Nevada Hosts Unusual GOP Caucus and Primary as Leading Republican Candidates Don’t Face Off
In a surprising twist, Nevada is preparing to host its first-in-the-West presidential nominating contest with a unique scenario. This year, the state will witness not only a primary but also a caucus for the Republican Party. This unusual combination means that the leading Republican White House hopefuls will not directly face off in the Silver State.
The decision to have both a caucus and a primary in Nevada stems from a change to state law in 2021. The majority-Democratic legislature made this change after years of decreasing attendance at caucuses. The transition to government-run primaries was part of an effort to improve voter access and counteract allegations of voter fraud. While this change was welcomed by many, the Nevada Republican Party protested against it. They argued that caucuses are more secure and encourage candidates to connect with voters. Consequently, the Republican caucuses will still be held, in addition to the state-run primary.
The result is a confusing process that some fear may hinder turnout. However, it is expected to lead to both former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump declaring victory in the state. It is important to note that only one candidate will walk away with the state’s delegates.
As of Monday morning, over 59,000 Republican ballots have already been cast for the primary, while over 95,000 Democratic ballots have been cast. On the Democratic ballot, President Biden faces author Marianne Williamson and a list of lesser-known candidates. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota will not be on the ballot since he entered the race after the filing deadline. Thirty-six Democratic delegates are up for grabs, but any challenger to Biden must meet the threshold of 15% statewide or in a Congressional district to qualify for any delegates.
On the Republican ballot, former White House hopefuls Sen. Tim Scott of Florida and former Vice President Mike Pence will join Haley. However, Trump, along with other GOP nomination contenders like Gov. Ron DeSantis, will not appear on the primary ballot. Instead, they have chosen to participate in the caucuses. Voters will also have the option to select “none of these candidates,” but write-in votes are not permitted.
The decision for Trump to appear on the caucus ballot rather than the primary ballot has sparked controversy. Critics claim that this move was pushed by Trump’s allies, indicating their influence within the Republican Party. Additionally, the state Republican Party has imposed rules against significant involvement by super PACs at the caucus, frustrating campaigns such as DeSantis’, which relied heavily on organizing efforts from outside groups.
Polls for the Nevada primaries will close at 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Republican voters can participate in both the GOP primary and caucuses. On Thursday, the GOP caucus hours will be from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. local time.
It should be noted that winning the primary does not guarantee any delegates for Haley. Delegates are tied to the caucuses, so she will likely use her performance on Tuesday as a success to gain momentum heading into South Carolina’s primary contest later this month.
Currently, Trump has accumulated 33 delegates from Iowa and New Hampshire, while Haley has secured 17. To secure the GOP nomination, a candidate needs 1,215 delegates.
The unusual combination of a caucus and a primary in Nevada has created a unique situation in the Republican nomination process. With leading candidates opting for different paths, the outcome remains uncertain. The eyes of the nation will be on Nevada as it plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Republican Party’s presidential race.
