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VICTOR JOECKS: Statewide Nevada primaries to watch this June

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VICTOR JOECKS: Statewide Nevada primaries to watch this June


Nevada’s June primary is likely to be a low-turnout affair, but there should be high interest in a few statewide races.

Start with the race for attorney general on the Democratic side. Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro is running against Treasurer Zach Conine. It’s unusual for two high-profile Democrats to face each other. You can hear the remnants of the Reid machine groaning.

As Senate majority leader, Cannizzaro has more power. But as a statewide elected official, Conine has a bigger profile. Nevada Democrats who lived here in 2022 have likely already voted for him. It may not seem like much, but that matters.

Cannizzaro has leveraged her position to gain a slew of endorsements and amass a substantial war chest. At the end of last year, she had more than $800,000 cash on hand. Conine had around $650,000 in the bank. That’s sizable. He has some notable endorsements, including Rep. Dina Titus.

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Republicans also have a contested race for attorney general. Douglas County Commissioner Danny Tarkanian, the son of legendary UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, is running. So is Adriana Guzmán Fralick, who previously served as chief deputy district attorney for Carson City.

A recent poll showed that Tarkanian has a substantial lead, 55–17. Even if you are skeptical of polling promoted by campaigns, this makes sense given his last name and previous runs in Southern Nevada.

Guzmán Fralick recently called for current Attorney General Aaron Ford to sue Gov. Gavin Newsom. She wants “to halt the implementation of California’s fuel supply regulations that directly harm Nevada.”

That is a terrific idea. How many Republican primary voters will find out about it is yet to be determined. Gov. Joe Lombardo has endorsed Guzmán Fralick, but I believe she’ll need more substantial outside help to be competitive.

There’s more at stake here than just stopping a Democrat attorney general from repeatedly suing the Trump administration. If Cannizzaro or Conine wins the general election, either would be well positioned to run for governor in 2030 or 2034.

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Republicans have a contested primary for state treasurer. Drew Johnson is a rock-solid fiscal conservative who lost heartbreaking races in 2022 and 2024. His wife, Sarah Johnson, was instrumental in the successful effort to keep boys out of girls’ high school sports. That was one of the biggest conservative victories in Nevada in decades. I believe Democrats defunded her position in the lieutenant governor’s office over her work on this.

The other GOP candidate for treasurer is Jeff Carter, who came to Nevada from Chicago after a long and impressive career in finance. He should have run on his resume, but this year, Carter took a nasty personal swipe at Sarah Johnson. He demeaned her infertility and the price she paid for protecting women’s sports. Those types of attacks may play well in Chicago, but they’re gross. Carter should apologize.

It’ll be a long shot for a Republican to win the secretary of state race, but nominating Jim Marchant would be a major own goal.

Primaries matter, so make sure you vote.

Contact Victor Joecks at vjoecks@reviewjournal.com. Follow @victorjoecks on X.

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Northern Nevada nonprofits lose thousands in missing donations after fundraising collapse

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Northern Nevada nonprofits lose thousands in missing donations after fundraising collapse


At least a dozen northern Nevada nonprofits are scrambling to recover after a nationwide fundraising platform failed to deliver thousands of dollars in donations, leaving critical community programs at risk.

Oakland-based Flipcause, a company that processed online donations for nonprofits, is accused of withholding funds before filing for bankruptcy in December. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has since issued a cease-and-desist order, halting the company’s charitable operations.

Officials say more than 3,200 nonprofits nationwide are affected, with over $29 million in donations unaccounted for.

At least 12 organizations in northern Nevada are among them — each now facing financial losses.

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The Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada reports losing $33,602. Other impacted groups include:

  • JUSTin Hope Foundation — $8,463
  • Larena Smith Bengoa Run — $7,338
  • Nevada Hands & Voices — $6,283
  • Cancer Community Clubhouse — $5,672
  • Sustainable Tahoe — $1,487
  • Urban Cowgirl — $1,262
  • I School — $1,050
  • Reno Tahoe Athletics — $834
  • Transgender Allies Group — $500
  • Fire & Ice Horse Training — $201
  • Nevada Humanities — $142
Staff work with clients at the Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada (News 4)

For the Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada, the loss is immediate and deeply personal.

“We’ve lost about 30% of our operating budget for this year,” said Christina Ugalde, the Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada.

The nonprofit provides support and programming for hundreds of families in northern Nevada through grants and community support.

“We are funded about 90% by individual donations,” Ugalde said. “So what’s happened to us has been absolutely devastating.”

The organization has served the region for nearly two decades, offering social programs, events and resources for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

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“For our families, it is so important that they feel a part of the community,” Ugalde said. “Getting the diagnosis of Down syndrome can be a very isolating thing for a lot of families.”

Some of the now missing funds were raised during the group’s largest annual fundraiser in September, the Buddy Walk. Ugalde said the organization submitted a request for the money, which typically arrives within 10 business days.

“It didn’t,” she said.

Instead, she says Flipcause repeatedly assured her the funds were on the way.

“They came back with all sorts of responses the money was on its way,” Ugalde said.

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Weeks turned into months. Then came the bankruptcy filing — with no warning to many nonprofits still waiting for their money.

“We’re out $33,602,” Ugalde said. “That affects all of our families and the individuals that have Down syndrome with the amount of events that we’re able to put on.”

Despite the financial strain, she says the organization is determined to continue serving families — even as uncertainty remains about whether any funds will be recovered.

“I would love for everyone to get their money back,” Ugalde said. “I hope that through the bankruptcy process, we get something back.”

The California Attorney General’s Office is urging affected nonprofits to file complaints as part of the ongoing investigation.

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In the meantime, organizations across northern Nevada are turning to their communities for help — hoping to replace what was lost and keep essential programs running.

For families who rely on those services, the stakes are deeply personal.

“These programs mean connection, support and belonging,” Ugalde said. “We don’t want that to go away.”



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Motorcyclist killed in Las Vegas Valley crash

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Motorcyclist killed in Las Vegas Valley crash












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