A new survey puts Danny Tarkanian way ahead – but not everyone is buying it
A poll dropped this week showing Danny Tarkanian leading Adriana Guzmán Fralick by a wide margin in the Republican primary for Nevada Attorney General. But the survey itself quickly became the story – with some GOP voters pushing back hard on how the questions were asked.
What the Poll Says
The survey, conducted by Pulse Decision Science and released March 24, shows Tarkanian leading Guzmán Fralick 55% to 17% among likely Republican primary voters, with 27% still undecided. The firm’s memo to “interested parties” declares that Tarkanian “is in a great position to become the GOP nominee.”
The poll contacted 410 likely Republican primary voters by phone from March 19-22. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4.8 points.
On the surface, those are big numbers. But the reaction from some Republican voters told a different story.
I got the call. The last question about @AdrianaForNV at DEI rallies was the shocker. Danny is terrible no point in entertaining them. @McDonaldNV failed us again.
— Love Our Republic (@LoveOurRepublic) March 25, 2026
“A Bit of a Push Poll”
Almost immediately after the results circulated online, Republicans who had received the survey calls started speaking up.
Clayton Mitchell wrote on social media that he had received the call.
“A bit of a push poll, if you ask me,” he said.
“It was pretty clear who paid for the poll, and what it’s aim was.”
Another respondent described one question as a “shocker” – specifically a question designed to leave voters believing Guzmán Fralick had been attending “DEI rallies.”
The event in question was a Latino student advisory board panel.
That’s Not What DEI Means
A recent rebuttal article raised the DEI issue against Guzmán Fralick. The evidence? A 2023 professional panel for students and faculty hosted by the Latino Student Advisory Board at UNR.
The event featured Latino attorneys, professors, and community professionals speaking to Latino students about career achievement. Guzmán Fralick was one of several panelists. Calling that a “DEI rally” isn’t creative opposition research. It’s a misrepresentation.
Taking a room full of Latino college students talking about their careers and turning it into a political attack is a cynical move. If there are legitimate concerns about Guzmán Fralick’s record, make the case on the merits – not ethnic boogeymanning. Any AG should know the difference between a genuine policy problem and a photo of Latino professionals at a networking event.
Why This Matters
Push polls are a real problem in politics, and conservatives should be the first to call them out – no matter who benefits.
A push poll isn’t really a poll at all. It’s a phone call disguised as a survey. The real goal isn’t to find out what voters think. It’s to plant negative information about a candidate under the cover of asking a neutral question. Voters end up being “informed” rather than surveyed.
The distinction matters because Republicans rightly demand honest elections and honest data. A party that fights for election integrity should also demand integrity in the information it uses to make decisions about candidates.
When a poll is commissioned by – or on behalf of – a campaign, readers deserve to know that upfront. Pulse Decision Science’s own memo frames its findings as an argument for Tarkanian’s viability, not an independent assessment of the race.
The Bigger Race
The Nevada Attorney General’s race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive on the 2026 ballot.
Tarkanian, a longtime Nevada Republican figure, is challenging Guzmán Fralick, who has the endorsement of Governor Joe Lombardo. On the Democratic side, Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro and Treasurer Zach Conine are both eyeing the race.
With the primary still months away and more than a quarter of Republican voters undecided even in this poll, the race is far from settled.
What Conservatives Should Watch
Voters who received the Tarkanian survey call and felt the questions were slanted should trust that instinct. Independent polling, from firms with no financial stake in the outcome, will give a far clearer picture of where this race actually stands.
Until then, treat any candidate-funded survey with appropriate skepticism.
Good information leads to good decisions. That’s as conservative a principle as they come.
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.
