Nevada

Trump won’t win the Nevada primary. Here’s why he will still be the state’s 2024 nominee.

Published

2 years ago

January 25, 2024

Trump won’t win the Nevada primary. Here’s why he will still be the state’s 2024 nominee.

Donald Trump is going to lose Nevada’s Republican primary election next month, and the victory instead will likely go to Nikki Haley. Or maybe just “none of these.”

Confused? You’re not the only one.

Tens of thousands of Nevada GOP voters are discovering Trump’s name is absent from the primary ballots they’re receiving in the mail.

Instead of running in the Feb. 6 primary, Trump is participating in party-run caucuses two days later. Only the caucus results count toward selecting the state’s 26 Republican National Convention electors, but state law still requires a primary.

Voters can participate in both contests but candidates had to pick one or the other.

Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar said even his own friends are calling him up to complain, though his office been alerting voters about the dueling contests for months, sending out postcards, posting signs and speaking to the media.

“It’s one of those things where people aren’t paying attention until now,” he said. “I don’t know what else we could do.”

Why does Nevada have both a caucus and a primary election?

Normally, states hold either government-run primary elections or party-run caucuses, but not both.

Under a 2021 state law, Nevada is required to hold presidential primary elections as long as there are at least two candidates for a party’s nomination.

But Republican Party officials ‒ many of whom participated in a 2020 effort to subvert the presidential election results in Trump’s favor ‒ decided last year to hold a binding caucus. They also tried unsuccessfully to stop the state from holding the primary.

“Why is there a caucus? Because the state Republican Party thinks that will help Trump,” said Dan Lee, an associate professor of political science at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

What did the Nevada Republican Party say about having caucuses?

In a statement, the Nevada GOP said it considered the primary election a waste of taxpayer dollars, and that party business should be funded and conducted by the party itself. Caucus supporters say they’re the best way to test a candidate’s appeal to the party faithful, and require candidates to demonstrate they can organize and turn out voters.

“Simply put, candidates who participate in an illegitimate process cannot expect to earn legitimate delegates to the Republican National Convention,” the party said.

To learn more: When is the next presidential election? Everything to know about Election Day 2024.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was participating in the caucuses until he dropped out earlier this month, while former Vice President Mike Pence chose to run in the primary, until he dropped out at the end of October. Like Tim Scott, the South Carolina senator who also ended his campaign, Pence will still appear on the primary ballot because the ballots were finalized before he quit the race.

How are the Nevada caucuses and primary different?

Because party officials get to set their own caucus rules, Nevada GOP officials are requiring in-person participation and ID verification at the caucuses, which they argue provides better election security and saves taxpayer funds.

In a taxpayer-funded primary election, run by Aguilar’s office and county clerks, voters can cast their ballots by mail or in person. It’s also open to military members serving overseas.

Aguilar said primary elections are typically considered more inclusive than caucuses because more voters can participate, instead of only those able to attend on Feb. 8. And it’s typically easier for a candidate to qualify for the primary ballot.

Why did Haley decide to run in the Nevada primary?

Because Trump supporters control the Nevada GOP, Haley never stood a chance of winning the caucuses, which tend to draw the most die-hard party supporters, Lee said. Instead, Haley likely hopes she’ll win enough votes in the primary to show she has broad support.

Also, candidates who wanted to participate in the caucus had to pay the state party $55,000 or host a fundraiser on its behalf, making it an expensive proposition for candidates lacking Trump’s massive fundraising apparatus.

“In these early states, it’s not about winning delegates per se. We’re all small states, so it’s about setting, or meeting and exceeding expectations to help build momentum,” Lee said. “It’s easier to cast a wider net by running in the primary ‒ she was doing it to try build a narrative, to display her support among primary voters. Early on in the race, everyone is just trying to be the runner-up to Trump.”

What are Republicans saying about the dueling Nevada caucus and primary?

Gov. Joe Lombardo and Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony have both said they plan to caucus for Trump and vote for “none of these candidates” in the primary.

Trump is set to visit Las Vegas on Jan. 27 for a ” commit to caucus” rally.

Given the situation, Lee, the UNLV professor, said it’s possible Haley could lose the primary even though Trump isn’t in it: “It could be the case that ‘none of these candidates’ gets the most votes.”

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Nevada

Nevada DMV receives nearly 21,000 reports of illegal drivers in two months

Published

4 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Nevada DMV receives nearly 21,000 reports of illegal drivers in two months

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles has received nearly 21,000 complaints about illegal drivers through its new online reporting portal in just two months, with more than 83 percent of those reports coming from Clark County.

The Registration Spotter tool, launched in October on the DMV’s website, allows residents to report vehicles with no plates, expired or invalid registration, or illegal out-of-state plates. The initiative was part of an effort to address what officials call a pervasive problem affecting road safety and contributing to rising car insurance costs.

WATCH | Plenty of reports, not enough action — what’s the deal?

Nevada DMV receives nearly 21,000 reports of illegal drivers in two months

“It’s everywhere all the time,” said J.D. Decker from the DMV’s Compliance Enforcement Division during a February ride-along.

However, some residents who have filed reports are questioning the effectiveness of the system, like Las Vegas resident Paul who emailed to ask, “Darcy, what’s the deal?”

“I reported a car without plates over two months ago and I still see it parking where I live. Why don’t they investigate? I also see so many cars on the road without plates and even see cops that don’t stop them. Why don’t police stop them?” Paul asked.

KTNV

DMV officials acknowledge that enforcement is lacking. DMV spokesperson Hailey Foster said the agency agrees “this is certainly an issue we, the DMV, would like to see be enforced more.”

The DMV admits it’s still working to distribute data from the online portal to other agencies and cannot guarantee specific action on reports. Foster explained that if a vehicle is parked in someone’s driveway and not being operated, that’s technically legal. Officers need to see the car being driven on streets to issue a citation.

“This takes everybody, and there’s so much of it right now, and it’s going to take all of Nevada law enforcement to address,” Decker said.

The DMV does not track enforcement statistics based on whether action comes from patrol, investigation or complaints submitted by residents, making it impossible to determine how many Registration Spotter tips have led to enforcement action.

But, traffic enforcement overall is increasing. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police made about 82,000 traffic stops this year, according to a Dec. 16 social media post.

A newly formed multi-agency traffic task force, which we told you about on Dec. 8, has logged 26 registration violations and 14 insurance violations since its formation, though their primary focus is on dangerous driving.

We also asked other agencies for their enforcement statistics over the last two months. North Las Vegas Police said, “While NLVPD does not receive or track the individual public-submitted reports sent directly to the DMV as part of that program, we are able to provide our department’s registration-related enforcement statistics during the same general timeframe.

For the period October 1, 2025 through December 18, 2025, North Las Vegas Police Department officers issued:

557 citations
601 total offenses related to registration and license plate violations

These offenses include, but are not limited to:

Failure to possess or surrender certificate of registration
Improper display of license plates
Operating a vehicle without valid Nevada vehicle registration

Henderson Police citations from 10/01/2025 – 12/17/2025:

Operate vehicle w/expired registration or plates: 214

Operate unregistered vehicle-trailer or semi trailer: 84

Display fictitious vehicle registration/plate/title: 8

Fail to obtain and properly display permit to operate unregistered vehicle: 3

Operate unregistered moped: 1

Rear license plate lamp violation: 1

License plates improperly displayed: 1

Nevada State Police was only able to provide citation information for the month of October.

Nevada Highway Patrol statewide citation information:

Total citations issued: 12,962

Registration-related citations: 1,475

All other citations: 11,487

Statement from the Department:

“The Nevada State Police Highway Patrol Division recognizes public interest related to unregistered vehicles and has and will continue to enforce all traffic laws on Nevada’s roadways, including laws related to vehicle registration. Enforcement of unregistered vehicles has long been part of routine traffic enforcement efforts statewide. As with all enforcement activity, the Nevada Highway Patrol prioritizes public safety and responds based on observed violations, calls for service, and operational considerations, including impaired driving and other serious safety concerns. Traffic enforcement is continuous and ongoing, and troopers take appropriate enforcement action when unregistered vehicles are encountered during patrol or traffic stops. The Nevada Highway Patrol strongly encourages drivers to ensure their vehicles are properly registered in accordance with Nevada law.”

The DMV is asking each law enforcement agency in the state to increase enforcement of the types of violations reported through Registration Spotter. DMV officials say the best outcome would be for each agency to conduct their own enforcement patrols and crack down on these violations.

Wondering what the deal is with something happening in the valley? Reach out to Darcy Spears at Darcy.Spears@ktnv.com.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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Nevada

Outdoor tourism grows in Nevada despite Las Vegas Strip visitor decline

Published

16 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Outdoor tourism grows in Nevada despite Las Vegas Strip visitor decline

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — While Strip tourism declined this year, outdoor recreation across Nevada continues to grow, with some areas seeing increased business and new facilities opening to accommodate visitors.

Valley of Fire State Park reached 1 million visitors this year and recently opened a new $30 million visitors center. Lake Mead National Recreation Area also continues to draw tourists, including those taking holiday-themed rafting tours through Black Canyon.

Chad Taylor, director of operations for the Hospitality Division of Guest Services and Hoover Dam Rafting Adventures, calls outdoor recreation an “enormous” boost for the state economy.

Last month, the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation (NDOR) released an Economic Impact Analysis finding that outdoor recreation is a $24 billion industry in Nevada, generating $13.7 billion in total economic output, supporting more than 75,000 jobs, and contributing $8.8 billion to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

NDOR reports outdoor recreation has officially surpassed the mining industry in GDP contribution and is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of Nevada’s economic diversification strategy.

The Hoover Dam Rafting Adventure, which has operated for more than four decades, saw slightly lower numbers this year for its 12-mile Colorado River tours starting at the base of the dam. Taylor said the rafting business typically follows Las Vegas tourism trends.

“As Las Vegas tourism increases or decreases, we typically see the same out here for the tour specifically,” Taylor said.

However, other outdoor properties showed growth. Taylor said Lake Mead properties, including Callville Bay, Cottonwood Cove, and Temple Bar, saw increased business this year.

Taylor, who sits on the governor’s advisory board for outdoor tourism, said the state is investing heavily in outdoor recreation infrastructure. Nevada is building Adventure Centers in Northern Nevada and Southern Nevada.

The Southern Nevada Adventure Center, under construction in Boulder City, will serve as a one-stop shop for booking outdoor activities. The facility is expected to open in summer 2026.

“Not only at the federal level, but the state level, the amount of energy and effort that they’ve put into outdoor recreation over the last few years, especially when it comes to the two new adventure centers that they’re building in Northern Nevada and Southern Nevada, they’re doubling down on outdoor recreation,” Taylor said.

The Hoover Dam rafting company continues its holiday-themed tours with Santa through Christmas Eve.

The Hoover Dam rafting company continues its holiday-themed tours with Santa through Christmas Eve.(FOX5)

Reservations can be made at hooverdamraftingadventures.com or by calling (800) 455-3490.

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Nevada

Bill by Nevada’s Amodei to ramp up mining on public land passes House

Published

1 day ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Bill by Nevada’s Amodei to ramp up mining on public land passes House

The U.S. House passed a bill Thursday put forward by Nevada Rep. Mark Amodei that would reinvigorate mining activity on federal lands.

Amodei, a Republican who represents the state’s top half, described the bill as strengthening the nation’s mineral supply chain and helping to counter China’s dominance with minerals.

“Western states are sitting on a wealth of resources and a critical opportunity to break our dangerous reliance on foreign adversaries while powering our own economy,” he said in a statement.

“The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act … gives domestic mining operations the certainty they need to compete aggressively and win.”

The bill passed 219 to 198. Republicans voted 210 in favor, 1 opposed and 9 not voting. Democrats voted 9 in favor, 197 opposed and 7 not voting. It was one of the House’s last actions before adjourning for the year.

Nevada delegation split on mining bill

Amodei was joined by Las Vegas Democrat Steven Horsford, who co-sponsored the bill in the House.

“Streamlining the hardrock mining process will create good jobs and strengthen our energy sector,” Horsford said.

The state’s other two House members — Democrats Susie Lee and Dina Titus — voted in opposition.

Titus spokesperson Dick Cooper told the Reno Gazette Journal that the congresswoman voted no because the bill would allow for increased dumping of mine waste on public lands.

“It would also allow mining companies to gain permanent rights to occupy public lands and preclude other uses including recreational and cultural uses,” he added.

It now heads to the Senate, where Nevada Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto will work to get it passed.

“This bill is common sense, and it’s key for communities across Nevada that count on mining for their livelihoods,” Cortez Masto said in a social media post.

Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada, a Democrat, also supports it. She helped introduce the Senate companion version of Amodei’s bill.

“Nevada is one of the few places in the United States with an abundance of critical minerals and a robust hardrock mining industry,” Rosen said. “The responsible mining of these minerals supports thousands of jobs and will help to strengthen our domestic manufacturing and clean energy supply chains.”

What does Amodei’s Mining Regulatory Clarity Act do?

The bill is a response to a 2022 decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals involving the Rosemont Copper Mine in Arizona.

The decision basically meant that mining companies must prove valuable minerals exist on a piece of land before they can dump waste material on it. Called the “mineral validity” requirement, it disrupted decades of precedent.

Amodei’s bill would reverse that and allow the practice to resume of using nearby land for mining waste without proving the land contains commercial deposits — something mining companies say is essential for operating on federal land.

“This legislation ensures the fundamental ability to conduct responsible mining activities on federal lands,” said Rich Nolan, National Mining Association president and CEO, in a statement. “Regulatory certainty, or the lack thereof, will either underpin or undermine efforts to decisively confront our minerals crisis.”

The bill also creates an “Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund.” Some fees related to mining claims will be used to fund a program to inventory, assess and clean up abandoned hardrock mines.

Environmental groups blast House vote on Mining Regulatory Clarity Act

Some environmental groups campaigned against the bill and described it as choosing corporate interests over people, Native Americans’ rights and the environment.

Lauren Pagel, policy director for Earthworks, said the bill “will remove already-scarce protections for natural resources and sacred cultural sites in U.S. mining law.”

The Center for Biological Diversity said the bill surrenders public lands to mining conglomerates.

“The so-called Mining Regulatory Clarity Act would bypass the validity requirement and grant mining companies — including foreign companies — the statutory right to permanently occupy and indiscriminately use public lands upon approval of a company’s self-written plan of operations,” said the nonprofit conservation organization in an online post.

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.

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