LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Former President Donald Trump has secured a victory in the Nevada Republican caucus, as projected by NBC News. The state of Nevada holds the distinction of being the first 2024 primary contest in the West, and is expected to be a closely-watched swing state in the general election. Trump’s win in the caucus positions him as a significant figure in the Republican party’s 2024 presidential nominee race.
In the 2020 general election, President Joe Biden won the state of Nevada with just over 50% of the vote, making it a closely contested battleground. Despite Nevada traditionally leaning towards Democratic candidates, the 2022 election saw a Republican, Joe Lombardo, elected as governor and as a result, endorsed Trump for president. The Nevada Republican Party will award 26 delegates based on the results of the caucuses, with Trump’s victory all but assured due to the lack of serious competitors.
Notably, Trump’s primary challenger, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, was defeated in the Nevada Republican primary. Despite being the only candidate on the primary ballot, Haley faced significant opposition from Nevada GOP voters, with the majority of ballots cast against her. This outcome emphasizes the level of support for Trump within the Nevada Republican Party.
It is important to note that in this week’s Nevada contests, Trump ran virtually unopposed as Haley chose to appear on the primary ballot. This decision ultimately brought about Haley’s stinging loss, as candidates are only allowed to participate in one contest, while registered Republican voters can vote in both the caucus and the primary. It remains to be seen how Trump’s victory in the Nevada Republican caucus will impact the larger landscape of the 2024 Republican presidential nominee race.