Key facts
- Jim Marchant won the Republican nomination for Nevada secretary of state.
- Marchant is a vocal proponent of election conspiracy theories.
- He will face incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar in the November election.
- Marchant has claimed widespread election fraud in past elections without providing evidence.
- If elected, Marchant intends to eliminate electronic voting machines and end universal mail ballots.
- Marchant also supports implementing voter ID.
Jim Marchant, a former Nevada state lawmaker and prominent promoter of election conspiracy theories, has won the Republican nomination for secretary of state. His victory in the June 9 primary sets up a rematch against incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar in November.
Marchant has repeatedly questioned the security of Nevada's voting systems, alleging widespread fraud in the 2020 election where he lost his bid for Nevada's 4th Congressional District. Despite officials finding no evidence of widespread fraud, Marchant claimed he and then-President Donald Trump were victims of such fraud. He also supported six Nevada Republicans who signed fake electoral certificates asserting Trump won the state in 2020, though Joe Biden had won by over 33,000 votes.
If elected, Marchant has stated his intention to eliminate electronic voting machines and end the state's universal mail ballot system, advocating instead for hand-counted paper ballots. He is also a staunch supporter of voter ID laws, a measure that has previously passed voter referendums.
Aguilar, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, has focused on streamlining election processes, improving voter turnout, and successfully championed legislation making harassment of election officials a felony. He has also overseen the implementation of a new voter registration system and organized a polling location at Allegiant Stadium for the 2024 election.
Aguilar's campaign declined to comment on Marchant's primary victory. Marchant stated his win was a "victory for voter ID" and that he was proud to be chosen by Nevada conservatives despite being "massively outspent."