Jae C. Hong / AP
Former President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd before his speech at the California Republican Party Convention Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif.
Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023 | 8:50 a.m.
Former President Donald Trump today formally filed to participate in the Nevada Republican Party’s presidential preference caucuses in February 2024, opting to bypass the state-run primary that will be contested just days earlier.
In September, the Nevada GOP solidified plans to stage the caucuses Feb. 8. The party is urging Republican presidential hopefuls not to participate in the Feb. 6 primary amid what they say are concerns over voter identification and the state’s early voting methods.
Trump, who won the 2016 GOP caucuses here en route to his electoral victory, said he was looking forward to participating in the event. The four-time indicted Republican frontrunner is looking to unseat Democratic President Joe Biden.
“I am honored to officially file to run in the First in the West Nevada Caucus,” Trump said in a Nevada GOP news release. “Taking back the White House and defeating Crooked Joe Biden in the Silver State will send a strong signal that the America First movement grows more powerful every day.”
Trump joins Ohio businessman Vivek Ramaswamy in entering the caucuses in Nevada. The filing window for the caucuses runs through Monday.
Polling shows Trump is the leading candidate for the Republican nomination.
Others running for the GOP nomination include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and former Vice President Mike Pence.
The Nevada secretary of state’s office announced last week it would organize a Republican primary in accordance with state law after tax consultant John Anthony Castro and Reno resident Heath Fulkerson filed their election papers for the GOP primary.
Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald has emphasized the caucuses remained the only method the state party would use to allocate its delegates ahead of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, July 15-18, 2024.
Party officials are urging Republican voters to pre-register for their local caucus through the Nevada GOP’s website.
“We are thrilled to welcome President Donald J. Trump to the First in the West Nevada Caucus,” McDonald said in a statement.
“His strong America First policies resonate with voters in the Silver State and across the nation,” he added. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Nevadans to connect with a candidate who has a proven track record of delivering results.”
