Fighting for UNR’s Future: A Progressive Economic Platform to Restore What We’ve Lost and Build What We Deserve
A Message from a UNR Graduate with Deep Ties to Our Community
01/28/2026 By Gamaliel “Gamy” Zavala Enriquez
I’m proud to be a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, and my roots run deep in this community. UNR isn’t just where I earned my degree—it’s where I learned what it means to be part of something bigger than myself. It’s where I discovered the power of research, innovation, and public service. And it’s where I witnessed firsthand how federal investment in higher education can transform lives and communities.
I’m running as an Independent Democrat candidate for Congress because our university deserves better than what we’ve gotten from Representative Mark Amodei and the Trump administration. The Democratic primary is June 9th, with early voting beginning May 25th.
The Damage Done: Federal Funding Stripped from UNR
On Rep. Amodei’s watch, the Trump administration has slashed UNR’s research capacity and student support:
$23.1 million in federal research funding terminated at UNR alone—18 sponsored projects across multiple agencies cut without warning. Some grants were canceled mid-project, disrupting ongoing research and abandoning students and faculty mid-stream.
$3 million slashed from UNR Extension’s Southwest Regional Food Business Center, which supported 170 Nevada businesses—cut three years early.
$50 million threatened across Nevada’s university system through NIH cuts.
$18 million in Department of Education grants canceled, including programs supporting first-generation, low-income, and Native American students.
Rep. Amodei has been silent and complicit. He hasn’t held an open town hall since April 2017, calling them a “code word for, ‘Let’s go bully the shit out of somebody in public.’”
My Progressive Economic Platform: Not Just Recovery, But Transformation
I’m running to build the university we deserve. Here’s my platform:
1. The UNR Research Renaissance Act: $100 Million Federal Investment
I will introduce legislation to provide $100 million in federal research funding to UNR over five years:
$30 million for climate and water research—making UNR the national leader in water conservation and renewable energy.
$25 million for public health infrastructure—pandemic preparedness, rural health access, and mental health services.
$20 million for agricultural innovation: Supporting our ranchers, farmers, and food businesses with cutting-edge research in sustainable agriculture, food security, and rural economic development.
$15 million for technology and AI research: Positioning UNR as a hub for ethical AI development, cybersecurity, and technology that serves working people, not just Silicon Valley.
$10 million for Indigenous studies and community partnerships: Fully funded research programs in partnership with Nevada’s tribal nations, honoring their sovereignty and knowledge systems.
2. The Student First Guarantee: Making UNR Affordable and Accessible
Higher education should be a right, not a privilege reserved for the wealthy. I will fight for:
Tuition-free community college for all Nevada residents, creating a seamless pathway to UNR and UNLV.
Debt-free UNR: A federal-state partnership to cover tuition and fees for families making under $125,000 per year, ensuring no Nevada student graduates with crushing debt.
Triple Pell Grant funding: Increasing the maximum Pell Grant to $15,000 per year and expanding eligibility to cover more working and middle-class families.
$50 million for student support services: Fully funding TRIO programs, mental health counseling, food pantries, emergency housing assistance, and childcare for student parents.
Living stipends for graduate researchers: Every graduate student conducting federally funded research deserves a living wage—minimum $35,000 per year plus full benefits.
3. Infrastructure for Innovation: Building the Campus of the Future
I will secure:
$200 million for a state-of-the-art Life Sciences and Public Health building
$200 million for a state-of-the-art Life Sciences and Public Health building.
Zero carbon campus by 2030, with solar arrays, geothermal systems, and energy-efficient buildings that serve as living laboratories.
$50 million for affordable student housing—1,000 units on or near campus.
$25 million for high-speed internet and technology infrastructure.
4. Economic Justice for University Workers
University workers deserve dignity and fair wages. I will champion:
$25 per hour living wage for all university workers with full benefits.
End adjunct exploitation: Federal funding tied to converting adjunct positions to adjunct positions to full-time, tenure-track faculty.
Faculty unions, and all campus workers organizing for better conditions.
5. Community-University Partnership Fund: $25 Million Annually
I will create a dedicated fund ensuring university research serves our communities:
Rural health clinics staffed by UNR students.
Small business incubators connecting UNR research with Main Street entrepreneurs, creating good jobs in Northern Nevada.
K-12 STEM pipeline programs ensuring every Nevada child, regardless of zip code, has access to science education and college preparation.
Environmental justice initiatives addressing pollution, water quality, and climate impacts in frontline communities.
6. Accountability and Transparency: A Representative Who Shows Up
Unlike Rep. Amodei, I will:
Hold quarterly town halls in every county in the district—open to all constituents, no exceptions.
Publish a monthly funding report showing every dollar I secure for UNR and how it’Publish monthly funding reports on dollars secured for UNR.
I will maintain my primary residence here, not in Washington.
The Economic Multiplier Effect: Why This Matters Beyond Campus
Every dollar invested in university research generates $2.56 in economic activity. The Trump administration’s cuts don’t just hurt UNR—they devastate our entire regional economy.
My plan will:
Create 5,000+ high-wage jobs in research, construction, and support services
Generate $500 million in annual economic activity across Northern Nevada
Attract $1 billion in private sector investment to the region over 10 years
Keep our best and brightest in Nevada Keep our best talent in Nevada
I’m running as an Independent Democrat because I believe in economic justice, equal opportunity, and government that works for working people.
I’ll work with anyone who wants to invest in our university and students, but I will never compromise on the principle that education is a public good.
The Choice Is Clear
Rep. Amodei has had 14 years to fight for UNR. Instead, he stood by while the Trump administration gutted our research capacity and eliminated student support. He refuses to hold town halls. He’s more interested in protecting tax cuts for billionaires than investing in our students. I’m offering bold, progressive investment in higher education as the foundation of a just economy.
Join the Fight.
The primary is June 9th. Early voting begins May 23rd to June 5th. This is our chance to send a message that Nevada’s Second District deserves better.
I graduated from UNR. I’ve built my life in this community. As a UNR graduate who built my life in this community, I know what this university means and what it can become. We can make UNR the engine of a green, equitable, prosperous future for all Nevadans.
Are you with me?
About the Author: Gamaliel "Gamy" Zavala Enriquez is running for Nevada's 2nd Congressional District in 2026. Gamy studied international relations at SFSU and European studies at the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain. He holds a BA in Political Science from Arizona State University and a Master's in Public Administration and Policy from the University of Nevada, Reno. He has a PhD in the School of Hard Knocks. He is a community organizer, political activist, small business owner, and graduate of UNR, deeply connected to Northern Nevada's communities.
