With the upcoming election just around the corner, the state of Nevada is at the forefront of political discussions. A recent survey conducted by the University of Maryland’s Program for Public Consultation at the School of Public Policy has shed light on some surprising common ground among residents of the swing state.
The survey, which included about 600 respondents from Nevada, as well as other battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, focused on real policy proposals. Participants were presented with arguments for and against these proposals and were asked to provide recommendations as if they were policymakers. The results revealed that there is more agreement between Republicans and Democrats than one might expect.
Housing policies were a key area of common ground among Nevadans. The majority of respondents supported providing funds to build or repair homes for low-income households, as well as offering down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. There was also support for policies aimed at corporate landlords, such as requiring large corporations to sell their single-family homes within the next 10 years.
When it came to children and families, Nevadans overwhelmingly backed a $6,000 tax credit for parents with infants under the age of 1 year old. There was also strong support for free universal preschool and paid family and medical leave programs. These policies received bipartisan support, although there was some division among Nevada Republicans on certain issues.
On the topic of abortion and birth control, respondents in battleground states, including Nevada, were in agreement when it came to access to birth control and education. There was opposition to making abortion a crime, and there was support for federal laws that apply to all states. Nevadans also supported requirements for health insurance to cover birth control and for public schools to provide education on the topic.
Immigration was another area where Nevadans found common ground. The majority supported hiring more border patrol agents and providing additional funding for surveillance. There was also strong support for a path to citizenship for immigrants without legal status. Participants were informed that these immigrants are not criminals and have been in the U.S. for years.
Healthcare policies also revealed areas of agreement among Nevadans. There was support for capping drug prices, making Affordable Care Act subsidies permanent, and revoking patents for high-priced drugs developed with federal funds. Participants also supported measures to increase access to generic drugs and to require price transparency for health products.
In terms of international policy, there was widespread support for upholding the principle of collective security and continuing membership with NATO. The majority of respondents also supported military aid to Ukraine and maintaining low tariffs. However, there was less support for high tariffs on China and nuclear testing.
Social Security and financial policies were also areas of agreement among Nevadans. There was support for addressing the Social Security Trust Fund’s shortfall by subjecting all wages over $400,000 to the payroll tax and gradually raising the retirement age. Participants also supported prohibiting members of Congress and other officials from trading stocks.
Overall, the survey results highlight the potential for bipartisan agreement on a wide range of policy issues in Nevada. Despite the divisive political climate, there is significant common ground among residents when it comes to housing, healthcare, immigration, and other key issues facing the state. This bodes well for the future of policymaking and governance in Nevada, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming election.