County Republicans hold presidential caucus Thursday

Churchill County Republicans who want to participate in the Republican Presidential Caucus and the precinct meeting are encouraged to convene Thursday from 5-7 p.m. at the Rafter 3C’s west meeting room.

According to Gary Smith, chairman of the Churchill County Republican Central Committee, the Rafter 3C is the only location that’s holding the caucus. Individuals must be registered as Republicans to be qualified to participate, and there are no exceptions and no same-day registration.

Smith said local Republicans are encouraged to participate in the caucus. The last one held for a Republican presidential candidate occurred in 2016. He said voters who cast ballots in the Presidential Preference Primary may still participate in the Republican caucus. Voters must have a valid Nevada state form of identification to participate in the caucus. They may not use a driver Privilege ID for voting.

The caucus rules were approved in a vote by the state party’s central committee members in 2023. One of the approved rules bars any candidate from the Feb. 8 caucus if they participated in Tuesday’s state-run primary. Former President Donald Trump, therefore, is the only candidate up for discussion in the Nevada caucus.

Once a Republican presidential candidate cast their name on the presidential primary ballot, that then implemented a 2021 state law which requires the Nevada secretary of state’s office to hold a presidential primary for the party.

“I don’t have the ability or the opportunity to determine which law or regulation I’m going to follow,” Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar said. “That’s not my job as a regulator.”

During the county convention Feb. 29, Smith said delegates to the state convention will be elected, and other party affairs will be considered. Smith added the annual Lincoln dinner is March 16 and will feature Gov. Joe Lombardo as guest speaker. U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei will give an update on congressional affairs.