NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. — August 21, 2026 — More than 770 people participated in the Nevada County Democrats’ ‘Issues Board’ at the Nevada County Fair last week, offering a snapshot of the issues that matter most to local residents — from immigration and health care to the cost of living, reproductive rights, veterans’ services and the environment.
Measuring 4’ x 8’ the ‘Issues Board’ was hosted at the Nevada County Democrats’ booth throughout the five-day fair, August 12–16. Using blue stickers for adults and green stickers for those under 18, visitors placed their stickers next to their top eight issues that affect their lives or that mattered to them the most. A total of 774 people participated, including 690 adults and 84 young people. More than 6,500 individual selections were placed onto the board.
What Nevada County Fairgoers said matters most
When adult and youth responses were combined, the top 10 issues were:
1. Abolish ICE — 618 selections
2. Medicare for All — 511
3. Make Groceries, Gas, Housing & Childcare Affordable — 503
4. End War with Iran — 471
5. Reproductive Rights for All — 455
6. Tax the Wealthy — 435
7. Money Out of Politics — 402
8. Stop Climate Change — 391
9. Protect LGBTQ+ Rights — 377
10. Protect Voting; No SAVE Act — 375
The results also revealed some interesting differences between adult and youth participants.
Among adults, the five highest-ranked issues were:
· Abolish ICE — 493
· Medicare for All — 444
· Make Groceries, Gas, Housing & Childcare Affordable — 410
· Reproductive Rights for All — 387 (tie)
· End War with Iran — 387 (tie)
Among young people, the priorities were:
· Abolish ICE — 125
· Make Groceries, Gas, Housing & Childcare Affordable — 93
· End War with Iran — 84
· Tax the Wealthy — 74
· Reproductive Rights for All — 68
Cost of living is a major concern
The strong showing for making groceries, gasoline, housing and childcare more affordable demonstrates that economic issues are a significant concern among Nevada County residents. The issue ranked third overall, with 503 selections, and was particularly strong among young participants, where it ranked second.
Health care was another major priority, with Medicare for All receiving 511 selections overall and ranking second among all issues.
Youth voices provide an important perspective
The Issues Board also gave young people visiting the fair an opportunity to identify the issues they care about.
While young participants agreed with adults on several major priorities — including immigration, affordability and reproductive rights — their rankings also placed taxing the wealthy and ending the war with Iran particularly high.
“We wanted our booth to be more than a place where people picked up literature,” said Steve Hurley, Chair of the Nevada County Democrats. “We wanted to listen. The Issues Board gave fairgoers a simple and direct way to tell us what they care about, and the response was remarkable.”
A conversation with the community
The Issues Board was part of the Nevada County Democrats’ effort to engage with residents outside of traditional political settings and hear directly from people throughout the community.
“The Nevada County Fair brings together people from every corner of our community,” said Mr. Hurley. “These results give us valuable insight into the issues people want their elected officials and political organizations to address. Most importantly, we appreciate everyone who took the time to participate and share their priorities.”
A video was produced that showcased people who had participated in the Issues Board and can be viewed at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z3KS-rCSVo
To view all the results, visit this link: https://onedrive.live.com/:x:/g/personal/43E082326D18E563/IQBrg9Ym4MpJR4JKqPa7s_l_AQ4G-6SiHdN50ELc6XbJLjk?resid=43E082326D18E563!s26d6836bcae04749824aa8f6bbb3f97f&ithint=file%2Cxlsx&migratedtospo=true&redeem=aHR0cHM6Ly8xZHJ2Lm1zL3gvYy80M2UwODIzMjZkMThlNTYzL0lRQnJnOVltNE1wSlI0SktxUGE3c19sX0FRNEctNlNpSGRONTBFTGM2WGJKTGpr
About the Nevada County Democrats
The Nevada County Democrats are committed to advancing Democratic values and building a stronger, more inclusive community in Nevada County through civic engagement, voter participation, community outreach and advocacy on issues affecting local residents.