Wilson Cunningham is a sophomore architecture student at the University of Arkansas. Originating from Siloam Springs, AR, Wilson is an active member of the AIAS and is involved in volunteering campaigns in the community. After college, Wilson plans to pursue residential architecture in the American West.
Senate races in America are the underappreciated core of what gets policy across the line for a political party. One figurehead supported by no other branch of government does little but damage a party’s value and ability to retain public favor. It feels as if the stakes have never been this charged. Blue seats flipping red or red states flipping blue could mean the difference in governmental activity for the next two years at least. Nevada is a particular state of interest in this election cycle, as it fits curiously into the “swing state” category according to most major polls, including this one from US News. Nevadans have a slate which holds two very different candidates, not only in political values but also in campaign styles. Several distinctions include the choice to either globalize or localize the race, leveraging incumbency, monetary advantage and recently, voter enthusiasm.
According to his website “Sam Brown is a Purple Heart recipient, a small businessman, a committed husband and father, and he represents a new generation of independent conservative leadership.” Brown first ran for the U.S. Senate in 2022, losting the Republican primary to Adam Laxalt. He has taken a nationalizing approach, tethering himself with the Trump campaign. A New York Times article found that Sam was someone who would need Trump’s coattails, as his lack of political substance was attacked by the opposition and within the party. This however has not been a deterrence, and although trailing strongly in the polls through the whole election cycle according to 538’s polling average.
Flaunting bold purple all over her website, Jackie Rosen claims to be “. . . committed to working with both parties to deliver for Nevada’s hardworking families. She is fighting for all Nevadans by being an independent voice who brings people together to find commonsense, bipartisan solutions for our state.” The incumbent caucuses with democrats but claims independence from the party. She has focused on local issues and her status as a go between in the senate chambers. She repeatedly uses incumbency to her advantage, pointing to legislation which was passed and had a good effect on the people who she is currently aiming to receive a vote from. OpenSecrets has the Rosen campaign outspending Brown $43 million to $17 million. This large pool of funding is natural in a swing state on an election year, with Rosen reportedly raising record funds, showing the increasing spending required for relevancy in this current political slate.
On October 17th, the senate nominees held a debate, in which Sam Brown’s past would come back to haunt him. Although his policy stance was serviceable when he was grilled about it on the debate stage, his previous stances in other states and lack of exposure to Nevada itself (having only moved to Nevada within the last 6 years) would serve him a blow he would suffer to return. Brown’s accusations of low connection to Nevada fell on deaf ears as Rosen was able to defend and return, as did happen almost cyclically through the debate.
Prediction: The debate sums up in microcosm the whole of this election. Rosen represents a moderate and connected incumbent who has a high favorability and policy accomplishments to back up her reelection campaign. Brown represents a conservative Trump loyalist who is learning the political ropes in a time where the ropes are currently on fire and are also imaginary. Voting is not finished, but early indications show a fiery Republican base. Time will tell if it can overturn Brown’s disconnection to constituents accompanied by previous stances which place him as a tough recommendation. Ultimately I give this one to Rosen.