Aguilar Files Monday
Democrat Cisco Aguilar is expected to file for re-election as Nevada's Secretary of State on Monday. He won the office in 2022 by just two percentage points. In a purple state like Nevada, that's an open invitation for a serious Republican challenge.
So far, that challenge hasn't shown up.
Who's In
Two Republicans have filed in the primary. Sharron Angle, the 75-year-old former Nevada Assemblywoman, is one of them. She's been a fixture in Nevada conservative circles for a long time. But her track record at the ballot box is a real concern.
In 2010, she gained national attention running against Harry Reid for U.S. Senate — and lost.
In 2016, she ran again for U.S. Senate after Reid's retirement but failed to win the Republican primary. In 2018, she challenged Mark Amodei for Nevada's 2nd Congressional District and lost in the primary. Most recently in 2024, she ran for Nevada State Senate District 15 and lost in the Republican primary.
Nobody questions her conservative principles. But four consecutive losses don't exactly inspire the donor confidence needed to beat a well-funded incumbent.
The other Republican who has filed is Shirley Folkins-Roberts, a Reno attorney and commercial real estate professional. She also co-founded a nonprofit dedicated to helping children battling cancer — which speaks to her character and her roots in the community.
She came out swinging when she filed. 
“I am excited to announce that this morning I officially filed to run for Nevada Secretary of State,” Folkins-Roberts said.
“This campaign is about restoring trust, strengthening Nevada's future, and getting to work for the people of our state. As a proven and experienced businesswoman, nonprofit leader, and attorney, I look forward to earning your vote on June 9th!”
That's an encouraging message. But enthusiasm alone won't close the gap in a statewide race. Name recognition matters, and outside of Reno she's largely unknown.
The filing deadline is this Friday, March 13.
Why This Race Is Too Important to Sleepwalk Through
Think of the Secretary of State as the referee of Nevada's elections. Voter registration, ballot counting, voter roll maintenance — it all runs through this office. Whoever holds it shapes how elections actually work in this state.
Nevada voters will head to the polls again on Voter ID — a measure that 73 percent of voters already approved when it was last on the ballot. How that measure gets implemented could depend significantly on who sits in the Secretary of State's chair.
That's a massive issue. And Aguilar has opposed voter ID. He's the one who will implement it — or slow-walk it — if he wins re-election.
The secretary of state's office has also been the subject of multiple GOP-led lawsuits alleging the state is insufficiently maintaining its voter rolls. Groups like Citizen Outreach's Pigpen Project have been pushing hard for cleaner voter rolls across Nevada. This office is ground zero for that fight.
Aguilar Is Playing Offense
While Republicans are still sorting out who's even running, Aguilar has been busy building a national operation.
He is now serving as Chair of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, a national group that has announced plans to spend $40 million to elect Democrats to secretary of state offices across the country ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
He's not just running for re-election. He's running as part of a national Democratic strategy to lock down election offices across America before the next presidential race. That should alarm every Nevada conservative.
The Mail Ballot Problem Isn't Going Away
There's more on the line here than just voter ID. Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day can be counted as long as they are received up to four days after Election Day. Aguilar has not sought to change these rules.
Nevada also consistently takes longer than most states to finalize results, a source of ongoing frustration and doubt among voters who want transparency and speed.
A different Secretary of State could push to change that. But only if the right person gets elected.
The Clock Is Ticking
The filing deadline is Friday, March 13. After that, the field is set.
If a well-known, well-funded conservative doesn't step up before that window closes, Republicans could be heading into November with a significant disadvantage against an incumbent who's actively backed by a national Democratic money machine.
This seat is winnable. Aguilar barely held it last time. But winnable races require credible candidates.
Nevada conservatives should be asking their leaders loudly and clearly: Who is going to run?
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
