The madness begins a year out as the first candidates throw their names into the ring. As the months unfold, more join the fray and announce their candidacies for local, statewide or federal offices. Then it's all about drumming up dollars to pay for those attack ads; knocking on doors to turn out the base; and repeating their favored campaign lines in any public venue. Welcome to an election year — a misleading term given the pomp and circumstance that begins well before the calendar hits Jan. 1.

A heated gubernatorial race, some crowded congressional battles and a big underlying question — will people pack the polls in protest of President Trump? — have made Nevada's primary races a riveting show. And it's only just begun.

But before the craziness intensifies heading into the November general election, here's a look back at the first half of the cycle. Nevada Independent photographer Jeff Scheid captured scenes from the primary campaign trail.