* Democrats hold a one-seat majority in the U.S. Senate. Nevada has a U.S. Senate race on the ballot next year. And Republicans definitely have a shot at flipping it.
* But not with Jim Marchant.
* Marchant has successfully tainted himself as a card-carrying election conspiracy theorist and aligned himself with the unhinged conservative fringe. And he shot himself in the foot again this week in a radio interview.
* One of the hosts said, “So I think, just take all the RNC and DNC people and stand them up, side by side.” To which the co-host added, “And shoot ‘em.”
* To which Marchant laughed and replied: “Exactly.”
* Were they serious? No. Was this another foot-in-mouth moment for Marchant? Absolutely. He just can’t help himself.
* Voters rejected his bid for Secretary of State last year by over 23,000 votes in an election cycle where other Republicans flipped the governor, lieutenant governor and state controller seats.
* Does anyone – other than his paid consultants - believe the electorate has changed so much since last November that they’d be willing to put this guy in the U.S. Senate? If so, I’ve got some swampland in Death Valley to sell you.
* Much speculation is that Sam Brown – who lost his primary challenge for U.S. Senate last year to Adam Laxalt – intends to run for the Senate again next year and is the “chosen one” by DC insiders. But there are bustles in the hedgerow.
* Concerns have been raised that Brown hasn’t learned from his loss and will use the same consultants who delivered a less-than-impressive result at the ballot box despite Brown raising an impressive couple million dollars for the race.
* In addition, I was surprised at the number of people attending the Basque Fry last week who told me they’ve soured on Brown, voicing concern that there’s no “there, there” behind his inspiring war injury story.
* Another candidate, former Ambassador to Iceland, Jeffrey Gunter, threw his hat into this ring a week ago. He’s got money, but there’s one little problem…
* He doesn’t live here. He lives in California. Yeah, that’s gonna sell. Shades of Aaron Russo for us old-timers.
* The Cook Political Report notes that other talked-about potential candidates are out - even though there’s an appetite for “other alternative candidates” - including former Gov. Brian Sandoval, Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony, State Controller Andy Matthews, and Senate Minority Leader Heidi Gansert.
* Not mentioned but still in the mix: Tony Grady.
* Grady also has an impressive military record, as well as deep business experience. He ran for the first time last year for lieutenant governor and put up some impressive numbers - even though he came in second behind Stavros Anthony in the GOP primary - carrying, I think, 15 out of the 17 counties.
* If Brown slips coming out of the gate, Marchant keeps sticking his foot in his mouth, and Grady puts together some early fundraising success, he could well be the “dark horse” candidate who ends up being the nominee.
* One of the reasons Gov. Lombardo signed that sex-change bill providing services via Medicaid is that, sooner or later, it’s going to be mandated by federal law so it made no sense to spend taxpayer dollars fighting it in court since other states were already doing so.
* And if you still have any doubt that that was the reality of the situation, on Wednesday “U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, of the Northern District of Florida, issued a decision finding the ban on Medicaid coverage to be unlawful and unconstitutional.”
* In addition, had Nevada tried to fight it, it would have been represented by Democrat trans-radical Attorney General A.Ron Ford – who Republican Sigal Chattah got crushed by in last year’s election.
* So it was coming to Nevada whether we like it or not – and I sure don’t. But at least the bill here in Nevada requires parental consent.
* And finally…
* I had dinner Wednesday night at the Italian-American Club with Matt Brasseaux, Gov. Lombardo’s campaign manager. And we talked extensively about next year’s elections, especially legislative races.
* Happy to report that the governor’s political team has offered to provide some financial support to expand my campaign training and candidate development programs statewide.
* Details and dates are now in the works, and I expect to take the show on the road to rural counties in the coming months, in addition to Vegas and Reno.
* Also, Amy Groves has donated a training office for us to use. Picking up classroom furniture for it this afternoon. So we should be getting things off the ground pretty soon.
* Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
“People who OPPOSE Ron DeSantis claim I am BAD at my job and want me to be FIRED. Make it make sense, guys. When I see people on the opposing campaign who are bad at their jobs, I hope and pray they get PROMOTED.” - @ChristinaPushaw, Rapid Response Director, DeSantis War Room