A new analysis reveals that 9 out of 19 top candidates running in Nevada's federal races have ties to businesses that received over $10.1 million in federal government loans from 2007 to 2021. The loans, primarily from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), have been credited with contributing to a 'historic economic recovery' by helping to keep workers employed. However, this has sparked a debate as many of these candidates have criticized excessive federal spending while benefiting from the loan program. The Nevada Independent reached out to the campaigns for confirmation and to better understand how the loans were used. The loans were eligible for forgiveness if used for payroll costs, business mortgage interest, or rent. PPP loans in Nevada totaled over $6.8 billion, with $6.3 billion forgiven. The impact of these loans on the candidates' campaigns and the broader debate on government spending remains to be seen.