Staff Reports
Conservative Republicans from all over Nevada were utterly bewildered this week as they faced a chaotic mess of primary elections and separate caucuses. The state’s Democrats and Republicans went to the polls Tuesday, while the Nevada Republican Party held their own caucuses on Thursday. It’s like trying to wrangle a bunch of rowdy horses into separate pens at the rodeo!
The Republicans could cast their votes in both the primary and caucuses if they fancied, but here’s the kicker: only the Thursday caucuses would actually count towards awarding those precious delegates. It’s like ordering a hamburger but only getting the bun – what’s the point, really? To add more fuel to the fire, the candidates were different in each event. Nikki Haley, the former U.N. Ambassador, decided to strut her stuff on Tuesday’s primary ballot, but guess who was nowhere to be found? You got it – the main man, former President Donald Trump!
Caucus confusion: Why Nevada is having 2024 primaries and GOP caucuses https://t.co/F3q4eGCYV6 via @dcexaminer
— Julia Johnson (@juliaajohnson_) February 6, 2024
This topsy-turvy move caused a mass exodus of 2024 Republican candidates, who all but abandoned Nevada during their primary campaigns. It’s like the cool kids avoiding the nerdy kid’s lunch table at school. The only loyal straggler was Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, who sprinkled a bit of his campaign magic in Nevada before making his exit from the White House race.
And get this – the 26 delegates in Nevada are pretty much guaranteed to be scooped up by Trump, leaving his comical competitor, Ryan Binkley, in the dust. The political scientist Josh Putnam explained that the reason behind Haley and others participating in the primary, with no shot at snagging delegates, was simply due to Trump’s vice-like grip on the party-run caucuses. It’s like watching a one-horse race at the county fair – not much excitement, is there?
Nevada’s grand plan for the primaries didn’t quite sit well with the Nevada Republican Party, who opposed the move. They even took legal action, claiming it infringed on voters’ freedom of association and lamenting the lack of election security measures. But alas, a judge ruled in favor of both caucuses and the primary, dealing a blow to the state party. It’s like trying to rain on someone’s parade, but the parade still goes on anyway.
The state’s Republican Party Chairman, Michael McDonald, voiced his frustrations, likening the primary to a “participation trophy” and competing for a “plastic tiara.” Ouch! He bemoaned the lack of voter ID and security, suggesting that without these measures, there’s no way to keep track of who’s casting the ballots. It’s like trying to play a game of “Guess Who?” but with no faces on the board.
The whole debacle raised concerns that the Nevada Republican Party would engineer a Trump triumph, given the chairman’s vocal support for the former president and his involvement in the 2020 election shenanigans. But McDonald didn’t take too kindly to those accusations, emphasizing that he wouldn’t be pulling any strings and waving his many invitations to Republican candidates as evidence.
To top it all off, Governor Joe Lombardo chimed in, expressing his disdain for the party’s tactics and calling the whole affair “unacceptable.” He didn’t hold back, labeling the situation as “unfortunate” and even accused the party of turning a deaf ear to his concerns. It’s like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded – good luck getting everything to line up!
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more audacious, the Nevada Republican Party reportedly urged voters to choose the option “none of these candidates” on the primary ballots, essentially punishing any Republicans who dared to participate in the state-run election. It’s like offering a bowl of fruits and telling everyone not to touch the apples – just stick to the oranges! If that wasn’t enough, Governor Lombardo already announced that he’s going for the “none of these candidates” option and banking on Trump for the caucuses. It’s like choosing the mystery flavor over vanilla – let’s see how this gamble pans out!
