Former President Donald Trump Sweeps Nevada Republican Presidential Caucus and Primary

The recent political events in Nevada have been a subject of intense interest and controversy, with former President Donald Trump emerging as the clear winner in both the Republican presidential caucus and primary. This double victory marks a significant milestone in Trump’s bid for a third term in the White House.

The Nevada Republican presidential caucus, held on February 8, 2024, saw Trump securing all 26 delegates up for grabs. The former president was the only major candidate on the ballot, and his commanding lead in the polls made his victory a foregone conclusion. The caucus results were announced quickly after the precincts began reporting, solidifying Trump’s position as the front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination.

However, the Nevada Republican primary, held on the same day, presented a more complex situation. Trump was not on the ballot, and his supporters were encouraged to vote for “none of these candidates” instead. This strategy proved effective, with Trump supporters making up a significant portion of those who voted for the “none of these candidates” option. The confusion over having two competing contests dates back to 2021 when Democrats, who controlled both Nevada’s governor’s office and the legislature, passed a law changing the presidential nominating contest from long-held caucuses to a state-run primary.

The Nevada GOP objected to this change but was unable to stop the primary from going forward. In a twist, the judge in the case allowed the state Republicans to hold their own caucuses, with no delegates at stake in the Republican primary. The state GOP ruled that candidates who put their name on the state-run primary ballot could not take part in the caucuses.

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, one of Trump’s last remaining major rivals for the 2024 Republican nomination, chose to skip the Nevada caucus, believing it was rigged in favor of Trump. Haley and some of the other departed Republican presidential candidates viewed the Nevada GOP as too loyal to Trump and decided to focus their efforts on other states. Nevada GOP chair Michael McDonald and both of the state’s members of the Republican National Committee are supporting Trump.

Haley charged that the Nevada caucus was rigged for Trump and that voters were misled by the dual contests. However, McDonald claimed that Haley was not a serious candidate and that her lack of campaigning in Nevada was the reason for her poor showing in the primary. While the GOP presidential candidates had to choose either the caucus or primary ballot, registered Republicans in Nevada could vote in both contests. Trump’s campaign worked to get the message out to supporters in Nevada that if they wanted to vote for the former president, they needed to show up at the caucuses.

Trump’s continued dominance in the polls is a testament to his unwavering support base and the effectiveness of conservative policies. Despite alternating between campaign events and courtroom appearances, Trump’s substantial lead signals a strong desire for a return to conservative leadership. His resilience in the face of adversity and his ability to mobilize his supporters have been key factors in his political success.

As the vote count continued on Tuesday night, Trump took to his Truth Social network to take aim at Haley, arguing that she was losing by almost 30 points in Nevada to “None of These Candidates.” Haley, looking ahead, reiterated that her focus was on South Carolina, Michigan, and Super Tuesday. South Carolina’s next up in the GOP presidential nominating calendar, with a primary on February 24. Michigan holds its primary three days after the South Carolina primary, and fifteen states, including the behemoths of California and Texas, hold contests a week later, on Super Tuesday.

Haley’s two campaign stops on Wednesday in California were her first to date in any of the Super Tuesday states. The swing to the Golden State appears in part to be a marker for Haley as she pushes back against calls by some Republicans to drop out of the race and give up her uphill climb for the nomination. Haley hauled in $1.7 million in fundraising during her two days in California.

The events in Nevada are just an appetizer for the key general election battleground state, which will see plenty of campaign traffic this summer and autumn. The 2024 campaign trail is heating up, with exclusive interviews and updates available at the Fox News Digital election hub.

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire.