* As Sleepy Joe’s poll numbers continue to nose-dive, the Cook Political Report has now moved Nevada’s 6 electoral votes from “Lean D to Toss Up.”
* Could Nevada go “red” for the first time in a long time next year? Stay tuned, Batfans.
* As a follow-up to my regular column Wednesday about Trump and his supporters attacking conservatives and calling them RINOs, here’s another example, courtesy of Trump surrogate Laura Loomer (who is batsh*t crazy, by the way) and with a Nevada reference (Warning: potty mouth ahead)…
“Hey @tedcruz. Fuck you. Endorse Trump or get out of the way. I know all about your sneaky dinner with Adam Laxalt in Nevada and your back channel talks with @jeffroe. Pretty sure Trump knows too…He’s calling you out, and everyone can see you for the RINO you are. User!”
* Yeah, this is the sorta thing that’s really gonna win over all those all-important independent voters next year if Trump is the GOP nominee.
* Judges matter.
* What most Nevada voters don’t know is that all election-related lawsuits are usually handled by the First Judicial District Court in Carson City. Many important cases – including challenges to ballot initiatives - are decided there.
* Longtime District Judge James Wilson is retiring on January 8 and Gov. Lombardo this week announced that he is appointing Carson City Justice of the Peace Kristin Luis to fill the vacancy.
* I don’t know much about Ms. Luis – other than she worked previously in the district attorney’s office, which is generally a good sign - but when I learn more, I’ll share it here. This is a critically-important seat.
* On Thursday, Gov. Lombardo officially announced he was endorsing every Republican Assembly incumbent who is running for re-election next year, except Ken Gray (just kidding, Ken!).
* That excludes Richard McArthur (AD4), who is running for State Senate, and Heidi Kasama (AD2), who is running for Congress.
* The governor posted his announcement on Twitter yesterday…
* To which Democrat Assembly Majority Leader Sandy Jauregui – a card-carrying gun-grabber - sarcastically responded: “They do such a great job of reflecting the diversity of Nevada.”
* Just can’t help playing the “race card.”
* In Jauregui-land, white people should be cleansed from the political playing field. But she ain’t gonna be able to play that game against her GOP opponent next year.
* She’s being challenged by a Puerto Rican Republican small business owner, Rafael Arroyo, who has a good shot at flipping this seat and ousting one of the Dems top pooh-bahs with visions of higher office dancing in her head.
* Click here to learn more about Rafael (your can click on the “English” button on the bottom right if you can’t read Spanish).
* The governor has also already endorsed a number of GOP challengers who are running for the Assembly in highly flappable seats – including Arroyo (AD-41), Lisa Cole (AD-4), April Arndt (AD-21), David Brog (AD-37), Annette Dawson Owens (AD-29), and Diana Sande (AD-25).
* And the Assembly Democrat caucus has been endorsing selected candidates for weeks now, all far-left extremists.
* So the governor has made official endorsements of GOP Assembly candidates. And the Democrat caucus has made official endorsements. It’s time for Assembly Republicans to get off the sidelines, stop playing Switzerland, and get in the game as well.
* Not as individuals; as the official caucus group. That will help the non-incumbent GOP challengers raise money from established institutional donors by signaling that everyone is on the same page.
* Because the #1 objective for Republicans running for the Legislature next year is to get elected and protect the governor’s veto power. This is no time for pale pastels and half-measures.
* Time to go “all in,” Assembly Republicans.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
“MERRY CHRISTMAS!” – Chuck Muth
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.