Pence skipping Nevada GOP caucuses for primary contest

Former Vice President Mike Pence has filed for Nevada’s presidential preference primary contest, a move that means he’ll be skipping the state’s GOP caucuses. 

Pence is listed among candidates who have filed for the Feb. 6 primary with the Nevada secretary of State’s office, set just days ahead of the Nevada GOP’s “First in the West” Feb. 8 caucuses. He’s the first major Republican candidate on the list.

The Silver State’s Republican Party has blocked candidates from participating in its caucuses if they participate in the state-run primary contest and said it will only honor the caucus results when it comes to picking the GOP nominee. Pence and any other GOP candidates who opt to take part in the primary won’t be eligible to win Nevada delegates.

The Nevada GOP has come under criticism for holding the caucus amid the state-run primary, which is required if more than two candidates run. Some are citing worries about voter confusion, and some are raising concerns that the state party is doing so to benefit the GOP front-runner, former President Trump. 

Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum have filed to participate in the caucus, according to The Associated Press,

Some are suggesting Pence’s decision to take part in the primary and forego vying for Nevada’s delegates is a smart move, since it could put attention on the winner ahead of the GOP caucuses.

“We’ll probably have to be a little bit more selective in where we invest resources, and that was the basis of that. But we love Nevada and we look forward to tell our story there in the primary,” Pence told the AP. 

Pence is among a crowded field of GOP presidential candidates scrambling to narrow the significant lead held by his former running mate. The latest Morning Consult poll of the Republican field puts Trump at 61 percent and Pence at 5 percent.

The Associated Press contributed.