Here's what happened in Northern Nevada's local government primaries

Northern Nevada's local government primary saw the longtime top prosecutor in the state's second largest county lose to his first ever challenger.

It also saw a candidate easily advance to the general election for Reno mayor, and another one likely to join her. A sitting county commissioner also lost in the primary, and general election candidates became clear in some city council races. 

Read below for the details, takeaways and insights from candidates. You can also click the links below to scroll to a specific section.

• Reno mayor
• Washoe district attorney
• Washoe County Commission
• Sparks

Kate Marshall advances in Reno mayoral race; Kathleen Taylor likely to join her

When the initial batch of results came in Tuesday evening, it was clear Kate Marshall would head to the Reno mayoral general election.

Marshall, a Democrat and former state lieutenant governor and treasurer, had about 45 percent of the vote as of midday Wednesday, more than double any other candidate. She has been fundraising for the race for more than two years and scored endorsements from myriad unions and progressive groups

"I was very honored to see the results that we have seen so far, and humbled because it is a pretty strong voice from the people of Reno," Marshall said in an interview.

Her campaign has focused on accountability — she wants to do an audit of city programs — and fiscal responsibility. Reno's budget is on track for cash flow issues beginning in 2030.

"That message of recognizing where people are and having a positive vision going forward resonated," she said.

The race to join Marshall on the November general election ballot is coming down to City Councilmember Kathleen Taylor and perennial mayoral candidate George "Eddie" Lorton, both of whom are registered Republicans.

As of early Wednesday evening, Taylor has consistently maintained a several-hundred-vote lead over Lorton, but there are still votes outstanding. 

Taylor's campaign said Wednesday morning it would not be commenting until more results came in.

Lorton did not comment on the results but he posted on Facebook before the latest update to the vote count that "one ballot dump can change everything." He also said he wished Gov. Joe Lombardo (R), who endorsed Taylor, had stayed out of the race.

City Councilmember Devon Reese finished a distant fourth, with about half the number of votes as Lorton.

In an interview Wednesday morning, Reese said he would not have changed anything about his campaign, calling the winners "just better candidates." He added that part of his loss could be attributed to the fact that he is a council member.

"I thought the message was good, the vision was good," he said. "It just didn't seem to connect with the group of voters who connect with me normally."

Reese, who was in good spirits, did not weigh in on the general election, but called Taylor and Marshall "smart" with "a heart for Reno."

"My life is very full and complete," he said. "I'm a pretty glass half full kind of guy. A lot of people have said, 'Are you sad?' I'm not sad."

Because Reese was not up for re-election this year, he will retain his seat on the council.

However, city council will get one new face representing Ward 2, which covers midtown Reno. Former brewery owner Matt Johnson and construction company co-owner Summer Pellett will advance to the general election.

Vanessa Vaupel, a pharmacist endorsed by outgoing Councilmember Naomi Duerr, finished third.

Longtime DA loses to first-ever electoral challenger

Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks had never faced an electoral opponent since taking office a dozen years ago — and his first ever contested election didn't go well.

As of early Wednesday evening, Sparks City Attorney Wes Duncan held a commanding 6,000-vote lead over Hicks in the GOP primary for the seat.

Because no other candidates are running, Duncan will automatically win the November general election.

Hicks' campaign declined an interview but referred to a statement released Wednesday.

"Elections come and go, but some things remain constant: the importance of integrity, the value of experience, the strength of conviction, and a commitment to justice," said the statement, which did not mention Duncan. "Those principles guided every decision I made as District Attorney, and they will continue to guide me for the remainder of my term."

His victory guarantees the end of a controversial plea bargaining and charging policy Hicks rolled out a few years ago. Under it, defendants are expected to plead guilty to the most serious charge they face, or agree to a trial. It also limits prosecutors to only charging suspects they can prove committed crimes "beyond a reasonable doubt."

Because fewer people are pleading guilty, there has been a surge in criminal trials — which critics say bogs down the judicial system — and an increase in decisions to not charge suspects who have been arrested.

In an interview Wednesday, Duncan said his first priority is rescinding the policy. He also wants to review cases where charges were not pursued, offer more training for law enforcement and conduct a regional approach to homelessness that involves connecting people to services, while also "enforcing the law."

"[I'm] hearing from the business community but also just residents, who want to go to a downtown Reno and feel safe," he said.

Citing FBI data, Duncan has said the region has become less safe in recent years. But other data collected by local agencies shows violent crime in Washoe County has been slightly down across the past few years.

It was one of the most bitter primaries this year, including personal attacks, allegations of nepotism and carpetbagging, as well as disputes over whether Nevada's second largest county is getting safer. 

Asked whether he regrets the tone of his campaign, Duncan said "politics is a full-contact sport." He added he wishes Hicks well, though he had not heard from him as of early afternoon Wednesday.

"Being district attorney is not an easy job … and so I thank him for what'll be 12 years of service to our community," he said.

Incumbent Washoe County commissioner loses

Mike Clark, a Republican county commissioner representing South Reno, handily lost his first bid for re-election. 

As of Wednesday, he was trailing former broadcast journalist Jon Killoran by more than 1,000 votes. Killoran is also the CEO of the Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition.

The results were not too surprising given that Killoran has raised significantly more money than Clark. The Washoe County Republican Party also declined to endorse Clark's re-election bid.

A majority of the votes on the five-member Washoe County Commission are unanimous, but Clark's departure could still have ramifications. One notable decision he made was abstaining from certifying the county's 2024 election results, saying that certain votes were not counted.

In the general election, Killoran will face Democrat Marie Rodriguez, a community services officer for the Reno Police Department.

Navy veteran Rob Pierce also easily won the race for Washoe County Commission District 5, which represents the northern part of the county. He will face Democrat Brian Wadsworth in November.

General elections set in some (but not all) Sparks elections

Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson, who has been in office since 2020, easily secured a spot in the general election.

He will face Wendi Rawson, who owns a winery in Sparks. She received endorsements from the Washoe County GOP and Washoe Freedom Coalition, a group focused on electing conservatives. Charlene Bybee, a Sparks city councilmember, finished third in her mayoral bid.

In the race for Sparks City Council Ward 4, Adam Mayberry easily won the primary and will likely automatically take office after exceeding 50 percent as of midday Wednesday. He is a spokesman for the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and trustee for the Washoe County School Board.

The race for Sparks City Council Ward 2 was too close to call Wednesday. Three candidates are separated by about 40 votes.