Nevada
Why Nevada has both a primary election and Republican caucus next week
One of the more unusual presidential contests will take place in Nevada next week when the state’s Republican Party holds a caucus on Feb. 8 — just two days after the state has its primary election.
The reason there will be two contests next week is because Republicans in the state aren’t happy with somewhat-recent changes to Nevada election laws.
In 2021, the state’s Democratic governor at the time, Steve Sisolak, signed a slew of bills into law creating all-mail elections, expanding voter registration and moving the state-run presidential contest to a primary.
A caucus is a more restrictive voting system than a primary. A caucus requires voters to show up on a specific day at a specific time to cast a ballot, which can make it harder for shift workers and people with small children, for example, to vote. That small voting window can also make caucus turnout pretty unpredictable.
Nevada Democrats, in particular, began urging state lawmakers to move away from its caucus system to a primary system after the 2020 election. Voting access and higher voter participation were key arguments behind the effort.
Once the effort was successful, Republicans in the state began pushing back.
At first, the party filed a lawsuit arguing that the state’s new laws infringed on its right to decide how to choose and bind the party’s delegates in a presidential nominating contest. A court eventually found that the party would be unlikely to stop the state from moving to a primary system. It also ruled, though, that the party couldn’t be bound by the state’s laws when it comes to how it picks delegates.
So the Nevada GOP decided to drop the lawsuit and set up its own caucus to choose delegates. While Nevada holds its primaries on Feb. 6, the GOP caucus will be held Feb. 8.
The Nevada Republican Party said in a statement it was affirming “its commitment to transparent elections with common-sense safeguards such as Voter ID, paper ballots, and precinct-based balloting” in its caucus.
And as part of the party’s “protest” of the state-run primaries, members also made a rule that any presidential candidate participating in the primary cannot run in the caucus and is therefore unable to win any Nevada delegates for the presidential nomination. This is why former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley will appear on the GOP presidential primary ballot, but won’t be on the caucus ballot.
Only former President Donald Trump and Texas businessman Ryan Binkley, who’s mounting a longshot bid, remain on the ballot in the Nevada GOP caucus — a setup that all but ensures Trump wins the delegate haul. (The state Republican chair has told people to caucus for Trump.)
“This protest is designed to ensure no Republican candidates for President register for the state run election,” party officials said in a statement, “negating the need for the same and saving the State of Nevada millions of taxpayer dollars.”
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
But this protest from the GOP has left its voters with a confusing pair of elections to vote in.
A spokesperson for the Nevada secretary of state’s office said they have been hearing from voters who have questions about the primary and caucus.
“It’s been a top issue we’ve received questions on in the last month,” the spokesperson told NPR in a statement. “Specifically, we are receiving questions about why former President Trump is not on the primary ballot.”
The secretary’s office has said they are directing voters to the Nevada Republican Party when they have questions about the caucus.
And party officials have been defending their move.
“The caucus is the traditional way we have chosen our presidential nominee for decades,” the party says on aninformation sheet for its voters. “Contrary to reports that the NVGOP is trying to confuse Nevada Republican voters, the truth is that the 2024 primary is an all new, very expensive, and meaningless process.”
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Tickets for the return of the official State Fair of Nevada are now available, but only until the end of the month can you get 20% off your ticket price.
After a 16-year hiatus, the official State Fair of Nevada will return to the Nevada State Fairgrounds in Reno June 11-13. Early bird discounts of 20% are available through May 1 online with code EarlySFNV.
Ciara Ressel, public information officer with the Nevada Department of Agriculture, stopped by Morning Break to share what’s in store for the community during these three days of food, entertainment, agriculture and celebration.
The event will highlight Nevada’s history, communities and agricultural roots with a wide range of programming, including:
- Nevada Junior Livestock Show and Sale
- University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s 4-H State Expo
- Opening Night Ceremony and Concert featuring Caleb Montgomery
- Next Generation Youth Bull Riding
- Made in Nevada Farmers’ Market
- Walking Tour of Nevada
- Drone show
- Local vendors, food and art
- Carnival rides
- And more highlighting Nevada’s history and heritage!
Click here to learn more. You can also follow the state fair on Instagram and Facebook.
Copyright 2026 KOLO. All rights reserved.
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — First responders from across Nevada gathered for a free training session on how to better recognize and respond to people on the autism spectrum as part of a broader push following the passage of Senate Bill 380 last year.
The free, day-long session, hosted by the Autism Coalition of Nevada, brought together police, firefighters, and emergency personnel from agencies statewide for what organizers call a “train-the-trainer” model. It equipped attendees with tools they can take back to their departments and share with others.
The training is designed to help first responders identify key behaviors associated with autism, such as delayed responses, lack of eye contact, or repetition, and adjust their approach in high-pressure situations where those behaviors could otherwise be misinterpreted.
“The training is to help them understand what’s in front of them, which is a person on the spectrum, and not somebody that’s being combative or argumentative,” said Michelle Scott-Lewing, president of the Autism Coalition of Nevada.
Advocates said misunderstandings can happen frequently, sometimes leading to unnecessary arrests, and this type of education is aimed at reducing those outcomes.
Senate Bill 380, signed into law by Governor Joe Lombardo, requires autism-specific training for first responders and adds guidance around how officers should be educated on recognizing and interacting with individuals on the spectrum, marking a significant step toward more consistent awareness across agencies.
The session was led by First Responder Autism Training, a national program that travels the country teaching officers and emergency crews how to recognize autism indicators and respond appropriately, with real-world scenarios that emphasize slowing down and de-escalating.
Henderson police said their officers already receive training on a range of mental health conditions, but this builds on that foundation with a more focused approach.
“For officers to be able to recognize those signs and be able to understand like, hey, this person, even though they’re not talking to me or they’re not doing what I’m saying, that doesn’t mean they’re non-compliant,” Deputy Chief Matthew Murnane with HPD said. “It just means maybe, hey, there’s something else going on there.”
Organizers said they want to expand the training with an additional session this year in Northern Nevada, aiming to make it more accessible statewide and ensure more first responders have the tools needed to safely handle interactions involving people on the spectrum.
RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Birdies and Bliss is a women‑focused golf fundraiser for Northern Nevada Hopes that brings the community together for a day of connection, fun and giving back.
Meredith Tanzer, philanthropy associate, stopped by Morning Break to invite the community to this feel good event that pairs fun golfing with meaningful impact, supporting programs at HOPES that make a real difference for families.
This inaugural tournament takes place Monday, May 4 at Red Hawk and Resort. It marks an exciting beginning and reflects the generosity and strength of the community that supports our mission. Click here to reserve your spot.
Copyright 2026 KOLO. All rights reserved.
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