Nevada Wins PAC News
DO NEVADA REPUBLICANS REALLY WANT TO WIN?
Unfortunately, some of what caused the Non-Red Wave were Republican self-imposed headwinds.
There seems to be a malaise infecting more than a few Republicans nationally and in Nevada. Quoting from the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, January 3, 2023: "More than a few Republicans, alas, have a history of preferring combative sound bites to actual governing…."
Republicans must, if they are to win, believe they can win and want to be "in power. This applies to both candidates and "grassroots" Republicans.
But why would Republicans not want to be in power? I like the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board's answer to that question on January 4, 2023. "The problem any GOP leader faces today is that too many Republicans don't really want to hold and keep political power. They're much more comfortable in opposition to the minority, which is easier because no hard decisions or compromises are necessary. You can rage against "the swamp" without having to do anything to change it. This is the fundamental and sorry truth behind the Speaker spectacle and the performative GOP politics of recent years."
Jim Geraghty stated in Morning Jolt (National Review) on January 5, 2023, " The Republican Party isn't really a governing party anymore. It's an incubator for right-wing celebrities…But it does feel fair to contend that a significant chunk of the Republican Party isn't interested in governing anymore, and that chunk is now large enough to disrupt the work of everyone else."
Put another way; Drama seems to be the goal, not winning elections. And Drama is innate to Populism, not Conservatism. This Drama has been very successful at raising money but not in winning elections. It has also been entertaining to those who enjoy being angry at something. This Drama is Angertainment.
Our data strongly suggests that this Angertainment discouraged the conservative Non-Partisans from turning out even at their customary levels.
The noise made by the "Populists" has also soured the Republican Brand, which affected the races in Nevada. Non-partisan voters don't like the Drama and would rather stay home than put up with the nonsense. We need the Non-partisan vote if we are going to win back our state.
Our data suggest that no competitive or Statewide race in Nevada can be won unless we capture a significant percentage of the Non-partisan vote. Increasing Republican turnout will be insufficient to significantly improve the probability of victories but doing the same with Non-partisans will help Republicans win. And if Republicans are to be in power in Nevada, Republicans must win competitive races.
Michael A Kadenacy, Chairman of the Board, Nevada Wins PAC
January 12, 2023