* Nevada Policy’s (NPRI) 2023 Legislative Scorecard is out. Most conservative legislator: Sen. Robin Titus (R). Most liberal legislators (tied): Cecelia Gonzalez, Sandra Jauregui, and Howard Watts (D’s).
* The conservative/libertarian think-tank gave Gov. Joe Lombardo a solid “B” for his first session as the state’s chief executive…
“This session was a resounding success in terms of safeguarding liberty in Nevada. Lombardo and his team effectively halted the advance of far-left radicals who advocate a government board for every social ill and who fail to recognize the importance of individual autonomy.”
* Click here for full results.
* The Speaker is dead; long live the Speaker.
* House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted yesterday when Democrats voted with eight House Republicans to “vacate” his chair position. The media is characterizing this as a “crisis.”
* No it’s not. The republic will survive. Government will chug along. Spending will continue to go up. The border will remain open. Crime will continue to explode. Public schools will continue to suck.
* And there will still be two tiers of justice – one for Republicans and one for Democrats.
* Word on the street this morning is that Rep. Steve Scalise and Rep. Jim Jordan intend to seek the speakership. Scalise is seen as more of the “establishment.” Jordan is a fav among conservatives.
* Not being in DC or the closed-door meetings, I don’t know what to think. Solid conservatives have come out on both sides of the issue. But I do know this…
* Nothing will change unless things change dramatically in the November ’24 general election. Keep your eyes on the prize.
* I have no idea who Trump will or should tap to be his veep this time around if nominated. One thing we know pretty much for sure, a Trump/DeSantis ticket is out of the question.
* Many folks are starting to urge a DeSantis/Haley ticket. But that’ll only come about if DeSantis can beat Trump in the primary. Announcing that Haley would be his running mate BEFORE voting starts would help, but Haley’s also running for president right now, so that’s a non-starter.
* Others are talking about a “dream ticket” for independents: Robert Kennedy Jr./Tulsi Gabbard. Such a ticket would likely do very well among partisans not happy with the current Democrat and Republican front-runners.
* Politico’s Weekly Score: “Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson switched his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican, making Dallas the most populous city to be led by a Republican.”
* Word on the street is that Democrat Nevada Attorney General A.Ron Ford is actively investigating the so-called “fake electors” from the 2020 election.
* A bill specifically directed at this issue was vetoed by Gov. Lombardo. But AG Ford is apparently moving ahead with an investigation built around current law.
* U.S. Senate candidate Sam Brown sent out a new fundraising pitch tied to the cost of filling your gas tank this week. He notes that Nevada has the 2nd highest gas tax in the nation and the cost of petro in the Silver State is currently over $5/gallon.
* “That means our campaign’s monthly gas bill is EXPENSIVE,” Brown writes. “All that to say, I need some help, Friend. Can you chip in JUST $5 so that I can buy a gallon of gas and keep my campaign on the road?”
* So…YOU can’t afford to put gas in YOUR car, but Sam wants you to pay to put gas in HIS. That’s a campaign message focused on the candidate, not the voter. Ugh.
* Republican John Lee has announced his candidacy for Nevada’s 4th congressional district against incumbent Democrat Steve Horsford.
* Lee will face off against David Filippo in the GOP primary. Flippo came in third in the Republican primary for Assembly District 37 last year. Lee will have no problem dispatching him. Flippo might want to consider a different race.
* Republican Assemblyman Brian Hibbets, a key Lombardo ally, has announced he’s running for re-election in Assembly District 13 (Clark). The district is safe for Republicans.
* Republican Assemblywoman Melissa Hardy has announced she’s running again for re-election in District 22 (Clark). There’d been speculation that she might hang up her spurs and instead pursue a local office in Henderson. This is a safe GOP district.
* Republican Assemblyman Greg Koenig (Churchill/Lyon) has announced he’s running for re-election in District 38 in rural Nevada. This is a safe GOP district.
* Republican Jacob Deaville has announced he’s running again for Assembly District 4 (Clark), an open seat to replace term-limited Assemblyman Richard McArthur. This is a “swing” district.
* Deaville has run unsuccessfully for District 37 in the last two election cycles and has been outwardly critical of Gov. Lombardo. Under the circumstances, it’s hard to believe “Don Veto” will throw his support Jacob’s way.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
"The entire college education establishment is none too happy with the facts about Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, etc., etc. – the long, long list of rich, rich, rich super-achievers who never attended or dropped out of college.” – Dan Kennedy
Mr. Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, publisher of Nevada News & Views, and founder of CampaignDoctor.com. You can sign up for his conservative, Nevada-focused e-newsletter at MuthsTruths.com. His views are his own.