“These folks need to know they are not alone,” says Fonken. “They feel as though their government has abandoned them. And doesn’t listen to what their needs are. And over these years of organizing in these rural districts, I have found their issues are not so dissimilar to the rural areas.”

“Northern Nevada deserves a representative who actually gets what working people are going through, protects what makes this place special, and puts people ahead of politics,” he said.