Las Vegas, Nevada – Former President Donald Trump emerged victorious in Nevada’s Republican presidential caucuses on Thursday with no significant opposition, extending his winning streak as he pursues the party’s nomination. The absence of ex-U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, his last major rival, underscored Trump’s overwhelming control of the contest, which is crucial in the path to the GOP nomination.
Despite not being widely contested, Trump is set to secure most, if not all, of the state’s 26 delegates, moving him closer to the required 1,215 delegates for a formal nomination. With the primary focus shifting to South Carolina, where Haley is banking on local support in the upcoming primary, Trump remains confident of a strong showing in the Super Tuesday contests in March.
During a brief victory speech in Las Vegas, Trump reveled in the long lines reported in the Western state and expressed eagerness to declare victory in the South Carolina primary. His supporters, who waited in long lines at caucus sites, including one where nearly 1,000 people lined up, showed unwavering dedication to the former president’s candidacy.
Amidst the overwhelmingly favorable caucus results for Trump, Nevada’s state party made significant rule changes to limit the influence of primary and super PACs, solidifying his position. These caucuses typically require in-person participation, favoring candidates with robust grassroots support like Trump, but they also highlighted Nevada Republicans’ desire for stricter participation rules.
Despite Trump’s strong showing and unwavering popularity among Nevada Republicans, the state’s GOP officials have faced legal issues, with six party members indicted on felony charges related to false claims of Trump’s win in 2020. Trump himself is battling multiple legal challenges while continuing to exert influence within the Republican Party at a national level.
While Trump’s dominance in the Republican race remains unchallenged, legal and political hurdles continue to pose significant threats to his future candidacy. A federal appeals panel recently ruled that Trump can face trial on charges related to overturning the 2020 election results, and the U.S. Supreme Court has entertained arguments to keep him off the 2024 presidential ballot.