All 49 of Nevada’s national Democratic delegates unanimously backed the nomination of Kamala Harris to be the party’s presidential nominee.
Harris, 59, has secured more than the required 1,976 endorsements needed to become the party’s nominee in the first round of voting. There are 3,936 Democratic delegates in total, including former presidents, state and local party leaders, members of Congress and governors, but only about half get to vote in the first round.
California’s delegates put Harris over the top Monday evening when they voted unanimously to back the state’s former U.S. Senator for president. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for the vote.
The Nevada news first came in a social media post Monday night by Nevada State Democratic Party.
“We are united,” the party wrote.
Nevada State Democratic Party Chair Daniele Monroe-Moreno released a statement soon after explaining why:
“Vice President Kamala Harris understands Nevada – we were the first battleground state she visited this year – and Nevada Democrats know Vice President Harris has been instrumental to the Biden administration’s historic progress,” Monroe-Moreno said.
“She was at the forefront of efforts expanding access to health care, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, making housing more affordable, and keeping our communities safe. This work has led to a stronger economy, thousands of new good-paying union jobs, and defense of our fundamental rights.”
Monroe-Moreno said the party is already working hard to get Harris elected in November.
“Nevada Democrats never take any vote for granted, which is why we invested early in a ground game that will send Kamala Harris to the White House and elect Democrats up and down the ballot,” she said.
Delegates will attend the Democratic National Convention Aug. 19 to 22 in Chicago where they will express support for their nominee. The candidate receiving the most support from delegates across the nation will be the party’s pick for the November general election ballot.
The Democrats’ choice was put in flux when President Joe Biden announced Sunday he would not seek reelection. He quickly threw his support behind Harris.
Some Democrats had pushed for an open nominating process where multiple candidates would be considered, but most top elected Democrats – such as Rep. Nancy Pelosi – have endorsed Harris.
In Northern Nevada, Washoe County Democratic Party chair Carissa Snedeker said the overwhelming choice from people contacting her is Harris.
“She’s such a strong candidate,” Snedeker said.
It will ultimately be up to delegates to pick the nominee. The Democratic Party on Monday laid out plans to hold a virtual vote to pick a nominee before August 7, weeks before the Democratic National Convention that’s scheduled to run August 19-22 in Chicago.
Other candidates could put their name in for consideration at that time, but if Harris has secured the necessary votes any challenge would be short lived. The vice president has already largely gathered the support of the governors, Capitol Hill Democrats and others who would vote in a second round.
More: Nevada women in politics share conflicting views about Kamala Harris for president
USA Today reporters Sarah D. Wire and Sudiksha Kochi contributed to this report.
Mark Robison is the state politics reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal, with occasional forays into other topics. Email comments to mrobison@rgj.com or comment on Mark’s Greater Reno Facebook page.
How smartphone apps turn your night sky into a space map
Astronomy apps help you spot constellations, planets and satellites in real time using your smartphone.
Skywatchers across the U.S. are about to be treated to a dazzling weekend filled with not only two active meteor showers, but a celestial alignment starring the moon.
For two nights, Earth’s only natural satellite will host a cosmic party with three planets — Mars, Saturn and Uranus.
The phenomenon, often called a planet parade, presents spectators with a rare opportunity to see not only multiple planets, but also the moon, appear close together in the night sky — at least, from Earth’s vantage.
The best part of the show? Most of the striking spectacle — with the exception of Uranus — will be visible to the naked eye.
Here’s everything to know about the rare sight, as well as when, how and where you can see it across the United States.
The moon will appear in the night sky before sunrise on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12, NASA said in a monthly skywatching guide.
While the term “planet parade” is not an official astronomy term, it is an unofficial way for astronomers and stargazers to refer to certain celestial events.
The planets in our solar system orbit the sun essentially along a line across the sky in a flat disc-shaped plane called the ecliptic.
Another term for a certain kind of planetary alignment, planet parades are what happens when planets line up along the ecliptic in a straight line and appear to us on Earth to be marching across the night sky, according to NASA. So, while planetary alignments themselves aren’t special, it is notable to have an opportunity to observe multiple planets at once.
During the celestial alignment, the moon will be entering a waning crescent phase before we have a new moon, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. That means Earth’s only natural satellite is getting less and less full and bright each night as its crescent gets thinner and thinner, NASA explains.
That’s good news for stargazers, as the moon will still be visible without outshining the planets nearby.
Look toward the eastern sky to catch the cosmic lineup in the early morning.
While the moon will of course be the easiest to locate, Mars will look like a small reddish point of light, while Saturn is also bright and easy to spot, NASA explained in a video.
For the clearest views, there are several places that are an easy drive from Reno where you can get a clear view of the stars, including:
Cloudy conditions may bring relief from the recent heat wave, but they could spoil the early-morning view of the planetary parade in much of northwestern Nevada.
Mars and Saturn are among the five planets in our solar system visible without optical aid — along with Mercury, Venus and Jupiter. Telescopes certainly will enhance the view but spectators don’t need any equipment to spot those planets joining the moon in the pre-dawn sky.
As for Uranus, the planet is typically not as bright — despite being the third largest in our solar system — and will require a telescope to see, NASA said.
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com. The Reno Gazette Journal’s Carly Sauvageau and Brett McGinness contributed to this report.
A Nevada man is believed to have suffered a deadly fall while climbing in Oregon.
He’s been identified as 77-year-old Robert Pickering.
Search and rescue crews say they found his body along Mount Washington, northwest of Bend, according to a social media post from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
A climbing guide reported hearing a rockslide near the summit after Pickering passed his group.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office was one of several groups that assisted in the search.
RENO, Nev. – A homicide suspect from Montana took their own life on Thursday night after police surrounded their car in northwest Reno, reports KTVN 2 News Nevada.
The incident happened in the area of Sharlands Avenue around 9 p.m., according to a spokesperson for the Reno Police Department.
Officers located the suspect and surrounded their car, blocking them in. They then heard a single gunshot and backed away.
Reinforcements were called, and a drone was brought in by UNRPD. It was then confirmed the suspect was in their car, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the news agency reports.
The suspect has not been identified pending the notification of next of kin, and no additional information has been released at this time.
In addition to the Reno Police Department, the Regional Narcotics Unit and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
The investigation is ongoing.
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