Democratic socialists swept out of power in Nevada

Nevada Democrats ousted a slate of Democratic socialists who took power two years ago, ending a troubled reign marked by divisions and infighting.

Judith Whitmer was ousted as president in a vote on Saturday, with a new slate led by the Nevada congresswoman Daniele Munroe-Moreno take control of the party.

Munroe-Moreno, who is the first black woman elected to lead the Nevada Democrats, was backed by a host of elected officials as well as the so-called Reid Machine, the powerful organization first brought together by the late senator. of Nevada Harry Reid.

The results come after a tumultuous tenure under Whitmer, who repeatedly clashed with key party figures. Establishment Democrats accused her had sometimes undermined his own partyincluding Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who was in a tight re-election race last cycle.

Whitmer has also lost the support of some of his progressive allies, notably in the camp of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and among local Democratic socialists.

Whitmer recently told NBC News that she was the victim of a “smear campaign” and worked to get voters to vote in short-ballot races and rural counties.

In 2022, Nevada Democrats largely retained state office in the face of what should have been good conditions for Republicans. Cortez-Masto’s victory by less than 8,000 votes ended up becoming the deciding Senate seat, allowing the Democrats to retain power.

The exception was the governorship, making incumbent Steve Sisolak the only sitting governor to lose his seat in 2022.

The Silver State is expected to play a pivotal role again in 2024 as a presidential battleground. For the Democrats, Nevada has moved up the order of the primary calendar, which should organize its presidential race after South Carolina.

“We have so much work to do to win this highly competitive battleground state and we’re ready to start today,” Munroe-Moreno said in a statement. “I look forward to uniting our Democratic family because I know what we are capable of when we come together as one team.”

Whitmer did not immediately comment.