Nevada GOP Re-Elects Chairman Michael J. McDonald, Opts Out of 2020 Caucus

LAS VEGAS – At its central committee meeting in Winnemucca today, the Nevada Republican Party re-elected its longest-serving Chairman in history, Michael J. McDonald, to a historic fifth term. McDonald, currently the second-longest State Republican Party chair in the country, took 57% of the vote on the first ballot.

“I am honored to have this vote of confidence from our central committee and to be re-elected to a historic fifth term,” said McDonald. “With an overwhelming majority backing my campaign, it is safe to say the Nevada Republican Party is united and ready to deliver our state to President Trump and electing Republicans down the ballot in 2020.”

Chairman McDonald’s campaign had the full support of President Trump and his team, as well as State Assembly Republican Leader Dr. Robin Titus and State Senate Republican Leader James Settelmeyer.

McDonald touted throughout his campaign the historic steps the Party has made already this year. The Party recently launched its first television ad ever in an off year, ran its first digital ads during a legislative session earlier this year, created a program that will allow the Party to donate directly to candidates, and set small dollar donation records.

Vice Chairman Jim DeGraffenreid, Secretary Barb Hawn, and Treasurer Michael Bertrand were also re-elected today.

The Nevada Republican Party Central Committee also took the step of opting out of the 2020 presidential caucus. The act of an incumbent President’s political party opting out of a caucus or primary is a regular occurrence, with 10 state Democrat Parties doing so in 2012 when Barack Obama was up for re-election.

After receiving strong support from the body at the Winnemucca meeting, another vote will take place at a later date to endorse and bind our delegates to President Donald J. Trump.

“As the chairman of the Nevada Republican Party, my job is to ensure not only President Trump’s victory in Nevada, but also to elect more Republicans down the ballot,” said McDonald. “It would be malpractice on my part to waste money on a caucus to come to the inevitable conclusion that President Trump will be getting all our delegates in Charlotte. I am excited that our central committee has agreed with this proposal and voted to give us a way to bypass the caucus process.”

###