2018 Nevada State Controller election

2018 Nevada State Controller election

←  2014 November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06) 2022  →

Candidate Catherine Byrne Ron Knecht Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 487,068 445,099 Percentage 50.60% 46.24%

Results by county Byrne:     40–50%     50–60% Knecht:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

State Controller before election Ron Knecht Republican Elected State Controller Catherine Byrne Democratic

The 2018 Nevada State Controller election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the Nevada State Controller, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, governor, and other state and local elections. Primary elections were held on June 12, 2018, though both the Republican and Democratic nominees ran uncontested. ^[1]

Incumbent Republican state controller Ron Knecht ran for re-election to a second term in office, but lost re-election to Democratic public accountant Catherine Byrne. ^[2] Knecht was the only incumbent statewide executive Republican to lose re-election in 2018, as all other Republicans either won re-election, resigned, or were term-limited. ^[a]

Republican primary

Incumbent Republican state controller Ron Knecht was uncontested in the Republican primary, so no primary election was held. ^[5]

Candidates

Nominee

• Ron Knecht, incumbent state controller (2015–present) ^[6]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Catherine Byrne, certified public accountant ^{[7] [8]}

Declined

• Andrew Martin, state assemblyman from the 9th district (2013–2015) and nominee for state controller in 2014 ^[9]

General election

Endorsements

Ron Knecht (R)

Newspapers and other media

• Las Vegas Review-Journal ^[10]

Catherine Byrne (D)

Statewide officials

• Kate Marshall, former state treasurer (2007–2015), nominee for Nevada's 2nd congressional district in 2011 and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2018 ^[7]
• Kim Wallin, former state controller (2007–2015) ^[7]

Newspapers and other media

• Las Vegas Sun ^[11]

Organizations

• Libertarian Party of Nevada ^[12]

Results

2018 Nevada State Controller election ^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Catherine Byrne	487,068	50.60%
	Republican	Ron Knecht (incumbent)	445,099	46.24%
	None of These Candidates		30,500	3.16%
Total votes			962,667	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

Notes

1. Republican U.S. Senator Dean Heller also lost re-election to congresswoman Jacky Rosen. ^[3] Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske narrowly won re-election. ^[4]

References

1. "2018 Primary Elections by State and territory" (PDF). Marine Corps Installation East. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
2. DeHaven, James (November 7, 2018). "Democrats snag most Nevada constitutional offices, GOP holds onto Secretary of State" . Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
3. Dixon, Darius (November 7, 2018). "Jacky Rosen unseats Dean Heller in Nevada Senate race". POLITICO. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
4. "Nevada Democrats narrowly miss sweep of statewide offices". Reno Gazette-Journal. November 27, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
5. "Nevada Primary Election 2018 - Statewide". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
6. Dike Anukam, Don (April 10, 2018). "From The Right: Controller Knecht Focuses on Teamwork and Transparency". This Is Reno. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
7. "Carson City CPA candidate for state controller". Nevada Appeal. February 9, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
8. Lochhead, Colton (February 11, 2018). "Campaign 2018: Pence critic to run for Nevada Controller" . Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
9. Lochhead, Colton (August 13, 2017). "2018 campaign season is heating up in Nevada" . Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
10. "EDITORIAL: Review-Journal endorses Wes Duncan for attorney general" . Las Vegas Review-Journal. October 17, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2025. There's no need for a change at the controller's office. Voters should support Ron Knecht.
11. "Down the ballot: We share our picks for local, state races". Las Vegas Sun. October 21, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
12. Gonzalez, Yvonne (September 17, 2018). "Nevada Libertarians look to influence the conversation beyond size of their party". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
13. "Statewide - Nevada General Election 2018". Nevada Secretary of State. Retrieved December 25, 2025.

External links

2018 Nevada State Controller election at Ballotpedia