What DUers live in or near Reno or Carson City?

I might be taking a trip there soon with an eye to moving down there sometime next year.

What's the political climate like in those areas?

Tahoe Mom lives in the neighborhood so we are very familiar with that area.

Let's just say, politically, the area is as RW as ol' Zell. Guns, God, and lots of Aquanet.

When we went to a screening of "F9/11" in Reno it was packed -- with people who had traveled from all over the state to get there. Dems generally are very, VERY quiet about their politics and finding one is like finding a long lost relative. TM's eye doctor in Reno was thrilled to find she was a Dem - she's about the only one besides his wife he has to talk politics with. Gays/lesbians are VERY discreet there, and people of any-color-but white can be scarce. I can count on one hand the number of black poeple I have seen in Carson in ten years.

No punks, no Goths -- lots of pick-up trucks and baseball caps.

Carson, especially the old town, is very pretty, Reno less so.

All in all, coming from San Francisco, I find the area pretty depressing, but you may feel otherwise.

If you do come down, drop a line and we can meet you there and say "hey"!

Hell Hath No Fury (using Tahoe Mom's computer)

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

Yeah, there are plenty of punks/goths in the Reno area. I'm suprised you haven't seen them. Admitedly, it's been a while since I've hung out with either crowd much since high school, but both groups are around. I'd agree, though, the blacks are few and far between.

I've been in Reno for about a year and a half. Before that I was in Vegas for about four years and before that I was in Illinois in and around Chicago.

Northern Nevada leans repug right now, but the gap is closing. The state went for Bush last time, but registration overall has flipped and is slightly Dem, with a large amount of independents that will hopefully go Kerry. Washoe County still leans right, but overall we're less likely to have radiation poisoning when compared to the rest of the state. I consistently see more Kerry/Edwards signs and bumper stickers here in Reno, but then most assholes don't want to ruin the finish on the hummer with a bumpersticker. I canvass for ACT and generally find that most people here aren't enthusiastic about either candidate. I tend to think if Kerry actually had a campaign with some backbone before the RNC he would be squashing Bush here. We have the gun nuts, and Nevada has a sizable mormon spill-over from Utah that leans hard right, but it isn't that bad. I find more people are voting Libertarian here than for Nader, which might be good. Bush/Cheney are spending more money on TV ads here than anywhere else because they know Northern Nevada is turning the corner...and moving away from the repugs. EDWARDS IS HERE ON MONDAY!

If you're thinking of moving here, I recommend you contact the Reno ACT office and arrange to come down and volunteer canvass sometime. If you're coming from CA, they can probably recommend some groups that help us out that might be able to help you with transportation and a place to stay if you need it. Its a good chance to meet the good people of Reno and see some of the city. I am fond of Reno as a city and most people I've talked to who have visited like it. I have seen many a punk and a goth here, especially around the river walk if that is something you actually factor into your moving decisions. They packed about 200 people into a theater at the community college when Michael Moore did his MoveOn town hall meeting. All the Outfoxed parties filled up here as well, although we didn't have a 200 seater for that anywhere. Unfortunately Reno almost never gets any bands I would care about, mostly because we have no college station. Vegas has the same problem. I think Carson is even less likely to get any music or culture. If you like washed up classic rock acts that don't have many original members left or old time Vegas acts you would have thought retired 20 years ago, then you'll love the N. Nevada music scene! We have a nice art museum here, a fairly large artist community, and the river walk is a fantastic place to hang out if it isn't too crowded. The riverfront is nice now and they're still working on making it better. Downtown Reno and some sections still have some major eyesores though. Air America lists us as having a station here, but it is still a sports radio station when I tune in, and Air America never answers my e-mails asking about the station.

I'm not a terribly big fan of Carson, but I haven't spent much time there. My friend from Chicago was here earlier this year and toured Northern Nevada. When I told him that there was a big fire in Carson recently his reply was that he thought the city looked like it had already burned down a long time ago. Its funny because its true! I think Carson is more right leaning than Reno, but I haven't seen any numbers to support that. I have also seen a fairly large hangout of young punks in Carson, although I can't recall seeing any goths. With some exceptions, cities smaller than Reno, Sparks, or Carson are likely to be very backwoodsy gun nut infested hellholes.

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

I live in Virginia City, actually in VC Highlands, about five miles North of town.

We just had an excellent Dem fund raiser in VC a few weeks ago with about 300 folks. Dick Bryan was the keynote speaker. Dick was a State Senator, Att General, Governor and US Senator for Nevada. Also present was my old friend Joe Dini, former Speaker of the Assembly.

The State is now just about a split Dems/Repub with the Dems ahead by about 900 registered voters. I predict that the Dems will have a greater number of wins this year in State races.

Since 1864 Nevada has had 15 Dem Governors and 12 Rep Governors. In the last 40 years the Democrats have spent far more time in Carson City than the Republicans. Another thing I have always found interesting, seems the Republicans only manage to get one term while the Democrats get re-elected.

We do have our share of "Redneck Bubbas" but not what I would consider a large number. They don't bother me and I don't bother them.

I like the rural lifestyle and the wide open spaces so I can't comment on Reno. I never have any reason to go to Reno as Carson is closer and provides all the services I require.

So that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

for the Repub koolaid runs thick here.

I have a 25 year old punk son in Reno who has plenty of punk friends there. Forget any rural area of Nevada, though.

I'd give my eye teeth to get out of Elko and move to Reno right now. The republican wet dream spewing up here is more than I can handle.

Good luck to you!

The Douglas County Democratic womens group has been recognized state wide by officials. We are 142 members strong and the Republican womens group has decided not to offer a scholarship this year because there are not enough members attending meetings. for the 1st time since anyone can remember there is a Female/Dem running for a Commission seat in Douglas County, She has the backing of the Slow growth Iniative(SGI). Things are changing in Douglas county for the better for Dems and the Lake Side of Douglas County counts more K/E bumper stickers in the grocery store parking lot by 2/1/ Zephyr Cove, Stateline, Kingsbury, Roundhill all about 20 25 minutes from Carson City. It takes me about 1 hour to get to Reno. If you want to visit Tahoe and the surrounding are let me know by PM. Any DUer is welcome in my home!!!!!

Wow, we really are everywhere. I have NO idea what his political affiliations are though. We always talk cooking, not politics.

I live in bay area but went with Sierra Club last month on swing state trip to reno and I went door to door different neighborhoods for 2 days. A few republicans but I talked to a lot of dems and Kerry supporters and one older black man a vet who liked Kerry a lot.

I also go there a lot with my mom she likes to gamble, while there the last time I talked to girls in the spa, local people, they were voting for Kerry too.

I will be there again this week with my mom, spreading the word and wearing my pro Kerry or against Bush shirts. I have no fear!

The Bay Area has been such a huge help here in Reno. You guys really are helping turn Nevada Blue.