Adam Laxalt is starting his tour of Nevada, where he is trying to gain support for his U.S. Senate candidacy. The former Nevada attorney general is one of four republicans vying for the nomination to take on Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.

"Unfortunately, Masto continues to try to pretend like she's a moderate but she is not standing for Nevadans," Laxalt, said. "She does not stand against the left."

Laxalt is critical of President Joe Biden's handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Mexico border.

"We should be deciding who comes and goes in a rational process, not continuing to send the signal that the entire world can come through an open border," Laxalt said.

He says the democrats have a socialist green agenda, pointing at the $3.5 trillion spending bill for social programs that many democrats support.

"It's something we cannot afford and it's not something that we want that kind of interaction from government in our lives," Laxalt said. "She's (Cortez Masto) going to vote for that bill. Nevadans are feeling inflation and they do not want more spending and an economic policy that is going to transform our nation."

Laxalt says the bill shows a sharp move to the left for our country. The senate is split 50-50 between democrats and republicans. Vice President Kamala Harris holds the tie-breaking votes for democrats. He says Nevada's senate race could determine who has control after the 2022 election.

"This U.S. Senate seat puts an immediate stop to that radical agenda that we're seeing out of Washington," Laxalt said.

A group of protesters gathered outside of Laxalt's Reno event. It supports Cortez Masto's re-election bid.

"She stayed in touch with the people back here," Chip Evans, Co-founder of Indivisible Northern Nevada said. "She represents the majority of Nevadans in poll after poll, she's just a good communication cycle going with the people."

"We're out here today because Adam Laxalt is running for U.S. Senate and he holds values that do not line up with Nevadans, the majority of Nevadans," Caroline Mello Roberson, Southwest Regional Director for NARAL Pro-Choice America said.

Mello Roberson says one of the main reasons she is involved is because of the differences between the two candidates on abortion.

"The Women's Health and Protection Act was just voted out of the House of Representatives and is on its way to the U.S. Senate," Mello Roberson said. "This would federally codify our right to abortion. If Adam Laxalt were in the senate, we know where he would stand and we know Senator Catherine Cortez Masto would be on our side."

"I'm a pro-life candidate where for example, if you're going to have partial birth abortion, that's something that people do not support," Laxalt said.

Laxalt ran for governor of Nevada in 2018 but was defeated by Steve Sisolak. He says he likes his chances in 2022.

"Unfortunately 2018, it was a blue year and it was a tough environment for us to win but I'm a stronger candidate today," Laxalt said. "We always learn from every experience in life. We're ready to go charge the hill."

Laxalt plans to visit all 17 Nevada counties in the first two weeks of October. He is visiting Reno, Fernley, Lovelock, Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Elko, Ely, Eureka and Fallon between Friday and Sunday.

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