Nevada Republicans brace for confusion as party eyes election rules that may favor Trump

RENO, Nev. — Former President Donald Trump’s push to bend state Republican parties to his will — and gain an advantage in his effort to return to the White House — is coming to a head in Nevada. Having both will “frustrate, anger and confuse Nevada’s Republican voters,” and create bad publicity for the Nevada GOP, the club leaders wrote in the letter. “The Nevada Republican Party will give average voters the impression they don’t care about them or their votes.” Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald didn’t return multiple phone calls and text messages. Jim DeGraffenreid, a Republican National Committeeman for the Nevada GOP, declined to discuss the proposals that the party was considering, referring to them as “housekeeping.” But he called the idea that Nevada’s process is skewed for Trump “one of the most ridiculous things that I think I’ve ever heard.” “It appears that Donald Trump is the last person that needs a thumb on the scale,” DeGraffenreid said, citing the former president’s polling and fundraising strength. “If he’s going to keep putting his thumb on the scale and then put his arm on the scale and then climb on the frickin’ scale,” Cuccinelli said of Trump, “You know, does it really make sense to pour resources into an uphill, unfair fight like that versus other states?” David Gibbs, president of the Nevada Republican Club, said he’s not concerned about criticism that the process could favor Trump.