In The News: Department of Political Science

There are dozens of data centers in Nevada — and more on the way. Are they really as bad for the environment as they’re made out to be?

Former Family Court Judge Paul Gaudet is hoping to regain the Dept. N seat he lost in 2024 to now-Judge Kerri Maxey, who defeated Gaudet by more than seven percentage points. Gaudet says the reason Maxey won is simple – she’s a woman. He will appear on the ballot this cycle using his middle name, Michel, in an effort to make voters think he’s a woman.

The governor's direct control over state and national economic factors is more limited than most realize, but that doesn't matter to voters.

The governor's direct control over state and national economic factors is more limited than most realize, but that doesn't matter to voters.
An undeleted line from an AI prompt was found in a post on a Chinese content farm. The prompt instructed writers to target a Taiwanese audience, rewrite the article in Traditional Chinese while preserving historical accuracy, and limit it to 500 words.
Playing out on Taiwan's outlying islands: preparations for what many fear could be the world's next major flashpoint. This is part of Han Kuang, Taiwan's annual military exercises. Active units and reservists mobilized all over the island, reacting to a simulated invasion from China.
Campaign fundraising in the 2026 Senate battlegrounds has become overwhelmingly nationalized, leaving most high-stakes candidates far more reliant on out-of-state donors than the voters they hope to represent.
Campaign fundraising in the 2026 Senate battlegrounds has become overwhelmingly nationalized, leaving most high-stakes candidates far more reliant on out-of-state donors than the voters they hope to represent.

There were some notable broad agreements — such as about developing data centers on federal land — but also different priorities about the feds’ role.

Fall is right around the corner and that means we are in the final stretch of campaigning ahead of the 2026 midterm election. Early voting in Nevada is less than 10 weeks away. That means candidates are pulling out all the stops to reach voters as they approach the end of the election cycle.

Last cycle, the Republican didn’t do any Spanish-language commercials. Endorsements and big campaign hires show he’s paying more attention this time around.

The race in Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District, a seat no Democrat has ever won, appears to be tighter than it has been in years — though indicators still point toward Republican David Flippo beating Democrat Teresa Benitez-Thompson in November.