s kind of related to that. We need solutions to the problems now…I want to see either side show me something.”

Lither, a Clark County School District parent who unsuccessfully ran for the school board in 2024, said he is also worried about education. While Lither did mention voting for Susie Lee in the primaries, he said he’s “not a big fan of her” and wishes Democrats had better messaging.

Another Nevadan voter who showed up at Downtown Summerlin’s polling center, Jose Rivera, had similar apprehensions towards both parties and has been “extremely frustrated” with Trump’s administration.

“Nothing is tangible for us working-class Americans,” Rivera said. “Whether you’re trying to pursue education, whether you’re trying to buy a home, there’s no realistic, tangible dream anymore. I would say that’s what I’m most frustrated about.”

Rivera feels Democrats will have a good year if they play their cards right.

“I think it’s pretty much their game if they do the right thing,” he said. “But… Democrats also haven’t been transparent about what they’re doing… I think somebody refreshing, that’s not left or right, needs to come out, because I feel like that’s where we all are, in between.”

Down at Desert Breeze Community Center voting center, Leslie Quinn was campaigning for her husband, Kelly Quinn, a Republican running in Nevada State Assembly District 5. (Kelly Quinn won the Republican primary and will advance to the general election against a Democratic incumbent, Assemblywoman Britteny Miller.)

“Public safety is very important, family, making sure parents have rights, making sure women stay in women’s sports,” Leslie Quinn responded when asked about the most important issues concerning her. “I mean, there’s a lot [about] the economy, just having balance, and really stopping Trump derangement syndrome because he’s our president, and people are going insane without supporting him.”

Leslie Quinn also said she’s looking for candidates who are freethinkers and align with her values.

“Let’s make America first,” she added. “Let’s make America healthy again, and let’s stop hating each other.”

While most voters the Current talked to were concerned about the economy, others were more concerned about finding candidates who support Trump and will stand behind him. Some voters also said the nation needs to be patient for things to turn around and put faith in the current administration.

One voter at Desert Breeze, Sompi Harmetz, who moved from Florida to Las Vegas, says she’s more focused on local issues going into the midterm elections.

“One of the biggest things for me right now is expansion of AI data centers,” Harmetz said. “[I] do not want them in Vegas, it’s like really upsetting seeing them popping up, and especially seeing the amount of stuff popping up in Reno right now. Just environmentally, I think it’s gross.”

Public alarm over the proliferation of data centers — the Reno City Council recently extended a moratorium on them — has become a political issue throughout the country.

Harmetz also shared how she would like to see the midterm results affect the nation’s political trajectory.

“I really hope that we swing more blue, but even more than just blue, just more progressive in general,” Harmetz said. “I hope we just swing more and more towards progressive candidates. We’ve seen how much change (Mayor Zohran) Mamdani has done in New York, and it totally has shown a model that it’s possible to not just constantly vote for the establishment Democrats every single time.”