Sharron Angle, a familiar face in Nevada politics, has officially announced her candidacy for Nevada Secretary of State.
The announcement came on the floor of the Nevada Legislature during Legislative Alumni Day on Friday, when Assemblywoman Rebecca Edgeworth introduced Angle and highlighted her plan to run for office.
The 75-year-old former Nevada Assemblywoman would be challenging incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar if she secures the Republican nomination.
Former Republican Assm. Sharron Angle will run for Nevada Secretary of State.
When Assm. Rebecca Edgeworth introduced Angle on the #NVLeg floor yesterday as part of Legislative Alumni Day, she highlighted Angle’s plan to run for office.
(1/2)https://t.co/fafLZr2kf9 pic.twitter.com/Ta7mRdCWzh
— Tabitha Mueller (@tabitha_mueller) April 25, 2025
Who is Sharron Angle?
Angle served in the Nevada Assembly from 1999 to 2007, representing Washoe County. During her time in the 42-member assembly, she voted “no” so frequently on matters of wide consensus that votes were often called as “41-to-Angle”.
Born in Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1949, Angle moved to Reno as a child. Before entering politics, she worked as a substitute teacher for 25 years, ran a family fitness gym, and published a novel called “Prairie Fire.”
A History of Election Defeats
Angle’s political career includes several unsuccessful campaigns for higher office:
- In 2010, she gained national attention running against Harry Reid for U.S. Senate, but 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, but lost in the primary
- Most recently in 2024, she ran for Nevada State Senate District 15 but lost in the Republican primary
Controversial Statements
Angle is perhaps best known nationally for controversial statements made during her 2010 Senate campaign against Harry Reid. In a January 2010 interview with conservative talk show host Lars Larson, Angle said:
“If this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies.”
In another interview with talk radio host Bill Manders, when discussing the Second Amendment, Angle stated she was “hoping that we’re not getting to Second Amendment remedies” and hoped that “the vote will be the cure for the Harry Reid problems.”
These statements about potential armed responses to political disagreements created significant controversy. When later questioned by ABC News about these remarks, Angle denied saying people might seek Second Amendment remedies because of distress among the populace – despite her words being on tape.
The Secretary of State Position
The Nevada Secretary of State oversees elections, business licensing, and maintains official state records. The current Secretary of State is Democrat Cisco Aguilar, who was elected in 2022. Aguilar succeeded Republican Barbara Cegavske, who served from 2015 to 2023.
The Secretary of State for Nevada is the third highest ranking state official, behind the governor and lieutenant governor. The state Constitution addresses the office in Article V, and the secretary serves a four-year term with a limit of two terms.
For voters concerned about election integrity, the Secretary of State position is particularly significant as the office manages all aspects of Nevada’s elections, including voter registration and ballot counting procedures.
Why This Race Matters
The position of Secretary of State has taken on increased importance in recent years as debates about election procedures and integrity have intensified. The office holder makes key decisions about election administration, business regulations, and records access.
Angle’s entry into the race would set up a stark contrast between her limited-government philosophy and Aguilar’s approach to the office.
Angle has been involved in election-related legal action in the past. In 2020, she filed a lawsuit challenging Nevada’s expanded mail-in voting, arguing that votes would be “diluted and compromised” if the law was implemented.
What’s Next
With the election still well into the future, campaigns will need to build infrastructure and raise funds. The primary election will determine which candidates advance to the general election.
For Nevada voters, this race will represent a choice between different visions for how elections should be administered and how the office should function in relation to businesses and citizens.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
