In CAMPAIGN 2024: For Nevada Republicans, early February could prove to be a tale of two presidential nominating contests.
The Nevada GOP is holding their own party-run caucus, and it will exclude any candidate who files to run in the state sanctioned primary.
By law, the Secretary of State is responsible for holding a primary for both major party's, though the Nevada GOP is appealing that decision to the Nevada State Supreme Court.
This leaves registered republicans in Nevada wondering if they have two options to vote.
Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar says that is a conversation between the voter and their party.
"That's up the voter, they're going to determine what is in the best interest. Again, ideally this conversation should be had during the 2023 legislative session to understand truly what we're trying to accomplish here, and what is the goal, and what is the intent. The fact that we didn't have that conversation has led us to today," said (D-NV) Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar.
But as the Deputy Secretary of State for Elections Mark Wlaschin explained during the September 28th Secretary of State Advisory Committee on Participatory Democracy meeting, there might not even be a republican primary if less than two presidential candidates file.
So far the office says five candidates have made appointments to file, but those candidates' party affiliation is not yet known.
"If there are two or more candidates that file during the candidate filing period that begins on Monday for either party then we will have a presidential preference primary for those major parties. If it is only on major party, if only two individuals file for one major party then there will only be one presidential preference primary for that one major party," explained Deputy Scretary of State for Elections Mark Wlaschin.
If there is a Nevada GOP state Presidential Preference Primary (PPP) in addition to Nevada GOP caucus, the party says they will not discourage registered republicans from participating in both. However, they will make the message clear that the Nevada GOP Caucus is ostensibly the only nominating contest that counts.
"Part of our process is to educate voters as well as canddiates on the fact that the presidental preference primary is non binding and that the only place that delegates can get awarded is at the caucus and so we will be doing everything in our power to makesure everybody knows that that's the case. Hopefully that will encourage everybody to participate in the caucus and not the primary," said Republican National Committeeman Jim Degraffenreid.
Nonpartisan voters, who are Nevada's largest voting block, are required to register with on of the major parties to participate in the nominating contests. While there is same day registration, Secretary Aguilar says that the more than 611,000 non-partisan voters should register early as not to overload the system.
Nevada's statewide presidential preference primary is February 6th and the Nevada GOP's 'First in the West Caucus' is February 8th.
