Trump Predicted To Score Easy Delegates In Nevada Caucus

Nevada, once a battleground state in the Republican primary, has now become a non-factor due to a thinned-out field and the unwavering support of Nevada Republicans for former President Donald Trump. With two contests scheduled in February, Trump’s influence has made the state’s primary calendar irrelevant in the race for the Republican nomination.

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley will run in the primary on Feb. 6, operated by the Nevada secretary of state. However, Trump has chosen to participate in the Feb. 8 caucuses organized by the state Republican Party. These caucuses will be the only ones that count toward delegate allocation.

These changes may confuse thousands of voters who receive primary mail ballots without Trump’s name. Furthermore, they diminish Nevada’s influence as an early and competitive nominating state.

Trump’s allies within the state Republican Party implemented these changes last year, which favored caucuses and imposed restrictions that other contenders, such as Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, deemed unfair. This pattern of state Republican parties aligning closely with Trump reflects his desire to secure the Republican nomination swiftly.

Haley, the last major contender against Trump, has decided to bypass Nevada and focus on her home state of South Carolina, where a primary is scheduled for Feb. 24.

In 2021, with Democrats at the helm of the state government, a law was enacted in Nevada mandating a presidential preference primary. The state’s electoral process is recognized for its inclusivity, featuring a system where a mail ballot is automatically sent to all registered voters.

However, Nevada GOP’s close allies chose to hold their caucus two days after the primary, complete with on-site voter I.D. requirements, paper ballots, and limited voting within a two-and-a-half-hour window on a Thursday evening.

Michael McDonald, the chairman of the Nevada GOP, pointed to the Democrats’ neglect of election reforms proposed by Republican Governor Joe Lombardo, especially regarding voter I.D., as the justification for opting for a caucus system. Historically, Nevada Republicans have selected their nominee through caucuses.

Although Trump’s name will be absent from the primary ballot distributed to Republican voters, he is the sole prominent candidate qualifying for Nevada’s 26 delegates. In the party-conducted caucus, his only challenger is Ryan Binkley, who secured just 0.1 percent of the vote in New Hampshire.

This complex process has left many voters feeling confused and disengaged. Henry Vanderleest, a Sparks resident, expressed his frustration, stating that the voting process and the quality of candidates have deterred him from participating in the election.