Taylor Enters Reno's 2026 Mayoral Race: See Who Donated in 2024?

Here is a look at fund raising by Taylor from 2024 taken from the SoS website. This is an insight into who her supporters are.

Council member Kathleen Taylor has formally declared her candidacy. She launched a new campaign website and released a one-minute promotional video asking for contributions. Here is a look at who contributed to Kathleen Taylor in 2024, using data downloaded from the Secretary of State's site.

In her press release, Taylor said:

"Having completed a 90-day exploratory bid to gauge community support, and after meeting with countless Reno residents, I have made the decision to run for Mayor of Reno. The depth of enthusiasm and encouragement I have received from concerned voters of all ages from all corners of the community inspired me to step up to lead our city."

I’ve heard rumors that Taylor is running because Devon Reese is losing popularity. They were both appointed by the City Council and are favorites of Mayor Hillary Schieve, and she needs to put her best horse in the race to maintain influence.

Taylor was appointed to the Reno City Council Ward 5 in 2022 upon Neoma Jardon’s resignation and elected in 2024 to Ward 1, beating Frank Perez with 51% of the vote. She was appointed to the Planning Commission in 2012 after losing a city council race to Mayor Schieve. She currently serves on multiple boards, as well as running a small business, called Taylor Made Solutions, that specializes in communications and public involvement plans for infrastructure and public transportation projects.

A Look at Fundraising for Taylor in 2024

📊 Contribution Overview

• Total contributions: $281,224

• Number of contributions: 205

• Average contribution: $1,372

• Largest single contribution: $10,000

The overall picture shows a heavily top-weighted donor base, with most funds coming from big checks rather than small grassroots donations.

📐 Contribution Size Breakdown

• ≤ $100: 9 contributions

• $101–$500: 70 contributions

• $501–$1,000: 49 contributions

• > $1,000: 74 contributions

👉 Nearly three-quarters of Taylor's money came from checks over $1,000, a classic sign of big-donor financing rather than grassroots enthusiasm.

💰 Top Contributors

Taylor's campaign leaned strongly on casinos, developers, and business interests:

• BANN (Builders Association of Northern Nevada) – $10,000

• Sahara Las Vegas – $10,000

• Lamar Advertising Company of Reno-Tahoe – $8,500

• Western NV Supply – $7,801

• McDonald Carano (law firm) – $7,500

• Locus Development Group – $7,500

• Hamilton Properties – $7,000

• The Elm Estate (wedding/event venue) – $7,000

• Grand Sierra Resort – $5,000

• NAIOP (commercial real estate trade group) – $5,000

• Circus Circus & Eldorado Joint Ventures – $5,000

• Frank Suryan (developer) – $5,000

• Sierra Nevada Realtors – $5,000

• PDC Inc. – $5,000

These donors reflect casino operators, property developers, real estate industry groups, and allied law firms—the very sectors Taylor often votes in favor of on council.

📝 Contributor Analysis

• Taylor's fundraising strength lies in institutional donors, including builders, casinos, development lawyers, and real estate organizations.

• Her grassroots footprint is tiny: fewer than 10 contributions under $100.

• This donor pattern supports the public perception of her as a "pro-building" candidate aligned with developers rather than neighborhood activists.

• Taylor's base is transactional and real estate growth-oriented.

• These contributions will likely leave her open to criticism that she is beholden to development interests.

💵 Contributions by Sector

• Other Individuals: $170,000 (≈60%)

• Developers & Real Estate Investors: $33,000 (≈12%)

• Casinos & Gaming: $28,900 (≈10%)

• Local Businesses: $23,300 (≈8%)

• Real Estate Trade Groups: $17,500 (≈6%)

• Law Firms: $8,500 (≈3%)

📝 Sector Analysis

• While the headline donors (casinos, developers, and trade groups) stand out, the largest bucket by dollar amount is "Other Individuals." This includes executives, high-net-worth locals, and politically connected individuals writing large personal checks.

• The casino and developer money combined still represents about 22% of her war chest—a significant alignment with Reno's pro-growth business sector.

• Trade associations (BANN, NAIOP, Realtors) add another 6%, showing industry-wide institutional support.

• Law firms like McDonald Carano supplement her campaign with targeted high-value donations, signaling establishment backing.

👉 Taylor's campaign has a mixed base—a large share from well-off individuals, but also a clear line of development, real estate, and gaming industry support.

High Net Worth Individuals Who Contributed

Here are some of the larger individual (and individual-associated entity) contributions for Kathleen Taylor during 2024:

• Herbert Simon – $4,500 - Billionaire real estate investor and owner of Simon Property Group, which owns the Ballpark. His involvement underscores the strong developer ties.

• Sunny Hills Ranchos – $3,500 - Longtime Northern Nevada landholders tied to ranching and land speculation.

• Vince Griffith – $3,000 - Local businessman and donor known in development circles.

• Shirley Folkins-Roberts – $3,000 - Prominent Reno-area philanthropist and arts supporter.

• Robert Fitzgerald – $3,000 - Likely linked to Reno construction and property investments.

• Peter Zak – $2,500 - Longtime Reno developer (Silverwing Development).

LLCs and entities tied to individuals who wrote sizable checks

• TDC Operating LLC – $3,000

• Heinz Ranch LLC – $2,500

• Irish Capital – $2,500

• Keystone MF LLC – $2,500

• 126 Winter Street LLC – $2,500

📝 Takeaway on Individuals

The list shows that Taylor's "Other Individuals" category is packed with wealthy developers, landowners, and politically connected donors. These are influential figures who often shape Reno's growth trajectory.

📌 Overview: Kathleen Taylor's 2024 Fundraising

Kathleen Taylor has entered the Reno mayoral race with a well-financed campaign built on big checks rather than small-dollar grassroots support. In 2024, she raised over $281,000 from 205 contributions, averaging more than $1,300 per donation.

The donor pool reveals a deep alignment with Reno's growth machine:

• Developers and real estate investors (Frank Suryan, Peter Zak, Locus Development, Hamilton Properties)

• Casinos and gaming interests (Sahara Las Vegas, Grand Sierra Resort, Circus Circus/Eldorado)

• Trade groups (Builders Association of Northern Nevada, NAIOP, Sierra Nevada Realtors)

• Law firms and business service providers (McDonald Carano, Lewis Roca, Lamar Advertising)

Meanwhile, fewer than 10 contributions came in under $100, highlighting a lack of small-dollar grassroots energy. Her top donors were a mix of wealthy individuals, property developers, and industry associations, many of whom stand to benefit from city growth decisions.

Taylor's war chest ensures she will be a well-funded contender in the 2026 mayoral race, with money for advertising, outreach, and organization. But the source of her funding makes her vulnerable to attacks as the candidate of casinos, developers, and real estate interests—a narrative that rivals will likely seize on in a city grappling with affordability, displacement, and growth concerns.

I live in Ward 1, and Taylor is my council member. I have not talked with her or her staff or received any information from anyone on her campaign. I am providing this information from the SoS to give voters a look at her support. I plan to do the same for other candidates, and I will publish background information on the candidates and their platforms as it becomes available.