Joe Biden is on track to secure delegates in the Nevada primary, moving closer to securing the Democratic nomination, while Donald Trump will have to wait until Thursday for the Republican caucuses. The dual contests have caused some confusion among Nevada voters, as Republicans have chosen to award their delegates through caucuses rather than a primary.
Despite the confusion, it is clear that both Biden and Trump are expected to come out as winners of Nevada delegates. Biden’s victory in the South Carolina primary just three days ago has given him momentum heading into the Silver State primary.
Nevada’s primary has gained significance this year as it is now second on the Democratic calendar after Iowa and New Hampshire were demoted. This change was made to ensure a more diverse electorate has a say in the early stages of the presidential nominating battle.
On the Democratic primary ballot, Biden faces minimal opposition from a dozen candidates, including author Marianne Williamson. Notably absent from the ballot is Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips, who entered the race after the state’s filing deadline had passed.
Biden recently addressed a rally crowd in Las Vegas, expressing his confidence in defeating Trump once again. He also highlighted his administration’s economic efforts and acknowledged that there is more work to be done to address the still-recovering economy during the general election.
While Biden continues his campaign, he is also focused on fundraising. He is set to join former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama at a fundraising event in New York City later this month.
On the Republican side, Nevada Republicans are disregarding Tuesday’s primary, which does not include Trump on the ballot. Instead, the state GOP has chosen to hold caucuses on Thursday evening to award their delegates to the winner. This decision stems from a 2021 state law that replaced presidential caucuses with government-run primaries, but the Nevada Republican Party decided to hold caucuses regardless.
Despite some Republican contenders participating in the primary, Trump is the only major contender remaining in Thursday’s caucuses, virtually guaranteeing his victory. At a recent Las Vegas rally, Trump advised attendees to focus on the caucuses rather than the primary.
As the primary and caucuses unfold in Nevada, both Biden and Trump are poised to secure delegates for their respective parties’ nominating conventions, further solidifying their paths towards the presidential election.
