Republicans outnumber Democrats in Nevada, a key swing state, for the first time since 2007, the secretary of state's office confirmed to Newsweek on Tuesday.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump was the first Republican to win Nevada at the presidential level in two decades in the 2024 presidential race, ending nearly two decades of Democratic dominance in the Silver State.
His strength among Hispanic voters, who once backed Democrats by large margins, helped him narrowly flip the state against Vice President Kamala Harris, though Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen also won reelection on the same ballot. Nevada is expected to remain closely contested by both major parties for the foreseeable future, but the change suggests Republicans may continue to be competitive in the state.
What to Know
As of Tuesday, there were 618,286 Democrats and 618,385 Republicans in Nevada, a spokesperson for the secretary of state's office said. But unaffiliated voters, those who do not identify with any party, remained the largest group at 693,459 voters.
Republicans last held a registration advantage over Democrats in Nevada in March 2007. Democrats held a comfortable margin over Republicans throughout the 2010s and early 2020s.
Newsweek reached out to the Nevada Democratic and Republican parties for comment via email.
Nevada has been a swing state since the 1990s, backing both Democrats and Republicans. In the most recent elections, former President Barack Obama won the most convincing victories, carrying the Silver State by 12.5 points in 2008 and 6.7 points in 2012.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Joe Biden won by smaller margins in 2016 and 2020, both winning by 2.4 percentage points.
Trump flipped it in 2024 with a 3.1-point margin of victory. His improvement among Hispanic voters, as well as his appeal to union voters by pledging to end taxes on tips, have been credited with helping him make inroads with Nevada voters who previously backed Democrats.
What People Are Saying
Nevada State Democratic Party Executive Director Hilary Barrett, in a statement to Newsweek: "Nevada is a battleground state where nonpartisan voters decide elections, which is why we invest in year-round organizing focused on both turning out Democrats and earning support from nonpartisans and moderate Republicans. Nevada Democrats have been laser-focused on talking directly to the growing number of registered nonpartisans and making sure we are mobilizing the broad and diverse coalitions we need to win."
Alexander Watson, Nevada Republican Party Executive Director, in a statement to Newsweek: "Under the leadership of Chairman Michael J. McDonald, we've seen incredible progress in building a stronger Republican coalition, thanks in no small part to our 2024 voter registration efforts and the critical contributions of organizations like America PAC and Turning Point USA. Looking ahead to 2026, the NVGOP remains committed to expanding our reach, promoting policies that resonate with Nevadans, and ensuring our state moves forward with strong conservative values."
Jon Ralston, CEO Of The Nevada Independent, on X: "That is, a year and a half before The Reid Machine Golden Age for NV Dems began in the 2008 election here, with Obama breaking decades of Dem losses at presidential level and starting a four-cycle streak broken by Trump last year. Watershed moment for GOP."
Eric Michael Garcia, The Independent D.C. bureau chief, on X: "Real heads know I have been saying the Latino realignment is real and Nevada would be ground zero."
What Happens Next
The Nevada Secretary of State's office is set to release more detailed information about voter registration numbers at the start of February, potentially shedding light on where in the state Republicans are gaining.
In 2026, Democrats are expected to try to unseat Republican Governor Joe Lombardo, who was first elected in the 2022 midterms. There is no Senate race next year.
All three of the House seats won by Democrats were decided by the single digits last year, but it's yet to be seen how competitive those will be in a Trump midterm when Democrats anticipate making gains in the House.
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