California Journal of Politics and Policy

Nevada is experiencing structural change and a political tipping point.  The 2010 Census and reapportionment of the Nevada Legislature are the significant factors producing permanent political change in Nevada.  The political tipping point marks a permanent shift in political power from the north to the south, rural to urban, and Republican to Democrat.  Redistricting produced a 2013 Nevada Legislature where 75 percent of the members of the State Senate are from Clark County and 75 percent of the members of the State Assembly are from Clark County.  The 2013 Nevada Legislature faced a Nevada economy that hit bottom, was flat in 2010 and 2011, and is now experiencing slow growth.  Republican Governor Brian Sandoval was committed to the formulation of a balanced 2013-2015 biennial budget based on modest increases in state spending, no tax increases, and no new taxes. Many Democrats in the Legislature favored a tax increase and the enactment of new taxes.   Republicans in the Legislature, along with Governor Sandoval, were unified and successful in their goal of enacting a balanced 2013-2015 biennial budget that was balanced without significant tax increases or new taxes.