Francisco "Cisco" Aguilar is an American politician and lawyer serving as the Secretary of State of Nevada since January 2, 2023. He is a member of the Democratic Party and was elected to this position after defeating Republican opponent Jim Marchant in the 2022 election. Aguilar is notable for being Nevada's first Latino Secretary of State, bringing a diverse perspective to the office. His career encompasses extensive experience in law, business, and public service, which has contributed significantly to his role in Nevada's political landscape.

Early Life and Education

Francisco Aguilar, commonly known as Cisco, was born in Tucson, Arizona, around 1976 or 1977. He comes from a family of Mexican descent, and his upbringing was marked by participation in various sports, highlighting his competitive spirit. Aguilar graduated from University High School in Tucson and pursued higher education at the University of Arizona. He earned a bachelor's degree in Finance and Accounting in 2000, followed by a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) and a Juris Doctor (JD) in 2004.

Career

Legal and Government Service

Cisco Aguilar began his legal career as a law clerk for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He later served as special counsel to James E. Rogers, who was chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education.

Aguilar subsequently practiced law at De Castroverde Law Group, where he later held the position of of counsel between 2020 and 2022.

Sports Management and Business

Aguilar served as a member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission from 2009 to 2017, including a two-year term as chairman. During that period, the commission regulated professional boxing and mixed martial arts events in Nevada.

Between 2008 and 2018, Aguilar was general counsel for Agassi Graf and the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education. He later worked with Agassi Graf, a management company representing tennis players Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, where he was involved in business and brand-related matters.

As part of a fellowship awarded by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, Aguilar worked at Adidas Global Headquarters in Germany from 2017 to 2018 on initiatives related to brand sustainability.

In 2020, Aguilar founded Blueprint Sports, LLC. He also established Blueprint Sports & Entertainment, a company operating in the sports technology sector. At Blueprint Sports, he served as founder and partner.

Board Memberships and Community Organizations

Aguilar has served on the board of directors of the Las Vegas Bowl, Sletten Construction Company, Fulfillment Fund Las Vegas, and the University of Arizona Foundation Board of Trustees.

He is a founding board member of the Innocence Center of Nevada and served as founding chairman of Cristo Rey St. Viator, a Roman Catholic high school located in North Las Vegas.

Aguilar also served on the board of directors of the Marshall Foundation from 2005 to 2020. His community involvement has included organizations associated with civic participation, voting rights, and access to education.

Secretary of State of Nevada

In 2022, Aguilar announced his candidacy for Secretary of State of Nevada. After running unopposed in the Democratic primary, he defeated Republican candidate Jim Marchant in the general election and became the first Latino elected to the office.

Aguilar took office on January 2, 2023.

As secretary of state, he has overseen election administration in Nevada. During his tenure, the state enacted legislation classifying the harassment of election workers as a felony offense.

Aguilar has discussed Nevada election laws and election administration procedures with national and local media outlets, including matters related to ballot processing and vote-counting procedures. Nevada law provides for the distribution of mail ballots to registered voters, and ballots containing signature discrepancies are subject to a verification process before being counted.

During his time in office, Nevada incorporated blockchain technology into its election certification process. His administration has also overseen automatic voter registration and voter outreach programs in communities across the state. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [8] [7]}

Interviews

Public Service, Sports, and Elections #01

On November 11, 2025, Cisco Aguilar appeared on the ''Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network'' for an interview covering his background, professional experience, public service activities, and policy-related topics.

During the interview, Aguilar discussed his family history and stated that his upbringing was influenced by his family's working-class background, including the experiences of his grandfather, who worked in the mining industry and participated in labor union activities. He also referred to education, discipline, and public service as factors in his personal and professional development.

Aguilar discussed his professional relationships with businessman Jim Rogers and former tennis player Andre Agassi. He described working with Rogers early in his career and later serving as general counsel for Agassi and the Andre Agassi Foundation. He stated that these experiences contributed to his understanding of leadership, organizational management, and community-focused initiatives.

The interview also addressed Aguilar's tenure on the Nevada Athletic Commission. He discussed the implementation of a drug-testing program in mixed martial arts events regulated in Nevada and described the process of working with athletic regulators and industry stakeholders during its development.

Regarding his service as Nevada Secretary of State, Aguilar discussed voter participation initiatives and election administration. He referenced the use of Allegiant Stadium as a voting location during the 2024 general election and cited voter turnout data associated with the site, including participation by first-time and nonpartisan voters.

Aguilar also discussed a concept he refers to as “paying community rent,” which he described as participation in mentorship, volunteer activities, and community involvement. In addition, he addressed election technology and expressed support for exploring digital voting systems while maintaining election security requirements.

The interview included discussion of Aguilar's participation in endurance sports, including an Ironman triathlon and an expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro. He also commented on the role of sports organizations and sporting events in community engagement and public activities. The interview concluded with remarks about his tenure as Nevada's first Latino Secretary of State. ^[10]

Discussion on Election Administration and Technology #02

On December 12, 2023, Cisco Aguilar appeared on the YouTube program ''PoliticsAside by Porter Group'' to discuss election administration, public policy, technology, and state government in Nevada. During the interview, he commented on Nevada's role as host of major sporting events, including Formula One in Las Vegas and Super Bowl LVIII.

Aguilar discussed topics related to election administration in Nevada, including the responsibilities of poll workers and election officials. He addressed challenges associated with election staffing, recruitment, and workplace safety, as well as efforts to maintain election operations across the state.

The interview also covered Nevada's electoral framework during the 2024 presidential election cycle. Aguilar described the state's administration of a Democratic presidential primary and the Republican Party's use of a caucus process for delegate allocation. He stated that the Secretary of State's office was required to administer elections in accordance with Nevada law and referenced court decisions related to the implementation of election procedures.

Technology and election administration were additional subjects of discussion. Aguilar commented on the use of artificial intelligence in relation to elections, including topics such as cybersecurity, election-related information, and administrative resources. He also referred to the use of blockchain-based systems in certain government services and discussed the development of ballot tracking tools for mail voting.

Aguilar further discussed election funding, voter outreach, and administrative planning. He referenced Nevada's vote-by-mail system, election management infrastructure, and initiatives related to voter information and election personnel training.

The interview included remarks about Aguilar's professional background and public service activities. He discussed his work in education-related initiatives, his involvement with the Agassi Foundation, and factors that influenced his decision to seek public office. ^[11]