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'None of These Candidates' wins unusual Nevada Republican primary

Nevada's Republican primary ballot didn't include former President Donald Trump, who has chosen to participate in state caucuses later this week.
A man puts up a Republican Party sign in Nevada
Posted at 7:02 PM, Feb 06, 2024

Decision Desk HQ and Scripps News project "None of These Candidates" will take a majority of votes in Nevada's Republican primary. No delegates will be awarded until the Nevada Republican Party holds its caucus on Thursday.

Polls closed at 10 p.m. ET Tuesday in Nevada, where Republicans voted in an unusual primary election: "None of These Candidates" was a choice on the ballot and Republican front-runner Donald Trump didn't appear at all.

Both Democrats and Republicans held their primaries Tuesday because of a new law signed in 2021 by then-Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat. It requires that the state hold primary elections rather than the caucuses the state has traditionally put on.

However, the Nevada Republican Party objected to the change and has chosen to continue holding its caucuses. It argues that caucuses are more secure and allow candidates more face time with potential voters.

In a statement, the party said the caucuses will be the only way Republican candidates can earn delegates from the state.

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

Former President Donald Trump skipped the primary in favor of the caucuses. Nikki Haley finished second on the ballot. She is not participating in the caucuses. 

With Trump all but guaranteed to sweep Nevada's 26 delegates, Haley has turned her attention to her home state of South Carolina. 

"Every time I've run for office in South Carolina, I've beaten the political establishment," the former governor said. 

Haley has been traveling across the state in hopes of building up support before the Feb. 24 primary. Meanwhile, Trump is hoping to essentially lock up the nomination with a win in Haley's home state.