Nevada is holding two GOP contests within three days: the state government-run primary on Tuesday, where Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot and no delegates are at stake, and the Nevada Republican Party-run caucuses on Thursday, where the former president faces no serious opposition to win the state’s 26 delegates.
Trump is only participating in the caucuses and thus isn’t on primary ballots. Meanwhile, his lone remaining major 2024 GOP rival, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, is on the primary ballot and isn’t participating in the caucuses.
The parallel contests are the result of a 2021 Nevada state law that requires a primary — a shift from the state’s previous use of a presidential caucus system. Democrats in the state adopted the primary system — President Joe Biden and author Marianne Williamson will both be on the February 6 Democratic primary ballot — but Republicans rejected it, with the state GOP, led by Trump loyalists, opting instead to hold its own caucuses.
The Nevada GOP warned presidential candidates last year that they would not receive any delegates if they filed to run in the state’s primary. But some, including Haley, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former Vice President Mike Pence chose to do so anyway. All but Haley have dropped out of the race.
Meanwhile, Trump, as well as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Texas pastor Ryan Binkley filed to run in the caucuses.
The departure of those candidates (aside from the little-known Binkley, who is still in the race) effectively cemented Trump’s victory in the caucuses before either of the dueling contests were held.
“We will deliver you 100% of delegates of the state of Nevada to Donald J. Trump,” Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald said at Trump’s Las Vegas rally.
The state GOP’s decision has faced critics who say it was an effort to help Trump fend off a competitive race.
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