Reno’s primary election results: Major upsets, City Hall shakeups and what's next

Reno voters delivered a strong message in the 2026 primary election, and the results could reshape local government for years to come. This Is Reno editors Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad analyze the mayoral race, county commission contests, school board elections and the surprising defeat of some incumbents. 

We also discuss the backlash over a proposal involving Reno's City Plaza, summer heat concerns, Washoe County School District decisions and efforts to improve Nevada's public records laws. Throughout the episode, they examine how local issues are influencing voter sentiment and what those changes could mean heading into November.

Listen to this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, BuzzSprout and KWNK Community Radio at 97.7 FM every Sunday at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Reno voters: A desire for change
The biggest story of the election was Kate Marshall's dominant performance in the Reno mayoral race. She is headed for a runoff against Council member Kathleen Taylor, but her commanding primary lead over the rest of the field suggests many voters are looking for a new direction at City Hall. We discuss the struggles of incumbent-backed candidates, public frustration with development issues and whether growing dissatisfaction with the status quo contributed to the results.

Several local contests remained too close to call at the time of recording, including Reno's Ward 2 council race and a Washoe County School Board seat. We note that Reno's political landscape may look considerably different by the end of the year.

DA’s race: A major upset
One of the most consequential races was challenger Wes Duncan's strong showing against longtime Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks. We outline the concerns raised during the campaign about prosecution policies, court backlogs and leadership within the district attorney's office. The race, we argue, reflected dissatisfaction from a broad coalition of groups that do not often find themselves aligned politically.

Surprises emerge across county and statewide contests
We also discuss several unexpected outcomes including Mike Clark's apparent defeat in the Washoe County Commission race, Teresa Benitez-Thompson's wide lead among Democrats in the Congressional District 2 primary and the emergence of key statewide matchups all signal an eventful election season ahead. 

City Plaza proposal sparks community backlash
A controversial proposal involving Reno's City Plaza generated some of the strongest public reactions we have seen in some time. Bob discusses why residents pushed back so forcefully against the idea presented by The Eddy’s owners, the plaza's role as a community gathering space and what the debate reveals about public attitudes toward downtown redevelopment. 

Summer heat returns early
Summer is healing up with the region seeing July temperatures in mid-June. Kristen covers local cooling resources, fan distribution programs for seniors and practical advice for avoiding heat-related illnesses. We also mention sun hoodies as an underrated survival tool during Reno's hottest months.

School district approves key contracts and projects
Several big decisions were made by the Washoe County School District, including approval of Superintendent Tiffany McMaster's contract and plans for future facilities projects. We clarify confusion surrounding WC-1 funding and explain what district leaders approved regarding administrative facilities and the long-term future of Wooster High School.

Redevelopment agency changes
Attention then turns to governance changes at the Reno Redevelopment Agency. Kristen highlights changes that will allow the city manager to designate an executive director for the agency and concerns about oversight, contracting authority and accountability. 

Public records debate continues at the state level
We conclude with Bob’s update on Nevada's Public Records Task Force and ongoing efforts to strengthen transparency. Bob mentions tension between government agencies and public records requesters, and we argue that transparency remains one of the most important issues facing government at every level.

This summary was generated with the assistance of AI and edited by us.