Carson City incumbents secure victories as Nevada's blue wave hits

Carson City Voters Keep Incumbents Despite ‘Blue Wave’ Elsewhere

While Nevada saw a powerful shift toward Democratic candidates in key statewide and federal races, voters in Carson City sent a clear, local message: they’re sticking with their current leaders. The Nevada Appeal reported Wednesday that despite a national political climate favoring Democrats, Carson City’s incumbent sheriff, supervisors, and state senator all secured decisive victories in their races.

Incumbents Hold Firm

The results reveal a stark contrast between national trends and local politics. Sheriff Kenny Furlong, a 41-year-old veteran seeking his seventh term, was handily re-elected with 65% of the vote over former deputy Don Gibson. Similarly, incumbent Ward 3 Supervisor Curtis Horton won a second term with 54% of the vote against challenger Mayita Sanchez. These non-partisan races suggest a focus on established leadership and experience at the municipal level.

State Sen. Lisa Krasner (R) also successfully defended her seat in District 16, which includes Carson City, parts of Washoe County, and all of Storey County. Krasner won 54% to 46% over Democratic challenger Chrystal Roll. In Carson City specifically, her margin was narrower, 52-48%, but it was enough to secure another term. Krasner, who first won the seat in 2022 with a 58.8% to 38% victory, stated in a text message, “I will continue to work on common sense legislation that benefits all of the people of Nevada.”

The trend extended to the state House seat being vacated by four-term Assemblyman P.K. O’Neill (R). Republican Julie Butler, running for her first public office, was leading Democrat Oscar Fuentes, 54-46%. The district, mirroring the Senate district’s boundaries, also saw a slight preference for Butler within Carson City itself, with a 52-48% split. “I feel pretty good about it,” Butler said Wednesday. “There’s still a lot of outstanding ballots. It seems very promising.”

New DA, New Judge, Old Courthouse Space Problem

In another significant local result, Carson City Deputy District Attorney Kelly Brandon will become the next district attorney, topping local public defender David Bailey, 55-45. Brandon, who was seeking her first public office, said her apparent 10% margin of victory wasn’t a surprise. “David ran a good campaign. He’s an attorney I work with regularly,” she noted.

Brandon’s ascension comes as part of a transition, as District Attorney Garrit Pruyt prepares to become Carson City’s third justice of the peace and city municipal judge. Pruyt also won his race decisively, 65-35% over Gene Munnings. This new judicial seat was created by population growth, a fact that shows the city's ongoing development challenges.

The transition brings a pressing issue to the forefront: a critical space crunch in the courthouse. Pruyt had previously told the Appeal he would likely be holding court in one of five locations within the building. “We’ve been in conversations for months in preparation … and are close to having a resolution that works,” Brandon said, referring to the logistical puzzle. She confirmed that Pruyt will primarily use a specialty courtroom on the third floor, with overflow plans for other courtrooms on the second and third floors if needed. The team is also working on clear signage to direct the public, especially victims and witnesses, to the correct courtroom starting in January.

The need for more public space extends beyond the courthouse. Supervisor Horton, who won a tighter race this time (54-46%) compared to his 60-40% victory in 2022, will be tasked with coming up with a solution for city hall or finding more space for the clerk-recorder’s office. Horton acknowledged the closer race but remained positive. “It’s pretty close to what I thought it would be,” he said. “Both of us did a good job.” His challenger, Sanchez, a nonprofit consultant, praised the high voter turnout, which she heard was around 60%. “I’m so happy to see the engagement in Carson City,” she said. “I’m a little bummed it didn’t go my way.” The official turnout, as reported by Clerk-Recorder Scott Hoen, was 62.4%.

“The result is a reflection on the sheriff and all of the employees here and how well they perform and how the community perceives their services.” — Sheriff Kenny Furlong

For Furlong, the community’s support is a clear validation of his office’s work. He is “very happy the community is so supportive of what we’re doing and how we’re doing it.” He added that the result is a reflection on his entire team.

City Re-Elects Administrative Incumbents Unopposed

Not all races in Carson City were competitive. Clerk-Recorder Scott Hoen, Assessor Kim Adams, Treasurer Andrew Rasor, and Supervisor Stacey Giomi were all re-elected unopposed, highlighting a lack of organized opposition for these key administrative roles. Two District Court judges, Kristin Luis and Jason Woodbury, were also elected to six-year terms. They were appointed by Gov. Joe Lombardo in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and their election confirms their tenure on the bench.

Carson City did not reject its local incumbents, instead choosing continuity. Yet, the city’s votes for higher office—U.S. House and state constitutional positions—aligned with the broader ‘blue wave’.