Nevada State Democratic Party
MEMO
 
To: Interested Parties
From: Alana Mounce, Nevada State Democratic Party Executive Director
Date: November 14, 2019
Subject: NV Dems Preparing to Execute Successful First in the West Caucus


With just 100 days to go until our First in the West Caucus, NV Dems are working in every county and every community to lay the foundation to execute a successful caucus and set our future Democratic nominee on the path to defeat Donald Trump in 2020. 

With the addition of four days of in-person early voting and multilingual caucus materials, NV Dems is on track to host the most accessible, expansive, and transparent caucus yet. Since summer, we have held more than 150 trainings, recruited more than 1,300 volunteers, contacted more than 23 thousand Nevada Democrats, and locked nearly 80 early vote locations. 

Nevada plays a crucial role in the nominating process due to our strong diversity, high union membership, battleground state status and as the first Western state in the nominating calendar. 

Drawing a strong contrast 

As the first Western state to make its voice heard in the presidential primary, Nevada plays a pivotal role in deciding our nominee. As a majority-minority state with a nearly one-third Latinx population, Nevada’s electorate is much more reflective of the Democratic Party and the country as a whole. Additionally, Nevada is the first battleground state where candidates will compete, making the Silver State campaigns’ first true test of viability. Below is a breakdown of our unique diversity:

        • Nevada’s Latinx community makes up nearly one-third of our population
        • We are home to more than 13 thousand Dreamers and more than 4 thousand TPS recipients, many whom make up our workforce and union population
        • In Clark County, 1 in 4 residents speak Spanish at home
        • We are home to one of the fastest-growing AAPI communities in the country
        • 14% of Nevadans are union members--the largest organized labor presence of any early state
        • Female-majorities in our federal delegation, Nevada Supreme Court, and we’re the first
          and only female-majority state legislature in the country
Recent polling in Nevada shows a close race among the top candidates with health care and climate change as top issues among Democrats when deciding on their choice for nominee.  

Delegate breakdown

Gaining more automatic delegates following the election of Governor Steve Sisolak and U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen, Nevada’s delegate count far exceeds New Hampshire and is now comparable to winning in Iowa. 

Additionally, doing well in a diverse Western state is an indication of a candidate’s ability to win in the delegate-rich Western states voting just 10 days later on Super Tuesday like California and Texas.

      • Early states
      • Iowa- 49 total national delegates
      • New Hampshire- 33 total national delegates
      • Nevada- 48 total national delegates

  • Western states voting on Super Tuesday
    • California-495 total national delegates
    • Texas-262 total national delegates
    • Colorado-80 total national delegates
    • Utah-35 total national delegates

Make or break

Historically, Nevada has acted as a tiebreaker among Democratic presidential candidates. In 2008, Nevada was the deciding state after Barack Obama won Iowa and Hillary Clinton beat him in New Hampshire. And in 2016, Nevada became a tiebreaker after Clinton won Iowa and Bernie Sanders took New Hampshire. In both cases, Nevada broke for the eventual nominee.

Nevada also has a history of carrying the nominee into the general election, electing Barack Obama in 2008, again in 2012, and Hillary Clinton carried the state in 2016. Up and down the ballot, Nevada’s caucuses are the first step in securing the Silver State for the Democratic nominee, holding on to our majorities in the Assembly and Senate, and re-electing Dina Titus, Steven Horsford, and Susie Lee to the House of Representatives.

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Nevada State Democratic Party
For Immediate Release:
October 7, 2019

Contact: Molly Forgey

NV Dems Release First in the West Caucus Early Vote Locations

Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen and NV Dems Chair William McCurdy II joined community activists in announcing the 2020 early voting locations for the First in the West Caucus. Nevada will be the first and only caucus state to offer early voting in the presidential primary. On any of the four early voting days--February 15th through the 18th--Democrats will have the opportunity to cast their vote at any site within the county they are registered. NV Dems will also offer same-day registration at every location as well as on Caucus Day, February 22, 2020. 

“We are excited to announce our early voting locations for our 2020 First in the West Caucus that will serve Nevada Democrats in every county and reach every community,” said Nevada State Democratic Party Chair William McCurdy II. “NV Dems worked with community leaders to offer early voting sites that reflect our state and our party. Part of our commitment to making next February our most accessible and expansive caucus yet involves giving voters every opportunity to make their voice heard and doing so in a way that is most convenient by including locations that have become a staple in their community.” 

A full list of locations and times are now available at caucus.nvdems.com. 

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Today, NV Dems are releasing a complete list of nearly 80 early voting sites for our 2020 First in the West Caucus. Early voting will take place February 15th through the 18th in which Democrats will be able to cast their vote at any location in their county. Nevada will be the first and only caucus state to offer early voting in the upcoming presidential primary. A complete list of locations and times will be made available at caucus.nvdems.com. 

The Nevada Independent: Nevada Democrats to announce nearly 80 sites, including Culinary headquarters, to vote early in caucus

Nevada State Democratic Party
March 13, 2019

NV DEMS HIRE 2020 CAUCUS DIRECTOR

Today, the Nevada State Democratic Party announced the hire of Shelby Wiltz as 2020 Caucus Director ahead of Nevada’s First in the West Presidential Caucus. This is the earliest the State Party has brought on a Caucus Director in an election cycle.

“Shelby is incredibly talented and I am excited to see all she can accomplish as our Party works to make our 2020 caucuses more accessible and open,” said Nevada State Democratic Party Chair William McCurdy II. “I witnessed Shelby’s hard work and dedication in 2018 as she helped orchestrate one of the most successful field programs in the country. Our organizing team, led by Shelby, executed a strong field program knocking more than one million doors. She was an integral part of our historic gains last cycle and she will help lead us down the path to success in 2020.”

“I am thrilled to continue working with the State Party after all of our achievements in 2018 and this time, helping to make sure we have our most successful caucus yet in 2020,” said Wiltz. “I know how much we can achieve when we engage with Democrats across this state and that’s exactly how we’re going to come together next year and select the Democratic nominee who will defeat Donald Trump.”

Shelby has been working to elect Democrats since 2013. She worked to organize volunteers, turn out voters and manage field programs on more than seven campaigns across the country. In 2018, Shelby moved to Nevada to become the Organizing Director for the State Party's Coordinated Campaign where she led the organizing effort that saw record turnout in a midterm year and elected a historic number of Democrats up and down the ticket.