Nevada’s Military Community Wields State Influence

Nevada’s deep ties to the U.S. military extend beyond national security, shaping the state’s economy and its role as a political battleground.

Nearly 260,000 people in Nevada have some connection to the military, including 14,000 active-duty service members, 12,000 National Guard and Reserve personnel, and 202,000 veterans. The total also includes thousands of Department of Defense civilian employees and contractors, as well as an estimated 25,000 military family members. Together, they account for about 8% of the state’s population, forming a significant and influential voting bloc.

Veterans alone make up about 8.3% of Nevada’s adult population, ranking the state seventh in the nation and first among swing states. Known for high voter turnout and civic participation, veterans often play a decisive role in close elections. The influence was evident in 2024, when both major political parties heavily targeted military-affiliated voters in closely contested presidential and Senate races.

Most of Nevada’s active-duty military presence is represented by the U.S. Air Force, which accounts for 90% of all personnel in the state. Nellis Air Force Base, near Las Vegas, is the largest installation, supporting 14,000 personnel.

The base hosts advanced combat training exercises such as Red Flag and is home to the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. It also oversees the Nevada Test and Training Range, which includes classified sites such as Area 51 at Groom Lake and the Tonopah Test Range.

Other key installations include Creech Air Force Base, which employs about 4,000 personnel and focuses on drone operations, including MQ-9 Reaper missions. Naval Air Station Fallon, with roughly 3,000 personnel, serves as a premier training center for naval aviation, including advanced tactical combat programs. The Hawthorne Army Depot, staffed primarily by civilians, manages one of the world’s largest ammunition storage facilities across 147,000 acres.

Additional military sites across the state include the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing at Reno-Tahoe International Airport and training centers in Las Vegas, tied to the National Guard and electronic warfare operations.

Beyond defense, these installations contribute billions of dollars to Nevada’s economy through payroll, contracts, and related activity. State-supported programs for military families and veterans, including education initiatives, housing, and burial services, further reinforce those ties.

With military-connected residents representing a sizable share of Nevada’s roughly 2.3 million registered voters, their political influence remains significant. National polling in 2024 showed veterans favor Republican candidates by a wide margin.