Big Government Democrat Seeks Control of Biggest Little City
Picture this: you’re having coffee with your neighbor, and they tell you a career politician who spent years growing government wants to run your city. That’s exactly what’s happening in Reno right now.
Democrat Kate Marshall is mulling a run for the Mayor of Reno and has begun fundraising for her 2026 nonpartisan bid. While Reno’s mayoral race is technically nonpartisan, Marshall’s long history as a Democratic Party insider tells us everything we need to know about her approach to government.
Who Is Kate Marshall?
Marshall isn’t some fresh face bringing new ideas to city hall.
She’s a 30-year government veteran who’s bounced between different offices like a pinball. Marshall was first elected Nevada state treasurer in 2006 and assumed office in January 2007. Marshall won re-election to her second, and final, four-year term on November 2, 2010.
But here’s where it gets interesting for conservatives who believe in limited government. “As treasurer, Kate Marshall recklessly gambled away $50 million in Nevada taxpayer dollars on Wall Street,” according to criticism from the National Republican Campaign Committee during her failed 2011 congressional run.
Her career path reads like a textbook example of a career politician. After being term-limited out as treasurer, she ran for Secretary of State in 2014 and lost. Then she ran for Lieutenant Governor in 2018 and won. She resigned as lieutenant governor on September 17, 2021 to join the Biden administration’s White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
This isn’t just about one city election. It’s about a fundamental choice between two very different visions of government.
Marshall represents the big-government approach that conservatives have fought against for decades. Her resume shows someone who sees government as the solution to every problem. She’s jumped from state treasurer to failed congressional candidate to lieutenant governor to Biden administration official. That’s not public service; that’s political careerism.
According to financial records filed with the Secretary of State, Marshall has $116,000 cash on hand with contributions from her Democratic colleagues: Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, Treasurer Zach Conine’s “Let’s Get to Work Nevada” PAC, Attorney General Aaron Ford and former Assemblyman David Goldwater.
When the Democratic Party establishment is funding your “nonpartisan” campaign, that tells you everything about their real agenda.
The Schieve Legacy Ends
Hillary Schieve is the Mayor of Reno in Nevada. Her current term ends in 2026. While Schieve ran as a nonpartisan, this will be Schieve’s third and final role as Reno Mayor because of term limits.
Say what you will about Schieve’s policies, but at least she wasn’t a career politician when she first ran. Before being elected Mayor, Hillary was elected as At-Large Reno City Council Member on November 6, 2012. Hillary is a registered nonpartisan and is not affiliated with any political party. She was a local business owner who got frustrated with red tape and decided to do something about it.
What Critics Are Saying
Supporters of Marshall point to her experience in state government. They argue that her knowledge of how state and local governments work together will help Reno navigate complex issues like housing and infrastructure.
But here’s the problem with that argument: Marshall’s “experience” is exactly what’s wrong with government today. She represents the revolving door between elected office, appointed positions, and political influence. That’s not the kind of leadership that will shrink government or protect taxpayers.
The Bottom Line
Reno voters will have a clear choice in 2026. They can elect someone whose entire adult life has been spent in government positions, jumping from office to office with the backing of the Democratic Party machine. Or they can look for fresh leadership that understands the proper role of local government.
For conservatives who believe in limited government, the choice should be obvious. Cities work best when they focus on basic services like public safety, infrastructure, and fair regulation, not when they become laboratories for big-government experiments run by career politicians.
The biggest little city deserves better than another government lifer. It deserves leadership that remembers the government should serve citizens, not the other way around.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
