The Nevada primary results have delivered a significant win for President Joe Biden in the Democratic race, while former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley faced an embarrassing outcome in the GOP contest. President Biden secured victory in the Nevada Democratic presidential primary, further solidifying his path towards the 2024 Democratic nomination. On the other hand, Nikki Haley fell short in the GOP primary, as the “none of these candidates” option emerged as the symbolic winner, reflecting a rejection of her candidacy by Nevada voters.
The Nevada Republican Party’s decision to hold caucuses, which are party-run meetings open to Republicans only, resulted in an unusual and non-binding primary. This led to Nikki Haley competing against the “none of these candidates” option, and the latter emerging as the top choice for voters, signaling a symbolic setback for Haley’s campaign. The primary, which carried little weight in the Republican nominating process, was the result of a 2021 state law that replaced Nevada’s presidential caucuses with a state-mandated contest.
Haley had previously stated her intention to “prioritize states with equitable conditions” and consequently made minimal campaign efforts in the western state.
According to the secretary of state’s office, approximately 15,700 individuals cast their votes at the polls, while roughly 151,000 opted for early voting. However, determining the turnout’s significance posed a challenge since these primaries marked Nevada’s transition from caucuses to presidential primaries after many decades. In 2021, state legislators voted to alter the method of selecting presidential candidates, asserting that the primary format offered greater accessibility.
Nevada’s secretary of state, Cisco Aguilar, emphasized the importance of efficiency in a 24/7 economy. “People require efficiency while working,” he stated. “This efficiency can be achieved through a primary process.”
On the eastside of Las Vegas, a polling site situated in a high school saw a mere turnout of 23 individuals, with approximately 15 election workers present, awaiting voters. A few people entered to submit their ballots, including Virginia Christiansen, 71, and Jerry Christiansen, 77, who cast their votes for Biden. “I have no grievances against him,” remarked Jerry, a retired carpenter who had contributed to constructing the high school. “I fail to see why he isn’t receiving recognition.”
In a pivotal swing state that played a crucial role in Biden’s victory in 2020, the primary will serve as an imperfect gauge of voter enthusiasm and engagement.
Before the vote, Biden hosted a rally in Las Vegas on Sunday, cautioning about the peril another Trump presidency could pose to democratic principles as he and his opponent move closer to what appears to be an increasingly probable rematch in November. However, Biden also recognized that voters might be fatigued.
“I understand, we understand, there’s still much more work ahead,” he remarked. “Not everyone has experienced the full benefits of our investments and progress yet.”
In Henderson, located just south of Las Vegas, a slow stream of voters trickled into the city hall polling site, dampened both by the heavy rains outside and by subdued spirits.
“I’m not entirely enthusiastic, but I believe [Biden] is the better option among the two,” remarked Donny Lord, aged 45. “Overall, I think he’s doing the minimum of what could be done.”
Economic concerns weighed heavily on the minds of many voters. On election morning, union organizers, pivotal in mobilizing Democratic voters in the state, expressed their primary focus on advocating for higher wages for stadium workers ahead of the Super Bowl weekend. “There will be ample time to discuss politics,” stated D Taylor, president of the Unite Here union, during a press conference on Tuesday morning.
The influential Culinary Workers Union of the state, which is also involved in organizing workers at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the venue for the Super Bowl, is planning a significant voter mobilization effort later this year, preceding the general election.
“From union laborers in Las Vegas to educators in Reno, Nevadans across the Silver State have paved the way to defeat Donald Trump and Maga Republicans once again this November,” stated Jaime Harrison, chair of the Democratic National Committee, in a post-poll statement. “Nevada’s ‘first-in-the-west’ primary epitomizes Democrats’ dedication to empowering voters of color, engaging the diverse coalitions that form the foundation of the Democratic party, and facilitating ease in expressing everyone’s voices.”
The Nevada primary results have showcased President Joe Biden’s success in the Democratic contest, while highlighting the challenges faced by Nikki Haley in the GOP race. The emergence of the “none of these candidates” option as the top choice in the Nevada GOP primary has added a distinctive element to the early stages of the 2024 presidential campaign, shaping the narrative around the Republican candidates and the dynamics of the primary process in Nevada
