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Leaving behind the bright lights of Las Vegas and heading north, begins the long journey through Nevada.
There is little interruption of the open highway that runs through this vast desert state.
Once the jewel in the crown of this mineral-rich state – appear from time to time. These ghost towns were once the heart of a successful mining company that attracted explorers and industrialists to the heart of the Wild West in the 19th and early 20th century.
After a 700km trip on a deserted highway, framed by the silhouette of California. The beautiful Yosemite National Park to the west, the pretty town of Carson City comes in
The fresh flavor of nearby Lake Tahoe is a welcome antidote to the dry dust of the desert. The 19th century town is almost 1,500m above sea level. Its elegant streets and its period buildings are a throwback to a time when it was a hub for traffic to the west from California and the starting point of the booming mining industry of the state.
Carson City is the capital of Nevada. State in 1864. Undisturbed by Las Vegas and Reno, its larger and fiercer brothers to the south and north, it has retained its character and charm of yesteryear.
But Carson City is itself a kind of ghost town. [19659002] Although the city is home to the state legislature, the Nevada House and Senate meet only another year. Even then, lawmakers are meeting for only 120 days. There was a time when the biennial system was the norm – in the 1960s, the majority of states did not meet every year, but in most states this practice was abandoned. These days, Nevada is one of only four states in the country whose legislature meets every two years – Montana, North Dakota and Texas have similar systems.
In part, the system came into being because of the enormous distances of the governing states – the state of Nevada is the seventh in the country and its difficult terrain traditionally made it difficult for the representatives to travel to the capital, to Extreme west. But it also reflects the idea that representatives spend more time connecting with their constituents than curling up in a capital city working on legislation.
In Texas in particular, the biennial system is proudly worn as a badge of honor, a living example of the Republican idea of small government in action.
But critics believe the system means lawmakers are forced to pbad through legislation in less than four months. Special sessions are common. Representatives are paid $ 150 a day, plus a per diem, for their efforts – a system that, according to many, is only suitable for those who have the time and means to take four months off and move to Carson City
The elegant dome of the Nevada State Capitol dominates the city. But inside the atmosphere is oddly quiet, as office and security employees move around lobbies and upholstered offices. On this brilliant day of June, the House and Senate chambers are filled with teenagers from the Boys State organization, who spend a week getting acquainted with the functioning of the State Senate [19659014]. time, local politics is alive and well in Nevada.
Nevada is becoming one of the most important states for Democrats in November at the federal level – Senator Dean Heller faces a tough battle with Jackie Rosen, while Democrats hope to get seats in the House of Representatives in Congress
. But Democratic strategists also hope that the anticipated blue wave will occur at the state level. All 63 Nevada seats in the House and Senate are in the running along with important positions such as the governor, the lieutenant general and the attorney general.
Gun control – a huge problem for this state Las Vegas – to health care and education, state policy has significant control over the daily lives of Nevadans [19659013] Battle for control
It's this battle for control of the state legislature that is in Nevada's minds. Convention, which takes place this year in Reno, an hour's drive north of Carson City.
Often referred to as the poor relationship in Las Vegas south of the state, Reno proudly reigns as the second largest city in Nevada. Like many American cities, its downtown core suffered from suburban flight in the 1950s and 1960s. While urban rejuvenation is underway, the city is best known for its neon lights, wedding chapels and smoky casinos. who have seen better days
Like many big American cities, its many hotel rooms make it a popular destination for major events and conferences
Here at the Grand Sierra Hotel – a huge site including a 7,000 m2 casino, a cinema and a 50-track bowling alley – loyal Democrats gathered for their annual conference. It's a great year for Nevada, and Nevadans know it. Most of the big names in Nevada politics have been deployed to the convention – Jacky Rosen, Senate candidate, and Steve Sisolak, Clark County Commissioner, a well-known Las Vegas political figure who is fighting the General Adam Laxalt. governor.
Despite the fact that Nevada voted for Hillary Clinton, he has not had a Democratic governor for more than 20 years.
The Mbadachusetts senator and presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren also participated in the event, adding a bit of Washington Jennie Sherwood, 41-year-old electrician and Democrat candidate for District 2 of the badembly State of Nevada "height =" 827 "src =" http://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.3564273!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg "width =" 620 " />
Among the participants hoping to make their mark in state politics is Jennie Sherwood, a 41-year-old electrician. She is competing in Nevada's second congressional district in Las Vegas after defeating a male rival educated at Harvard in the first contest. She has been involved in union politics for years, and this year decided to run for office in the state.
"I thought it was the moment. I have these ideas, I want them out, so I realized, I just have to run. "
Although his district generally votes Republican, and people have always been reluctant to challenge the incumbent, it seems an optimistic note." People are more energetic this year, "she says, citing the answer to the # Donald Trump's Election
Sherwood is one of dozens of women running for this year's Nevada elections.The state already has one of the highest female representation rates in the world. highest in the country – 38% of those in the Nevada Legislative Assembly are women, it is hoped the figure could rise to 50% in November
Slim to none
Like Sherwood, Paula Povilaitis is a candidate For the first time, she is running in a rural area of northern Nevada, facing Republican hopeful Alexis Hansen for the seat left vacant by her husband, who is running in the Senate of the State.
District is traditionally Republican, says Povilaitis. There are 17,000 registered Republicans, 9,000 registered Democrats and 6,000 independent, "she said. I ask him his chances to take place. "Weak to nothing," she answers with a mischievous and optimistic tone.
"It all depends on participation in mid-term elections," she says. "We hope that there will never be Trumpers in the middle of the Republican vote."
But as we discuss politics, more details about its political affiliations emerge. While she's a Democrat forever, she confides that she did not vote for Hillary Clinton in 2016.
She was a supporter of Bernie Sanders.
In fact, she is one of many in the convention hall of the Grand Sierra resort that continues to carry her Sanders references with pride. At least one participant wears a 2016 "Feel the Burn" t-shirt. Most of the discussions on the sidelines of the conference focus on the need to find a similar candidate to Sanders to tackle Trump in 2020, with Elizabeth Warren a popular choice.
Two years after Sanders conceded the Democratic primary race in Clinton, In this hall at least the internal divisions of the 2016 presidential campaign are still as strong.
Dynamics presented at the Democratic Convention of Nevada captures the key challenge facing Democrats nationwide as the party attempts to capitalize on the deep antipathy toward Trump among many sections of the nation. # 39; electorate.
The energy and activism left since the elections are undeniable. But how to integrate this energy into a coherent political vision and ensure that the Democratic Party merges around the right political candidate in 2020 will determine the next step in the US political future.
Donald Trump's presidency has inflamed political sentiments. to divide. The mid-term elections in November will give the first real indication of the reaction of millions of US voters to one of America's most divisive presidents in history.
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