BATTLEGROUND SERIES: Key swing state's 6 electoral votes hinge on candidate performances in this county

LAS VEGAS - The election results in Clark County, Nevada, will play a critical role in deciding which presidential candidate takes home the state's 6 electoral votes in a county where independent voters and party switchers could make the difference.

There are roughly 1.4 million active registered voters in Clark County, Nevada, including about 450,000 Democrats, 350,000 Republicans and more than 500,000 voters who identify as nonpartisan, Independent, or Libertarian, which makes up about 70% of the voters in the state of Nevada.

Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won Clark County by 10 points in 2016, and President Biden won by about the same margin in 2020. The Democratic candidates won Nevada overall those years by less than three points, and former Presidnet Donald Trump's ability to narrow the gap in Clark County will play a key role in his chances to become the first Republican to win Nevada since former President George W. Bush in 2004.

Union workers employed by hotel casinos in Las Vegas, who work for unions that typically endorse and canvas for Democrats, play a significant role in Clark County elections.

"I will be a first-time home buyer. I want to keep my son in a house…I don't want to be rent to rent, that's one of the biggest issues right now here I would say in Nevada," Lino Paredes, a member of the Culinary Workers Union which endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, said, adding that he supports Harris' proposed program to help with down payments for houses. 

"And then, with these prices, you know, price gouging from these corporations. They're not helping us at all, so we're asking, and we're looking for someone that is willing to help…she's a very talented woman, and so I think that she will lead this country."

"I think the energy has risen," McDonald said. "You could call for a rally, you're talking about 5,000 people who get turned away because there's just no room. You're talking about people that when you call for volunteers, they're all over the place. Our walkers, we don't have just members. We have teams that are going out which we've never seen before."

"Trump is really using that as his signature issue here," Ralston said. "If he can penetrate past the leadership, into the rank-and-file, and divide them a little bit, that could cut down the Democratic margin in Clark County and that's how he could win the state." 

"And you know, the Democrats, they have union workers that are being paid to walk out as volunteers. And we have teams now that you've never seen before. So the energy and enthusiasm is right in our wheelhouse."

In addition to the presidential race, Clark County will also play a key role in determining who the next senator of Nevada is, as incumbent Jacky Rosen faces a challenger from Republican war veteran Sam Brown. 

The Hispanic vote is also expected to play a large role in determining the success of both presidential candidates in Clark County.

"They're crucial at every level of the ticket," Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha told the outlet regarding the Hispanic vote.